[Troy]

Hi geeks! I've been asking a lot of questions lately...

I'm helping my mate purchase a new computer, it will have Vista Home Premium on it. I don't have Vista, so I'm just wondering what the recommendations are? Feel free to point to links that may answer my questions, but I know there's a lot of information on the web, so I just wanted to know what was worthy and what's not!

To save on build cost, we're just going to download OpenOffice.org instead of paying for Microsoft Office, I found on the OOo website wiki that it is now working with Vista. Anyone used it? Any problems/pointers?
We're also going to use AVG for anti-virus, any other free options worth considering? How does AVG go?
I'm not sure about a firewall, but I've heard/read that Vista now includes a two-way firewall, is it good now? Any other free recommendations?
Also any information on anti-spyware and other anti-malware programs that work well with Vista?

I've double checked his Canon printer, it has Vista drivers ready for download, so good there.

And lastly, he still uses dial-up, he doesn't actually do much online stuff, so it's fine for him. When I was getting quotes for computers, one of the store salesmen said there might be a problem with 56K dial-up modem drivers, and that his store DOES NOT sell a computer with Vista and a dial-up modem! Anyone heard of this/had hassles with this?

If anyone can answer any of my questions or make a recommendation, I would greatly appreciate it!
Cheers

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Recommend Home Premium or Ulitimate editions. Depends on how much you can afford. Also consider 32 bit or 64 bit versions. 32 bit will have less application compatibility issues. I am using Ultimate edition 64 bit version and haven't found many issues. Only with some older software, wich is to be expected.

AVG or Avast are both good choices. I am personally using Avast. Open Office is very simillar to Microsoft Office.

If you have broadband, you will probably want to download the drivers for him and burn them to cd. easier than downloading 50 megs of drivers.

I haven't heard or seen any issues with modems. If your buying an HP or Dell with vista and a modem then it should be compatible. Otherwise you will just have to check to see if they have drivers. Chances are the os has everything it needs.

[starjax]

Recommend Home Premium or Ulitimate editions. Depends on how much you can afford. Also consider 32 bit or 64 bit versions. 32 bit will have less application compatibility issues. I am using Ultimate edition 64 bit version and haven't found many issues. Only with some older software, wich is to be expected.

AVG or Avast are both good choices. I am personally using Avast. Open Office is very simillar to Microsoft Office.

If you have broadband, you will probably want to download the drivers for him and burn them to cd. easier than downloading 50 megs of drivers.

I haven't heard or seen any issues with modems. If your buying an HP or Dell with vista and a modem then it should be compatible. Otherwise you will just have to check to see if they have drivers. Chances are the os has everything it needs.

[Troy]

Thanks for your reply starjax. Yes it will be Home Premium 32bit. I have broadband and will be downloading those things for him as he has also asked me to set it up for him when it gets delivered/picked up. The computer will be custom built by a local computer store, as I have given the specs and the price I wanted, and HP/Dell are pathetic...

[Troy]

Hi geeks I'm still waiting on some information here, any recommendations on a firewall, or other anti-malware programs that work well with Vista? Keep in mind I want this to be an ultra-secure setup because I have completely wiped and reinstalled XP on his computer already due to malware... He's just got no idea about security... I'm trying to teach him though!

Thanks

[starjax]

For now, use vista's built in firewall. Comodo's firewall is still in beta and won't support vista (esp. 64bit) until its released. Zone alarm is good, but is having some bugs. I would give everyone a few more months to "fix" their products.

[Troy]

I'm reviving this thread because it has been a few more months, what free firewall(s) work best with Vista? Does anyone have ZoneAlarm or Comodo (or another one) working well on their Vista system? I'm asking now because it's my turn to upgrade, I'm getting Home Premium 32-bit soon...

Thanks

[tanda]

Hi, I'm no expert, but I have recently bought a new computer, and I am using AVG Anti-Virus, AVG Anti-Spyware, and Zone Alarm, the Free ones. I also use, ATF Cleaner, Spybot, Ad-Aware, CCleaner, Spyware Blaster, SUPERAntiSpyware, and a-squared, all free versions, and they all work ok, hope this helps.

[Troy]

Okay cool, thanks for your comments. So ZoneAlarm works good? I like ZoneAlarm on XP, yet to try it on Vista yet. I'm still waiting for my order to come through...

Anyone else care to comment on firewall/anti-malware combos?

[Essexboy]

I am running Vista now behind a router, still have not found a firewall that I like or works properly.

Antivirus Avast
Antispyware Superantispyware
Blocker Spywareblaster

Been running with this combo since January with no problems

[Troy]

Thanks Essexboy. Does this mean you are also using the in-built Vista firewall, or is it turned off and you are only using the router's firewall?

Cheers

[Essexboy]

Using the inbuilt firewall

GRC gives me a stealth rating when I try it out

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

[Troy]

Spywareblaster is unable to download any updates, it gives me the following error:

Any ideas how to fix it?

[Essexboy]

Have you tried re-registering the ocx

START > RUN

regsvr32 "C:\Windows\System32\MSINET.OCX2"

[Troy]

Erm, eh heh...

Thanks for your help, by the way! Any idea what to do next?

[Essexboy]

Yes I could try proof reading what I wrote

START > RUN

regsvr32 "C:\Windows\System32\MSINET.OCX"

Notice the 2 at the end is missing now