Have a new Windows-based computer? Or did you format everything recently and reinstall the Windows OS? In any case, you have to install some important softwares that you will need again and again. Windows 7 or 8 come with a list of useful softwares, but these are not enough. You need many more applications to get the most out of your PC.

Let’s talk about some important software applications (free or paid) that most people would need to have on their computers. Without these applications, your PC would be boring and not as useful. Every time you format Windows, you may want to reinstall all these softwares. Therefore, this list below may prove useful to you in the future.

1. Browsers to surf the Internet:

Windows comes with Internet Explorer already installed. However, most of the people are not fans of this browser. There are much better alternatives on the market that make sailing a truly beautiful experience. The most popular browser alternatives are Chrome and Firefox.

The good news is that both Firefox and Chrome are free to download and use. They have very nice user interfaces. There are many free or paid plugins that add additional capabilities to these browsers. You can really get addicted to a lot of these plugins when you start using them regularly.

2. Skype for instant messaging:

When it comes to instant messaging and chat (whether it’s text or voice chat), Skype is the number one choice for many people. It is one of the most popular messaging applications in the world. The voice quality is excellent even when you are in a long distance voice chat.

3. Antivirus software:

Protecting your PC from malware, spyware, and viruses is very important. If your PC gets infected with a virus, it can become very slow and almost unusable. There have been many times when I had to format my PC due to virus problems. In such cases, there is a risk of losing important data due to formatting. You can try to recover the lost files using data recovery software, but it is generally a long and unreliable process. It is always best to prevent than to cure. Therefore, to protect your PC, you may want to take a look at Microsoft Security Essentials, which is a good program that offers strong protection against malicious software.

4. Compress and decompress:

Many large files that you download from the Internet can be in a compressed format. So, you need to unzip them first. At the same time, you may want to upload a large file or even an entire folder on the web. In such a case, you also need compression software to do the job. There are 2 great options available to you. The first is Winrar, which is not free, but comes with a 30-day trial version. So you can wear it for 30 days to see how you like it. Another software is 7-search, which is completely free. You can use it as long as you want without any problem.

5. Ninite to install various programs:

There are many other important programs that you may need to install. Instead of installing them one by one, wouldn’t it be much more convenient if you could do it all at once? This is what ‘Ninite’ does. It’s a cool app that lets you choose from dozens of commonly used software applications and install them all at once. Some of the programs you can install are: Skype, GoogleTalk, Yahoo Messenger, 7-search, Firefox, Chrome, antivirus software, Filezilla, Picasa, Open Office, etc.