Setup a new Windows 7 or 8 Workstation
This is a list of base software used after installing a fresh new Windows developer's workstation. I use Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit which I got upgraded for free by Microsoft after being victim of counterfeit Windows 7 DVD being sold on internet.
Fix bug in Windows Updates
The first step is upgrading Windows 7 updater. Even if you have Windows 7 Ultimate with SP1. At the time I am writing this, there is so much updates to schedule that the update will never finish computing the dependencies. To fix this you need to install manually Windows6.1-KB3102810-x64.msu. Then you can use Windows Update. Some pointers:
- Revert to manual updating (so you can select which ones goes in)
- Do not install KB3123862 that is related to updating to Windows 10 (in the optional updates)
- Most of the optional updates you can skip or decide one by one.
- If you are a web developer you may skip the important update of Internet Explorer 11 if you want to keep Internet Explorer 8 for compatibility testing since the native IE8 is really needed and cannot be replaced by the emulator in later version if you plan on supporting IE8 and testing its compatibility. Yes there is an IE8 emulator in later version of IE but they behave better than IE8 and cannot be used to access IE8 support. However they are better (the emulators) to debug code as the script debugger in native IE8 sucks.
Software
Create a C:\Tools folder and add it to path
Console2 - paste it in C:\Tools
EditPad Pro *paid*
PuTTy (putty-0.67-
TrueCrypt 7.1a (last working version)
JetBrain WebStorm *paid*
SoundTap Streaming Recorder *paid*
Logitech Gaming Software (for programmed keyboard and G13 keypad)
ImageWriter - to write/create DOS USB BOOT sticks
PHP 5.6 (php-5.6.15-Win32-VC11-x64.zip) + manually add C:\php-5.6.15 to path
Apache2 Haus (httpd-2.4.18-x64.zip) + to run just open a console and execute bin/httpd.exe
Visual Studio Community Edition https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/fr/vs/older-downloads/
Visual Studio 2013 redistributable https://www.microsoft.com/fr-ca/download/details.aspx?id=40784 (including msvcr120d.dll)
Hardware I use for reference
- ASUS CSM or 5X protection motherboard
- AMD A8 or A10 CPU
- AMD Video Card since you have an AMD CPU they will work in pair and only use one driver
- Corsair Vengeance or Dominator DDR3
- ADATA or Corsair SSD
- Seasonic Power Supply
With the items above your computer will run stable and fast and you won't have to worry too much about hardware. For more info see this Gaming Platform Sample Configuration.
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