An independent reference on choosing, installing and maintaining software. It does not distribute programs or files and is not affiliated with developers or with the former site on this domain.
Guides
Anyone can install a program: clicking “Next” a few times in a row isn't hard. What's harder is figuring out later where that new browser toolbar came from and why your computer is so slow to wake up in the morning. Here you'll find guides for everyday tasks that help you avoid ever needing a major cleanup.
The “Next” button in an installer is the most clicked and least read button in the world.
How to use this section: the advice is written in general terms and fits most home systems. The names of menu items and windows on your computer may differ, but the logic is almost always the same. Before making significant changes, create a restore point or back up your important files so you have something to go back to if things go wrong.
Tasks that every home computer owner runs into sooner or later.
Look for the developer's website, not the first page with a big button. Double-check the address and see whether the site has a product description and contact details. Your system's built-in app store is also an official route.
Choose custom or advanced installation if it's available: that's where you can see exactly what gets installed. Uncheck the boxes for extra programs, toolbars and changes to your search page.
Turn on automatic updates wherever possible, and every so often check whether any program is asking to be updated manually. Don't put off security updates for long.
See which programs launch along with the system. Anything you don't need right after you turn the computer on can be disabled: the program stays installed and simply starts when you want it to.
Once a season, go through the list of installed programs and remove anything you haven't used in a long time. Uninstall using your system's standard method, not by simply deleting the folder.
This is where we'll collect standalone Softoban articles written specifically for readers of the English version of this reference.
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How achievement tracking works, what GTA V's completion checklist teaches, and why no GTA 6 trophy list exists yet. A calm planning overview for completionists.
A planning walkthrough for Grand Theft Auto VI: getting the install ready, what mission structure is still unknown, and solo play versus outside help compared.
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Open the developer's website or your system's built-in app store. If you came across the program through an ad or a link in a message, still find its official page on your own.
Make sure the program works with your system, and read the terms: is it free, is there a trial period, and what happens after it ends?
If the program makes significant changes to the system, such as installing drivers or services, create a restore point beforehand. It takes a moment and may one day save you a whole evening.
In the installer, look for the option to pick components manually. That way you can see where the program is installed, what else it wants to add and which of those extras you can decline.
A hypothetical example: on the component selection screen, next to the program there's a pre-checked box saying “install an additional search toolbar.” Uncheck it.
Read every screen before clicking “Next.” Bundled extras often hide behind wording like “recommended settings” or “support the developer,” and declining them won't break the program.
Look at the list of programs that launch along with the system. If the new program has settled in there for no good reason, turn off its automatic startup.
Open your browser and make sure your home page, default search engine and list of extensions are unchanged. If something changed, restore your settings and remove whatever doesn't belong.
Built-in system tools that help keep programs in order: the list of installed apps, startup apps, updates, recovery options and account permissions.
How free, trial, open source and paid software differ, how an installer compares to a portable version, and which updates to install right away.
What to do when a program won't start, won't uninstall, keeps asking for admin rights, or when something unwanted shows up after an install.
Risks when looking for software: fake download sites, pirated versions, installers with bundled extras and fake update notifications in your browser.
Answers about this reference, about installing and updating programs, and about keeping a home computer from turning into a storage room of forgotten apps.
These recommendations are written in general terms as of the date they were prepared. Installer windows, menu items and the names of system tools vary and change with updates, so check your system's help and the program developer's documentation rather than relying on how things looked last time.