Don't pay for essential PC software when you can get most of it for free thanks to open source software http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_free_and_open_source_software
Heres a list of recommended through use software:
Office Office Org : http://www.openoffice.org/
Image manipulation - Gimp: http://www.gimp.org/
A whole host of Music Production links can be found at : http://www.psrpro.com/PSR/Links.html
Virus Protection: http://lavasoft.com/
Free Software - Tips and Tricks - How to guides - Links
