Reinstalling my PC

[Urza]

Doing this stuff out of order can result in a seriously screwed-up system. Believe me, I know. I've set up many dozens of PC's in my time. There is a very specific pattern to a successful setup, as I succinctly outlined above.

I disagree. My setup ritual generally goes something like:

All drivers in no particular order -> Windows update (either now or sometime at the end, depending on how much time I have, of course omitting WGA) -> Programs that I/the owner need -> other setup

The order generally doesn't matter as long as you get drivers installed before dumping all your programs on.

Of course if this is my main workstation, I'm probably doing my regular biyearly format, and just reapply the image I backed up right after the first time I finished setting it up instead of going through all this nonsense every time.

 

[cracker]

+1 for nod32
utorrent
Newsleecher
xp-Antispy
WinDirStat instead of TreeSize
OpenOffice.org
AutoGK
FileZilla
ExamDiffPro
XVI32
Foxit Reader
Real Alternative
Quicktime Alternative
Media Player Classic
ipsXP
Hotmail Popper
ISO Buster
Magic ISO
Peer Guardian
SpeedFan
TClock
Uptimer 4
UltraVNC instead of RealVNC
GIMP
GSpot
MediaCoder
VirtualDub
nvu
QuickPAR
PhotoResize
XPlite
OpenedFilesView
xpavifix (turns off the thumbnail view on .avi selection in Explorer so you can move, deleted .avis w/o Windows bitching)

And a very important registry entry:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"DisablePagingExecutive"=dword:00000001

That has sped up XP a lot on a few different machines I've worked on!

 

[pinbi7]

Fuck Norton/Symantec. Install a free antivirus like AntiVir, Avast, or AVG, and get Firefox with Ad-Block add-on. You're set.

In addition to RocketDock, get Launchy. I can't frickin' live without Launchy anymore.


+1. Norton is a piece of crap, and I've had experience with it. I have Avast and it works for me just fine, it wins.

And it's free, too!

+1 also avast rules

 

[juggernaut911]

so, just burn my new nLite install to a new disc and reinstall and I'm ready to go?

 

[Urza]

so, just burn my new nLite install to a new disc and reinstall and I'm ready to go?

Yes.

 

[juggernaut911]

what do you recommend I use to burn? should I burn directly or save to iso and burn with something else?

 

[Urza]

what do you recommend I use to burn? should I burn directly or save to iso and burn with something else?

I'd save to an ISO so you have a backup if the disc gets botched.

ImgBurn to burn.

 

[ridgecity]

you should try hackintosh if you have the compatible hardware. and dual boot with Windows Xp later. cheap mac with tons of great software and windows as safety net.

 

[stinkingbob]

Here is what I do so I don't have to reinstall everything: Buy Acronis True Image 11. Its around $39 when you apply an internet coupon to it. What this does is create an image of your entire harddrive. Then, when you need to, you can simply put your computer back into the state that you backed up.
For me, I installed windows XP and all progams I needed. I did all my updates. Then I took an image of my computer at that moment. Now, when I "reinstall" windows, it only takes about 15 minutes. THe only thaing I have to do is download any updates to windows. Make sure to back up any files that you need like your word documents becuase when you do the back up, it is erased.