correct install order?

[scottieg]

i can't rember the order

ty

 

[mechBgon]

If you don't have a hardware firewall, then I suggest a quick read here and download free ZoneAlarm firewall software at a minimum, and burn that to CD so you can have it installed before you install your NIC/motherboard drivers and expose your naked Windows installation to your unfirewalled broadband modem. edit: as a dial-up user, I guess I should add that you can be attacked over dial-up too :frown: Go ahead and use ZoneAlarm or another free firewall software if you're on dial-up.

As for the rest, the essentials would go something like this:

[*]First, unplug network cable if you do not have a hardware firewall
[*]Install Windows
[*]Install firewall software and antivirus software
[*]Now you can plug in your network cable and install NIC drivers if Windows doesn't have them itself
[*]Update your antivirus definitions as soon as you can
[*]Install any Service Packs available for your OS, either by downloading them or via Windows Update
[*]Install your motherboard drivers (the Resources link above also has links to these)
[*]Install the latest video drivers (Resources link... yeah)
[*]Install other drivers for your other hardware
[*]Hit Windows Update repeatedly until you have all Critical Updates and whatever other updates you want
[*]Install and run Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 1.2 (Resources link) and see how you did on the less-obvious stuff
[*]Get a hardware firewall if you can afford it

HTH