Help me make my Windows Install Smooooooth

[philosofool]

According to UPS, my new computer parts are arriving today. I'm running Vista 64 and will be doing a clean install.

The short version of the question is "What should I have done before the install and what should I have ready once the installation is complete to get my computer totally ready to go?"

Here are some things I've already done:
(0) All my user data is on a separate partition from my current OS, so it should be safe. Nevertheless, all the really important files have been backedup.
(1) I deauthorized all the licensed music/videos on my computer.
(2) I downloaded drivers for all the hardware that's on it's way.
(3) I collected installers and updates for several programs that I know I will be installing once it is here.

Anything else I should be doing?

Also, my copy of Vista is pre-SP1, which means that I need to install SP1 and many, many updates. If I connect my new computer via network cable to my cable modem, will it have the necessary internet connections to do that while the install is happening, or am I going to have to suffer the tedious "Download updates, restart, download more updates, restart, download more updates, restart, download service pack one, looooong restart, download updates, restart" crap that I had to go through last time I re-installed Vista?1

 

[yinan]

Installing Windows 7 will eliminate the need for the many updates 😉

 

[TheStu]

There is also the slipstreaming route, where you spend the time now to put SP1 onto your Vista disk, as well as your drivers and what not. Then, any time you need to re-install, you spend less time updating and more time using.