Re-Formating/New Rig- Any out of the ordinary ideas?

[SleepyOSU]

I don't know about all of you but I HATE reformatting my computer. Among other things I am hoping to do a ?Perfect? Install this one time. And ?save it? I know you can do this but than you still have to deal with all of the files that you need that accumulate all over the place? such as documents, favorites, downloads, email in outlook before you do the restore. I am looking to do a perfect install.

Any advice on things any of you they have done on a fresh install that has made life easier etc?
Any out of the ordinary ideas?
A good list of programs to cover the basics?
Any other ideas?

My computer uses:
25% School
10% Communication
25% Stocks
20% Games
20% Music and Video

Thanks to all who answer, your responses are greatly appreciated!

 

[Azndude2190]

Well these cover the basics for having a "safe" computer
Firewall:ex:Zonealarm
Anti-Virus program:ex:Norton Anti-Virus 2003
Spyware remover:ex:Ad-ware or Microsoft AntiSpyware
Registry cleaner:ex:EasyCleaner

 

[episodic]

Why bother. . .

Your perfect install will be totally out of date come 6 months from now.

Thats one of the joys of broadband. . .

 

[SleepyOSU]

Point taken

 

[Fenixgoon]

100% porn