What are the first things you do after you reformat?

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SportSC4

Golden Member
Aug 29, 2002
1,152
0
0
?Stop messenger services
?Restore Quicklaunch bar
?Install all security updates
?Install any 3rd party programs (Firebird, Winamp, etc)
?Install Codecs (Real alternative, Quicktime, DivX, etc)
?Install Office XP
?Install Uxtheme.dll
?Set systray icon properties and organize start bar

I pretty much follow that order, works best in my cases.
What's the benefit in stopping system restore? I might just have to add it to the list.
 
Kadarin

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
Heh.. I just did this the other day. I was watching tv (Hauppage WinTV card) and printing something at the same time, and the system locked up. Upon reboot, it couldn't find some file, and the Win2K Repair function "couldn't find an installation of Windows 2000" to repair. Go figure. I would have gone Linux this time, but my mp3s and porn are all on NTFS partitions, and I don't know if Linux's NTFS support is up to snuff yet, so...

After formatting and installing the base OS, I installed the vid, ethernet, and Audigy drivers (Win2K didn't recognize my GeForce3 nor my Linksys LNE100TX ??), applied Service Pack 2, and hit Windows Update to download a buttload of security updates and rollup packages. Installed the latest Mozilla, AIM (how do you turn the sound off on version 5.2.3292?), and Yahoo Messenger, along with Winamp 2.80 and accessories, then set the wallpaper. Today I needed the printer, so I installed the driver for that... And that's about it so far.
 
Miramonti

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
106
firewall and other security protections, then windows updates, then utilities and gui tweaks, then programs.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Broohaha Thought this would be interesting after seeing the responses to the "XP Click" thread.... this is assuming an install to XP and correctly reinstalling drivers, etc.: 1. Turn off system restore 2. Unlock taskbar, restore quicklaunch bar, make taskbar "two bars" high 3. Ditch Win XP menus and use Win9x/2k style menus 4. Set up my email on OE 5. Restore my "links" bar in IE from an email I've sent myself 6. Installl Winzip, Winamp, AIM, and k a z a a 7. Install MS Office XP 8. This is realy like #3 but I forgot: restore all folders to classic view, use details mode and set all folders to display like that exact folder That's about it and I'm ready to go :)
Click to expand...
1) Ditch WinXP menus and use Win9x/2k style menus 2) Turn off system restore 3) Unlock taskbar, restore quicklaunch bar, (why the fsck would you want to make your taskbar 2 "bars" high?:Q) 4) I hate OE. I use Eudora 3.0.5. 5) Not sure what this is.. 6) Install Sonique, AIM, ICQ, and YIM.. Why install winzip when XP has built in support for zips? :confused: 7) Install Norton AV 8) Run windows update
Click to expand...

i make it two bars high becausei usually have a sh!tload of stuff open at once and needs lots of room on my taskbar
5) you know that "links" folder that is perpetually in your favorites menu in IE? that.
I install winzip because i prefer its drag and drop format.

can i have my computing license now, master?
rolleye.gif
Click to expand...
Huh.. my post wasn't meant as a flame or inflamatory in any way.. Sorry if you took it that way.. :confused:

I usually have a lot of stuff open too.. 3 "bars" right now, lol.. but I prefer the extra screen space, I guess.. I don't use the taskbar much anyway, alt-tab. :)
 
P

Palek

Senior member
Jun 20, 2001
937
0
0
What are the first things you do after you reformat?
Click to expand...
Well, there was this one time the reformat was unintentional. I freaked out and banged my head into my desk, if I remember correctly. :)

Well, I usually start out by installing ZoneAlarm and NAV.
Then I repeat the windowsupdate->reboot cycle till there's nothing to update.
After that come the driver installs.
Next I kill off all unnecessary services etc., and then manually remove OE (I'm on Win2k) and install my alternative net software - Opera and Becky (email app).
Once I have a safe, relatively light OS, I install Office and Visual Studio, and then finally add the fun apps like Winamp, Quicktime etc.
 
D

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
0
76
Take a shower, because of the dirty feeling of still being Microsoft's B*tch.

-.-.-.-.-

Then most of the stuff in the first post + antivirus + the windows updates + disable messenger, etc, all that's been covered. I don't disable sys.restore but I do limit it to 1% of storage.

I also go into power mgmt and disable hibernation.

I go into performance settings and set the min Swap file size to a very large size, on a different drive/controller. Sometimes I'll make the max larger, but usually it's the same size. Although this really isn't a big deal nowadays...
I tweak MTU and TCPWindow using DRTCP (from DSLReports.com tools)
I edit registry to add and increase MaxConnectionsPerServer to 8 (also for 1_0Server).

I usually install:

IESpell
IrfanView
CrazyBrowser
Trillian (if my PC)
and some other stuff From an old thread, Software Suggestions from ATOT Forum

And, then, after about the 30th reboot I get tired and go to bed for the night, still feeling dirty.

 
B

Broohaha

Banned
Jan 4, 2001
3,973
0
0
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
f@p I have an unattended install DVD that takes care of all that crap for me
Click to expand...

can you explain how i can make one of those??? peweeezee?
 
B

Broohaha

Banned
Jan 4, 2001
3,973
0
0
Originally posted by: dman
Take a shower, because of the dirty feeling of still being Microsoft's B*tch. -.-.-.-.- Then most of the stuff in the first post + antivirus + the windows updates + disable messenger, etc, all that's been covered. I don't disable sys.restore but I do limit it to 1% of storage. I also go into power mgmt and disable hibernation. I go into performance settings and set the min Swap file size to a very large size, on a different drive/controller. Sometimes I'll make the max larger, but usually it's the same size. Although this really isn't a big deal nowadays... I tweak MTU and TCPWindow using DRTCP (from DSLReports.com tools) I edit registry to add and increase MaxConnectionsPerServer to 8 (also for 1_0Server). I usually install: IESpell IrfanView CrazyBrowser Trillian (if my PC) and some other stuff From an old thread, Software Suggestions from ATOT Forum And, then, after about the 30th reboot I get tired and go to bed for the night, still feeling dirty.
Click to expand...

lol :D
 
Amused

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,389
19,705
146
Am I the only one who likes the XP look? The only things I turn off are menu, tooltip, taskbar fades/slides/shadows.
 
B

Broohaha

Banned
Jan 4, 2001
3,973
0
0
Originally posted by: Amused
Am I the only one who likes the XP look? The only things I turn off are menu, tooltip, taskbar fades/slides/shadows.
Click to expand...

yes, turn in your man card, NOW.
 
C

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
i screw with settings for a long time before i set anything else up

one of the first things i do is install UT2k3 to make sure games and sound work perfectly.

after the actual setup is all done, then i start installing apps and setting up the apps :)
 
E

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
0
Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
f@p I have an unattended install DVD that takes care of all that crap for me
Click to expand...

can you explain how i can make one of those??? peweeezee?
Click to expand...

Beware - this will consume the majority of your non-ATOT life and require two computers, one of them which you are creating the DVD for - you will have to reformat at least once, and another that has 5 gigs of storage that you can afford to set aside.

There is a limit of approximately 4.5 gigs that you can use on the DVD after Windows.

I'll get back to this when I get home - idiots can't read my name and I have to go beyawtch at the detention lady because she thinks I skipped free period.
 
her209

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
f@p I have an unattended install DVD that takes care of all that crap for me
Click to expand...
can you explain how i can make one of those??? peweeezee?
Click to expand...
Do a search for a Deploy.cab on your XP CD.
 
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