what do you guys install after reformatting?

[l3ored]

i just reformatted, what should i get?

 

[neilm]

You should start by installing the required windows updates.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Windows updates.
Newest drivers for Video card.
Firewall
AdAware 6
Antivirus (AVG 6)

 

[Sid59]

Windows install + drivers
-- ghost -- saved to bootable DVDR with 2nd ghost
patches and updates
-- ghost -- saved ti bootable DVDR with 1st ghost
tweak setttings + apps (aim, word, firebird & thunderbird, nero / NTI, foobar)
-- ghost -- saved on local hard drive

ghost backup every few months saved locally
-- all files saved onto other hard drives and data disc.

 

[WayneTeK]

1. Windows Xp + Sp1
2. Nav 2004
3. Ad Aware + Spy Bot
4. Overnet
5. Newest DRivers (audio + video)
6. Aim
7. Updates on Windows
8. All my video games
9. Mozilla + Opera
10. Apple Ipod software + iTunes
11. ACDSEE
12. Photoshop + Illustrator
13. Flash MX + Dreamweaver MX + Fireworks MX
14. AVid Express DV
15. Download Accelerator
16. Secure Shell
17. Office 2003
18. Power DVD 6.0
19. Nero 6
20. Tweak XP

I have some more, just can't think of any.

I reformat every 6months. I have my drives partitioned into two drives: C:\ and D:\.

C:\ drive serves as main OS and a location where i can install games.

D:\ drive serves as Permanent data storage (e.g. music, video, etc.).

This is all done on a WD120gig HD w/ 8mb cache.

I will be purchasing another 200gig HD so it can serve as a Permanent storage unit.

 

[BFG10K]

(1) Flash BIOS.
(2) Install XP & service pack(s).
(3) Install chipset drivers.
(4) Install video card drivers.
(5) Install the rest of the drivers.
(6) Install applications.

 

[igowerf]

Here's my general order:

1) Download all the latest drivers and burn them to CD
2) Format and reinstall Windows
3) Install all of the drivers from the CD (I have a wireless LAN so it's easier to have wireless drivers available right away)
4) AIM and Firebird
5) Windows updates (while I chat on AIM and browse with Firebird)
6) Norton Systemworks

I install the rest of the stuff as I need it. I usually end up needing FTP and Photoshop right away. After that Nero, PowerDVD, and OpenOffice.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: WayneTeK
1. Windows Xp + Sp1
2. Nav 2004
3. Ad Aware + Spy Bot
4. Overnet
5. Newest DRivers (audio + video)
6. Aim
7. Updates on Windows
8. All my video games
9. Mozilla + Opera
10. Apple Ipod software + iTunes
11. ACDSEE
12. Photoshop + Illustrator
13. Flash MX + Dreamweaver MX + Fireworks MX
14. AVid Express DV
15. Download Accelerator
16. Secure Shell
17. Office 2003
18. Power DVD 6.0
19. Nero 6
20. Tweak XP

Is that your order of installing things? If so, why would you install Overnet before the Windows Updates?

 

[WayneTeK]

Originally posted by: igowerf

Originally posted by: WayneTeK
1. Windows Xp + Sp1
2. Nav 2004
3. Ad Aware + Spy Bot
4. Overnet
5. Newest DRivers (audio + video)
6. Aim
7. Updates on Windows
8. All my video games
9. Mozilla + Opera
10. Apple Ipod software + iTunes
11. ACDSEE
12. Photoshop + Illustrator
13. Flash MX + Dreamweaver MX + Fireworks MX
14. AVid Express DV
15. Download Accelerator
16. Secure Shell
17. Office 2003
18. Power DVD 6.0
19. Nero 6
20. Tweak XP

Is that your order of installing things? If so, why would you install Overnet before the Windows Updates?

Awh.. this isn't my order i install things... I usually install patches and junk first. Cheers!

 

[WayneTeK]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
(1) Flash BIOS.
(2) Install XP & service pack(s).
(3) Install chipset drivers.
(4) Install video card drivers.
(5) Install the rest of the drivers.
(6) Install applications.

chipset drivers? WTH?

 

[Jeff7181]

Since I keep my data on a separate drive, reinstallation is rather easy... I can download drivers and whatnot BEFORE reinstalling so the process goes as fast as possible... usually within about 3 hours I'm back up and running with just about everything I need. I've been thinking about doing a clean install soon since things seem to be getting sluggish... but I'm waiting for a possible hardware upgrade, such as a new CPU and motherboard (A64 3000+) or possibly a new video card (either nVidia or ATI)... or possibly a new 72 GB Raptor.

But anyway, the OS comes first obviously, then I install SP1 and all other updates from Windows Update. Then I install the latest drivers that Windows Update didn't install. Then I go ahead with software installation, patching each piece of software as necessary before installing the next piece of software. If I had a DVD burner I'd put a basic OS and programs I'll always use on a disk so that would be a little less work, but I don't, so I don't.

 

[Sid59]

ghost .. it's your friend.

 

[Megatomic]

1. OS + patches
2. Latest DirectX
3. Chipset drivers
4. Video drivers
5. Check WU again
6. Office/productivity apps + patches
7. Games + patches + bonus packs
8. Defrag
9. Ghost if this image is significantly different from the last

Wow, my list looks so short and quick. It actually takes me about 8 hours of my dedicated time to do all that. What a pain.

 

[Rottie]

I have thought about clean install but I am kinda afraid of lose something important even though I have back up all personal data but not others such as freeware programs.

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: Rottie
I have thought about clean install but I am kinda afraid of lose something important even though I have back up all personal data but not others such as freeware programs.

just create a txt of programs installed .. and a copy if bookmarks .. those are the 2 most forgotten items

 

[UptheMiddle]

I can vouche for the forgotten bookmarks!!! That turns painful as some of the obscure sites you randomly run across and bookmark can be time consuming to find again.

If you rely on the Windows to remember your passwords, you can find yourself in a world of hurt if you don't remember them or didn't write them down.

 

[Sid59]

also backup the the ftp sites if you have an ftp and sites you lioke.

 

[Twista]

I found after a format that i INSTALL a OPERATING SYSTEM.

 

[Jeff H]

Guys, this is a great thread. I noticed Ghost mentioned often. I've been using Ghost 2003 to image a Win98SE install, both to CD-R and HD. I've recently done a hardware upgrade and moved up to XP Pro. If I understand Ghost 2003 correctly it will do an NTFS image backup of XP Pro. Is that correct? If so, can I do it the usual way - boot from Ghost floppy and do the imaging? Are there any "gotchas" re restoring from the images, via boot floppy?

TIA,

Jeff

 

[SearchMaster]

It will be no different for XP as opposed to 98SE. The difference between Ghost 2003 and earlier versions is that 2003 will allow you to back up onto an NTFS partition - previous versions required the final destination to be a FAT partition. But for what you're doing, you'll see no difference going from 98 to XP.

 

[Jeff H]

SearchMaster, thanks for the reply. I just finished doing an image backup on both systems, and all went well. I liken Ghost to insurance, you do it hoping you'll never have to use it!

 

[Atlantean]

Originally posted by: Rottie
I have thought about clean install but I am kinda afraid of lose something important even though I have back up all personal data but not others such as freeware programs.

Get another harddrive so that you can install new windows onto a fresh harddrive then transfer over what you need and reformat the old drive.

 

[NokiaDude]

Originally posted by: WayneTeK
1. Windows Xp + Sp1
2. Nav 2004
3. Ad Aware + Spy Bot
4. Overnet
5. Newest DRivers (audio + video)
6. Aim
7. Updates on Windows
8. All my video games
9. Mozilla + Opera
10. Apple Ipod software + iTunes
11. ACDSEE
12. Photoshop + Illustrator
13. Flash MX + Dreamweaver MX + Fireworks MX
14. AVid Express DV
15. Download Accelerator
16. Secure Shell
17. Office 2003
18. Power DVD 6.0
19. Nero 6
20. Tweak XP

I have some more, just can't think of any.

I reformat every 6months. I have my drives partitioned into two drives: C:\ and D:\.

C:\ drive serves as main OS and a location where i can install games.

D:\ drive serves as Permanent data storage (e.g. music, video, etc.).

This is all done on a WD120gig HD w/ 8mb cache.

I will be purchasing another 200gig HD so it can serve as a Permanent storage unit.

Add latest motherboard chipset drivers to number 5!

 

[nageov3t]

1) drivers for my USB 802.11 modem
2) OS patches
3) anti-virus
4) updated drivers
5) Office 2003
6) DVD/CD burning programs
7) Winamp
8) DivX / various other codec packages
9) XNews
10) other programs as needed.

 

[NEVERwinter]

1. motherboard driver
2. other drivers
3. winamp
3. OS update
4. big programs (office, corel draw, etc.)
5. internet programs (opera, download manager, etc.)
6. smaller programs (nero, powerdvd, codecs, etc.)
7. OS tweakers and other programs as needed...