Stuff to install after a clean format?

[X3no]

Hi guys,

just wanna get more info what usually you guys put in after a clean install of windows :)

Basic:
Install Windows
Install drivers from CDs
Look for updates?

Other apps:
AVG Virus?
AdWare?
PC Optimize?
etc.

can to share any other niffy programs which may be useful? ;)

[mavicaste]

Recommend you to install drivers, service packs and a anti-virus/firewall offline before going online to update your virus definitions first followed by Windows Update.

[cty85]

update your os, then install drivers, office apps, adobe, then back up data and games then im done :)

but usually after install drivers, i will overclock and run stability tests to make sure oc stable(if havent oc before installing os)

[xboxer]

For me is

WinXP(OBVIOUSLY)
SP2
Graphic driver
Anti virus(Very important to install this before you even think of connecting to the internet.)
Ethernet driver
Mouse driver

After all these, I just install whatever I need like K-lite codec, VLC, Opera, Firefox etc etc.

[WaterRain]

Apart from the above..

An uninstaller - I'm using Revo.
Something to defrag - Auslogic for me

[X3no]

thanks

what about paritions? assume 500gb hard-disk?

C:\ 100 gb - OS / ms office / drivers / core applications ?
D:\ 400 gb - applications / games / downloads ?

[WaterRain]

I don't know what are your 'core applications' but I'm sure the OS/ms office/drivers should take up too much. 10 GB could be more than enough. Maybe 5 is already enough.

But if it's me, I'll have one partition for games and downloads because this partition will change pretty often - installing and uninstalling. Oh.. and bad installs..

You might want to have a boot partition backup image stored in a separate partition, by using a program such as Norton Ghost. It will offer a convenient backup and quick recovery method when Windows gets corrupted.

Maybe another one for archive.. Things that I keep but doesn't use often. Maybe at the very end - last partition.

Smaller partitions can be defrag faster as well as backup.

[suntag881]

my essentials: firefox, firewall, viruscan

[qingtian]

my essentials: firefox, firewall, viruscan

JKDefrag GUI for me after all those essential softwares installation update.

[ralliart12]

Install Antivirus of choice (recommend Avira AntiVir)
Turn OFF Windows Auto-update, System Restore
Remove DVD from TRAY b4 restart

Adjust 'Display' properties(Rem 'Customise' btn! BUT dun turn on the 4 kings!)
Adjust 'Power Options' -> 'Ask Me' When power btn pressed, do nth when lid is closed, etc
note, 'never' for turn off HDD, enter standby
Navigate to 'Control Panel'(Maximise its window)
Goto 'Appearances & Themes'
Adjust 'Taskbar & Start menu'
Adjust 'Folder Options'
Close 'Control Panel' & navigate to 'My Computer'(Maximise its window if necessary)
Activate all toolbars & buttons
1.'View'>'Status bar'
2.'View >'Toolbars'>'Customize'

From 'My Computer':
1. Navigate to 'Control Panel'>'Sound devices...'>'Advanced Volume Ctrl' in TASK PANE
2. MAX all volume properties
3. NO need to handle sound scheme; to be installed later
5. Repeat necessary procedures to adjust Mouse properties(dun need to null scheme anymore, dun wan the press ctrl option)
6. Configure 'User Accounts'(Change picture -> 37.bmp)

Connect portable HDD

After auto-play option appear, DIRECTLY access portable drive
Transfer back My Documnets' stuff on a FOLDER-BY-FOLDER basis, as certain folders will be re-instated via re-installation of software later, so DUN 1 SHOT transfer bk evthing
Transfer disc's My Docs to laptop's My Documents(including new ones from F:)
Transfer Super nice, & My Music LAST

Copy entire "software folder" to desktop(remove @ end of the day)
--shift JKDefrag to C:\root

Rem to eject & disconnect(albeit physcially) the portable HDD

Install Brother printer(to behind top)
If restart is required, remove any disc from drive
Power on 2Wire here

Win key + R, then devmgmt.msc & modify 'Power Options'(rem the NOt standby when lid close option) for USB root hubs & ALL network adapterS!
Configure Internet Explorer 'Internet Options'('Connnection' & 'Advanced' tabs)

Open up NOD32's update panel, on standby
Plug in LAN cable
Update NOD32 IMMEDIATELY upon active connection
Goto network connections to turn on systray for LAN connection
Activate Windows(if activation fails, restore from activated system files)

Configure Internet Explorer's toolbar(1. Show all 'hidden' buttons; 2. Enable 'autohide' for 'Kiosk' mode;
3. Adjust text-size)
Install FireFox, reset & display all btns, etc
Close off bookmarks toolbar
Import & delete duplicate bookmarks, set homepg to yahoo email instead,
Adjust ALL FF options carefully
Download & install extensions, FasterFox, Tab Mix Plus(just import settings from ol' laptop), Link Alert(last 2 extensions must tweak a few more settings)
Tweak firefox memory consumption on minimise using this:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/fix-for-firefox-memory-leak-on-windows/
Install JDK(Rem to amend install dir to Install in C:\jdk1.5!!!)
visit iBanking to test java.(ONLY, then HWZ forums for flash, but rem, NO QT huh!)
Goto Control Panel, switch to Classic view, Java, uncheck "for updates automatically"

Install Microsoft Office 2007 - {rem to configure key info, initials}
After installation change theme to BLACK, then fire up Excel change default save as to 97-2003 format, then fire up Word do the same 2 adjustments
Install Adobe Acrobat (latest version), update LATER
Install Adobe Photoshop CS3

To remove Bonjour:

1. Open a Windows command prompt and type the following command:
"C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe" -remove
2. Navigate to the following folder in Windows Explorer: C:\Program Files\Bonjour
3. Rename the mdnsNSP.dll file in that folder to mdnsNSP.old
4. Restart your computer
5. Delete the the Program Files\Bonjour folder

However, the first command line that they give did not work for me, I had to use " C:\Progra~1\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe -remove "

for what it is worth........


Install 7-zip
Install Winamp(INSTALL standard/LITE edition, then restore artica) then surround sound eq settings
Install K++ MEGA Codec Pack with all the watever alternatives(ensure QT & Real Alternative is checkED, then chk configure QT at the end of installation.)
Install DVD Region Free
Install Windows Live Msgr(NO OTHER thing OTHER than the msgr itself)(, REM to OFFline huh, change color theme)
Install Messenger Plus(settings in settings pic)
Install Ad-aware 2007
Install Spybot Search & Destroy 1.5(rem to OFF TeaTimer)
Install Ahead Nero Burning-rom(<-) typical installation, then JUST Nero StartSmart QL icon, NOT Nero Home
Execute Nero-Burning-Rom(rem to DE-associate ALL) & input serial no.

Install RocketDock, remove unnecessary icons & skins, then add that ONE skin, add Windows Explorer, Samsung Update Plus, WINDOWS update, internet options(inetcpl.cpl), adaware, disk cleanup, JKdefrag, taskbar & start menu(::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{0DF44EAA-FF21-4412-828E-260A8728E7F1}), & clock, Windows Explorer will NOT work
Install ATT
Install Notepad++
Implement the Geek's copy-to&move-to registry entries
Install the open cmd window here power toy

patch TCPIP.sys to 100, DUN restart YET
Patch uxtheme FIRST, ok now restart
Install OB WMP 11 theme, if cursor no change to AERO style, then install XP vista theme pack
then copy extra "icons" folder to C:\Windows\Resources\Theme\OB_WMP_11
After everything change to heart pain wallpaper on ext. storage, & individual icons in Customise desktop

Update Adobe Acrobat(8 times)

REBOOT
Execute Windows/MicroSoft Update(for as long & as many times as it takes) - can perform separate timing
control userpasswords2
Initialize Win Media Player
Clear IE & FF cache

Perform Disk Cleanup
Run adware & spyware scans...
Execute Norton Systemworks & run necessary checks


Sort desktop icons in this sequence: modified, type, name
Sort Start menu>'All Programs' by name
Unlock taskbar & arrange quicklaunch buttons; lock when done

Perform Desktop Cleanup

Clear programs from Start menu & Recent documents
Defrag
Reboot

Optimization phase
Uncheck "index this drive for fast searching" /key ignore all
tweak for fast shutdown
Start Regedit.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control.
Click on the "Control" Folder.
Select "WaitToKillServiceTimeout"
Right click on it and select Modify.
Set it to a value lower than 2000, say 1000 as a test.
Disable fast user switching using this method:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/disable-fast-user-switching-on-windows-xp/
INDIVIDUALLY use each systray item's natural mechanism to neutralise their startup 1st, b4 using AutoRuns
use autoruns to deactivate confirm unnecessary startup utilities(DUN wan syntplpr.exe)
check services.msc for unnecessary services(actually the only safe one is Groove Monitor to turn off)

[hlots123]

So many replies advocate installing AV even before doing windows update.
But I feel if u are behind router, after windows & drivers install - I'd do windows update 1st, image backup 2nd, FF or Opera 3rd.

[Openroad]

The very FIRST thing...is to install FIREFOX!... to visit HWZ forums :D
normally..
/*
1.just install windows XP
2.u must be shiok to see soo much diskspace on ure drives.
3.Install ure favorite antivirus/spyware(IF U WANT)
4.install applications that u usually used to use..like MSN or Skype etc...
5.NOW..Install ure games ^^ (takes alot of time though =_=)
*/ :D

[ab_cat]

install latest service pack/updates, anti-virus like AVG and firewall like Comodo, some anti-spyware if u wan, Ms Office or alternative Free (Open Office), Firefox and other software that you would require to use.

[BlurKillerEX]

Well... for me:
1st - wait for the automatic update to finish everything and install all drivers needed
2nd - firefox
3rd - Windows live messenger(need to chat wif frens badly)
4th - Flash player(watch youtube videos)
5th - Java (needed for some web and apps)
6th - Nero(im using 6 > 7 8 and 9 are all bloatwares)
7th - Winrar(damn important for me)
8th - vuze(xD)
9th - of course... Call of Duty 4, maybe 5 too


some other things that is needed for me: MS office, PowerDVD(watch dvd), ffdshow(mp4 codec), daemon tools(i've got loads of ISOs), adobe reader(for reading all the price list i dl from hwz) and CCleaner(must have for everybody)

[paithorn]

I just reformatted, after that my window media player becomes soundless regardless of me playing CD or PM3. Speaker and soundcard/drivers ok cos window start up sound good.

Anyone can help me?