Discussion : Fresh installation guide (Win XP)

Grease Monk

Grease Monk

Intertoob Ninja & Hamster Hunter Extraordinaire
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Wanted to start a discussion about what all steps you guys take when performing a fresh install of Windows XP on your system. Software installed, features disabled, tweaks, the works. Hopefully we can compile this later to form some sort of guide.
Here's an abridged example to get the ball rolling.

Install dx 9
Install mobo drivers
Install gfx drivers
Install other hardware drivers
Install service pack 1 & 2
Set pagefile size
Defrag OS partition
Setup internet connection
Install windows updates
Disable unnecessary services --> will need to discuss this
Disable system restore
Disable indexing
Disable hibernate?
Install xp lite & remove unwanted Win XP features (like WMP :bleh: )
Install tunexp & run optimizations (especially for bootup)
Increase sp2's max TCP connections (seems to intefere with some programs)
Bios tweaks

Grease Monk posted 41.18 minutes later:

Services :

blackviper.com used to be the place to go to get information on windows xp's services. Now its gone. Also, there are people who say that reducing the functionality of xp through disabling services causes more harm than good in the long run.

Whats your take on this?

Replacement sites :
The Elder Geeks Guide

BIOS :

Bios information and reccomended tweaks are available here .
Adrian's Rojak Pot's Definitive BIOS Optimization Guide
 
for(i=1;i<lifelong;i++)
{
//install the following
xp sp2
Disable system restore
autopatcher xp
set pagefile
Disable hibernate
drivers
Disable unnecessary services
foobar
office
firefox
then slowly install other junk
format after a month
}
 
This is what I do.
Slipstream the SP2.
Use nlite and remove the components that i dont need.
Install the modified windows.
A lot less pain. I am probably only one here running windows without IE browser being part of my system :P
Yes you can remove the IE using nlite. Remember do not rmove the core files. Just remove the browser. The core files are needed for windows explorer.
===========
My process.
INstall the nlite modified Windows.
Set page file to Min/Max 1GB.

Disable the unnacessary services and start ups.
GPEDIT.MSC for network reservable BW settings.
Regedit> change control timings for faster shut down.

Use norton ghost and make image file of your c: next time insted of reinstalling simply restore this image after format. Simple 15 minutes

Install motherboard drivers.
Install display and sound.
Disable Prefetch.
Run bootvis.
Now install all other crap.
Run reg cleaner regularly.
 
Thanks Easy :cool2:

1. Install Service Pack 1a soon after OS.
2. Install USB drivers Q822603.
3. Install chipset drivers before any video or sound drivers.
4. Install LAN drivers.
5. Install DirectX9.0b before video drivers.
6. Install video drivers.
7. Install sound drivers.
8. Install LAN utility software if needed.
Click to expand...

Taken frm the Link provided above.
Thts the exact thing i do, except for the 1st nd 4th points :)
 
for me, install xp cd,
install motherboard cd,
tats all.
the remaining drivers will be installed when some prob comes up( like sound not hearin et.. :P )
 
Grease Monk said:
Install dx 9
Install mobo drivers
Install gfx drivers
Install other hardware drivers
Install service pack 2
Set pagefile size
Defrag OS partition
Setup internet connection
Install windows updates
Disable unnecessary services --> will need to discuss this
Disable system restore
Disable indexing
Click to expand...

do exactly this. then install all the essential softwares like winzip, winrar, acrobat reader, winamp nero etc. and then take a ghost image.

when there is problem I just overwrite the partition with this image and I have fresh install of xp. done this since jan 2005 and no problems till now.

@ blue
not a bad way. this way you;ll only install the required sW and not end up with junk.
 
just formatted my hard disk...
this is what i did..
what i usually do is create a boot partition of 15 gb.. and another partition of 15-20 gb (this time 20gb) for other program files...
and i install every program which is important for my daily working on the boot partition and the rest on the other partition.. like say extra media players, or extra imaging utilities etc...
this is how i installed this time..

installed winxp with sp2 streamlined..
Autopatcher may edition
set-up my internet connection
went online and got the rest of the window updates
Installed chipset and graphic drivers..
installed the sound drivers
disabled sys restore, set the page file
(haven't tweaked the services though)
installed MS office XP
installed antivirus and firewall...
installed spyware utilities
installed browser
installed nero
and installed FDM(free download manager)

will install some other imp stuff later.. hmm..

hmm i wanna make a image of this on my pata 160 gb but i don't want dual boot. and i don't have ghost :( .. so what do i do? i can use sea tools but i end up with dual boot!! which i do`nt want ..
 
@chic magnet : did you have all those drivers and antivrus and anti spyware software in the Slipstreamed Sp2 cd?
 
no i did`nt had em all on my portable hard disk..

the drivers were from the cd...
and the antivirus and firewall came with the installation cd anyways.. norton internet security and norton systemworks 2005.. so i`m trying it out...
was using ZA before this+ norton antivirus 2005.
 
Stupid question,but how the hell do u format a hardisk having win xp in it.Also the 1st time i installed xp,i noticed that partitions above 32gb could not be made as FAT32??i dont understand why??
 
blueyesdude said:
Stupid question,but how the hell do u format a hardisk having win xp in it.Also the 1st time i installed xp,i noticed that partitions above 32gb could not be made as FAT32??i dont understand why??
Click to expand...

You can format the NTFS XP HDD using a bootable XP Install CD - I do it from the Recovery Console which is available when XP first asks if you want to Repair an installaion. In the Recovery Console type Help at the command prompt and you will get all the available commands. The ones you need to use are "diskpart" for partitioning the HDD and "format".

I used to run 2 120gb HDDs 3 years back which were FAT32 and I used to format them with a Bootable floppy of a WinME startup disk - after the format was complete I used to install XP on the HDD. When I started the format it would always say that it was going to format the disk to 50GB but after the format the capacity was always 120GB. If you dont have this Boot floppy look for it at www.bootdisk.com
 
I m Doing These Things
1. Formating my Hard Disk
2.Installing Windows Using Bootable CD
3.Then Installing Service Packs and Updates
4.Then Installing The Neccesary Software.
5.It's Over Ure Having A Fresh Copy OF windows
 
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