Clean Reinstall a Factory OEM Windows 7

[mitchell65]

Have been putting this off for some time as I thought it looked a bit daunting but I bit the bullet and now have very successfully carried out the above following Gregrockers excellent tutorial. Huge difference in performance, as he says "It's like getting a new computer"
One small point. In msconfig/services when I click "Hide all MS Services" and see just my AV the next time I look all the services are showing. I assume this is correct and the "Hide" facility is just to make identifying other services easy? Also in msconfig/Startup" there is nothing showing. Should my AV be showing? It certainly is working as soon as I boot up.
Apart from these small queries everything worked as per the tutorial. Can't thank you enough Gregrocker!

 

[gregrocker]

Good news, Mitchell.

Yes, the MS services will reappear when you return to msconfig>Services and can be conveniently hidden again with the check mark.

 

[mitchell65]

Thanks for that, did you see the other small query?
Quote: "Also in msconfig/Startup" there is nothing showing. Should my AV be showing? It certainly is working as soon as I boot up."

 

[gregrocker]

Sorry, missed that one.

Normally AV will show up in one or both places, but if it's not confirm it is running by opening it from bottom-right System tray.

If it isn't in tray, open AV from All Programs, turn on Real Time protection. If that fails then if necessary uninstall, reboot and then reinstall.

Are you using MSE?

 

[mitchell65]

I'm using Norton 360 and it is definitely running on boot up. It is showing in Services and i can open it from the bottom right System tray. Don't really want to un install and reinstall if it is not necessary! So reading your post again i would think all is well!

 

[gregrocker]

Sounds good to me Mitch.

Are you happy with Norton 360? There are some experts I respect here who say it's a whole new Norton ballgame.

 

[C-11]

I did have Norton AV for a year & it never did show in msconfig>Startup tab.

I knew it was running so I just let it be...

 

[mitchell65]

Sounds good to me Mitch.

Are you happy with Norton 360? There are some experts I respect here who say it's a whole new Norton ballgame.

I am vrery happy with N.360. have used it since it's introduction and it has served me perfectly. I know it's a bit expensive and it does tend to slow things a bit, actually 360 is much better in this respect IMHO, but I think the peace of mind it gives plus the excellent servce I have always had from Symantec make it worthwhile for me.
A few years ago I attended an International Seminar on Internet Security at one of our top Universities and was very impressed by the presentation that Symantec gave, mind you they were a bit mean with the freebies, OK if you were a Don but I was a mere guest so nothing came my way and I think out of the 200 people there I was the only one who actually paid for my Norton! Hey Ho! That's the story of my life!

 

[gregrocker]

Have you tried MSE by comparison? Just askin.

 

[mitchell65]

Have you tried MSE by comparison? Just askin.

No I haven't tried but when I read up the blurb on MSE I realise that it is now a very good alternative to paid for AV's. I shall certainly look at it more closely when my present subscription for Norton expires. In fact I daresay the next time I renew my PC it will be in the land of Windows 8 where I believe MSE will be incorporated as an integral part of the OS!

 

[mitchell65]

Not such good news. I am slowly trying to install my programs but cannot get either Xampp or Wamp to install correctly. The Windows updates are driving me potty. After every install one of my few programs fails to start. I need to get either wamp or Xampp up and running soon but can't now even uninstall Xampp. Keeps saying it needs Admin rights so i suppose i will need to enable the Default Windows Administrator account and try that. Beginning to regret this venture!!! Wasted a whole morning and got nowhere, well that's not quite true I have gone back a few pages as if Ihave the Video update installed to show my monitor properly, nothing else works.
Will keep trying!!

 

[gregrocker]

Try disabling Norton to install the programs. Are you rightclicking their .exe to Run as Administrator.

TBH I've not heard of these kinds of problems before in a Clean Reinstall. But most use the recommended AV, tools and methods.

 

[mitchell65]

I think i may have redeeemed the situation. Being loathed to give up I restored the OS to before any updates. (I have been creating copious restore points). I then took my dog for a long walk whilst the updates were installing again and now I have installed a working version of Xampp. i shall continue to install the progs one at a time. I have, in fact very few that are necessary. I really will keep away from the temptation of just installing for a quick assessment of a program and then forgetting to unistall. Hence the pletherer of rubbish that had accumulated.

 

[gregrocker]

Mitch did you use an official installer with SP1 from Step 1 of tutorial?

 

[mitchell65]

Mitch did you use an official installer with SP1 from Step 1 of tutorial?

I did indeed from here:

As I inferred, things seem OK now. I feel certain it was an update issue, ow resolved! Thanks foryour help on this

 

[gregrocker]

I'm getting less than an hour total - sometimes only 30 minutes depending on processor - of Updating after Clean Reinstalls with latest installer. This excludes Office updates which can be a bear, but includes Net Framework 4 and it's updates.

Thought you might have older installer which can be Updates hell.

Glad to help, and keep us posted..

 

[mitchell65]

I think I must have over reacted as my updates were taking about 30 mins max so now realise not out of the ordinary. Only installed a printer, my localserver and Windows live Mail so far and all is well. Got my localserver working with an earler version. The latest version of Xampp is causing a few probs, I think.
Anyway - so far so good, thanks