new pc: in what order?

[soulfood]

Hi, can anyone help me out? i bought a computer and now i want to install windows 7 home premium 64-bit on it. i am not sure what order i should then proceed.
1/ install windows 7
2/install anti-virus software and do a scan
3/do a system image and backup on external drive (using macrium or windows 7)
4/create a system repair disk
5/ download drivers for motherboard and graphics card
thank you

 

[Golden]

1/ install windows 7
2/ update fully
3/ download drivers for motherboard and graphics card from manufacturer site only
4/ install anti-virus software and do a scan
5/ do a system image and backup on external drive (using macrium) - no repair disk needed - follow macrium instructions

 

[soulfood]

hey golden, what do you mean by 2/ update fully?

 

[lehnerus2000]

Before & After AV

1/ install windows 7
2/ update fully
3/ download drivers for motherboard and graphics card from manufacturer site only
4/ install anti-virus software and do a scan
5/ do a system image and backup on external drive (using macrium) - no repair disk needed - follow macrium instructions

I'd be tempted to do a backup image, before installing the AV and after installing the AV (given the tales I've heard about how difficult it is to remove AV programs).

 

[pbcopter]

hey golden, what do you mean by 2/ update fully?

Apply all the latest updates to the operating system from Windows Update.

 

[Golden]

^ what pbcopter said

 

[soulfood]

how do i find all the latest updates from windows?

 

[Golden]

Run Windows Update

 

[lehnerus2000]

how do i find all the latest updates from windows?

• Open the Start Menu
• Type "update" into the search box (no quotes)
• Choose "Windows Update" from the results

​

Additional
My results offered "Check for updates", which would be a quicker method of updating your PC.

 

[soulfood]

when should i do a system rescue repair disk?

 

[mjf]

System repair disk anytime after install. May as well make it as item 6/.
I make both Windows inbuilt AND Macrium images to external HDDs for extra safety.

Windows inbuilt requires the System Repair disk to do a restore. For Macrium you should make a Restore pe disk and test that it works. You can make the Macrium pe disk yourself by following the Macrium WAIK download guide. WAIK is a large download and a member has kindly provided access to a Macrium Restore pe:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html
The download link is in the Tutorial.

 

[soulfood]

Would you recommend having two external hard drives, one for windows and one for macrium images?

 

[Golden]

Windows is imaged using Macrium.....you dont "keep Windows on an external hard drive"

 

[mjf]

Would you recommend having two external hard drives, one for windows and one for macrium images?

I'm assuming you mean windows inbuilt images versus Macrium images. Of course both are imaging the Windows OS partition.
You can keep copies of Windows (inbuilt) images and Macrium on the one ext HDD. I keep images and other backup data on 2 external HDDs simply for hardware redundancy.