So... Fresh Install... Lets change it a bit

[Nano3]

Usually when i format my hard drive i have a, sort of, "list" that i follow for installing programs that i feel are beneficial to the full Windows 7 experience. They include (but not limited to)

1. Mozilla Firefox
2. Utorrent
3. Power Iso

Just wanted to kinda mix things up and give it a new feel. Curious to everyones answer... And I am bored

 

[whs]

Here are some that I keep around.

 

[Taliseian]

Also, don't forget about Ninite Easy PC Setup - Silent Unattended Install Multiple Programs At Once - a great way to install multiple programs like Firefox, iTunes, Acrobat, and more in one click.


T

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Here's what I have on this one :roflmao: so far!

 

[whs]

Pretty basic - LOL.

 

[Grimmjow]

In this order:
browser (FF)
drivers
7-zip
AV (avast, malwarebytes, a-squared, winpatrol, comodo firewall, hosts file)
CCleaner
codecs
flash
burning software
office
PDF-XChange Viewer
u torrent
video joiner/qonverter
msn
+ I don't now, depends...

 

[VannMann]

In this order:
browser (FF)
drivers
7-zip
AV (avast, malwarebytes, a-squared, winpatrol, comodo firewall, hosts file)
CCleaner
codecs
flash
burning software
office
PDF-XChange Viewer
u torrent
video joiner/qonverter
msn
+ I don't now, depends...

Sounds almost like how I install, except i use winRAR for archive files, and Digsby for my chat since it does multiple accounts.

 

[Grimmjow]

In this order:
browser (FF)
drivers
7-zip
AV (avast, malwarebytes, a-squared, winpatrol, comodo firewall, hosts file)
CCleaner
codecs
flash
burning software
office
PDF-XChange Viewer
u torrent
video joiner/qonverter
msn
+ I don't now, depends...

Sounds almost like how I install, except i use winRAR for archive files, and Digsby for my chat since it does multiple accounts.

Upper onces are must have I think, (I'm not saying FF, avast, but like browser, AV...)Oh, and I forgot, after installing above mentioned, IMAGE, the best way to refresh the system from viruses, experimenting or trying programs that will be installed in certain point of time...Long live imaging, if it's clean that is, hehe

 

[VannMann]

Theirs nothing like having to spend 5 to 6 hours having to install everything I say, lol. Give me good ol'fashioned clean and fresh install, lol.

 

[Grimmjow]

If they pay for it, sure, but in other case, hmmm...I would prefer like chilling with beer or something, or hanging around, it can be boring you now, especially when you are at someones home, someone that you almost don't now, standing just to you and asking how it is possible my PC to have viruses, friend of mine scan this PC like 6-7 months ago and it was ok, and what are you doing now, and now, and now... and you can't say no to the kids, when they are asking you, would you please install this game, and this, and this....and after like 3 and more hours, you are like having nervous breakdown...oh, now I'll smoke one cigarete, just remembering that,huh...

 

[arkhi]

I have like 71 programs installed D:

 

[gregrocker]

Clean reinstalls aren't needed any longer with built-in drive imaging.

Get a baseline image saved externally after install is done. Reimage HD or a replacement in 15 minutes.

I'm using the same image on different computers now with no performance hit.

 

[arkhi]

Imaging? Is that like a VHD?

 

[Taliseian]

I use Acronis True Imaging myself.

I have a clean install of W7 - activated and with no drivers or apps - so that I can get to a clean install in less than 5min.

I chose to make my image there so that I can make any other images from a clean base -- ie Activated and all Windows Updates or Activated, Updated, and Apps.

Personally I don't like to make images with any drivers installed since it can be messy to uninstall drivers and they updated frequently.


T

 

[VannMann]

If they pay for it, sure, but in other case, hmmm...I would prefer like chilling with beer or something, or hanging around, it can be boring you now, especially when you are at someones home, someone that you almost don't now, standing just to you and asking how it is possible my PC to have viruses, friend of mine scan this PC like 6-7 months ago and it was ok, and what are you doing now, and now, and now... and you can't say no to the kids, when they are asking you, would you please install this game, and this, and this....and after like 3 and more hours, you are like having nervous breakdown...oh, now I'll smoke one cigarete, just remembering that,huh...

WELLL, since you put it that way, lol. But for just me, i like doing it from the ground up, haven't really messed with imaging. But i will now!

 

[Grimmjow]

Well, re imaging system partition as gregrocker said, lasts about 15 min. Compared to clean install, drivers, programs, tweaks...
and anyway, I think the system would be grateful to re image it on a monthly basis, like every two months or something, and it needs just 15-20 min of our time, so...
cheers

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 has excellent back up imaging built in.

Type backup into the start search box, create a System Image to save externally and in a primary-formatted partition if you want.

You use the booted DVD or Repair CD to reimage HD or a replacement from the saved image.

You can update your backup image (and files) on a schedule, but I'd also keep a baseline image after install before any corruption creeps in. If you keep more than one image, you'll need to change the older one's name temporarily to store two. When you're ready to use it, change the name back to exactly WindowsImageBackup and place in it's storage drive root to be discovered by booted DVD/Repair CD .

 

[pparks1]

Imaging? Is that like a VHD?

You take your OS, load it, patch it, install your apps, and then take an image. Then, you can simply restore the image at a later time to get right back to that original moment in time. Save's lots of time.

Widows 7 has imaging built it and if you are running just Windows 7 on the machine..it works quite well. Only real limitation is that it cannot restore to a smaller drive...but that is typically only an issue for those moving to SSD's.

3rd party tools like Acronis and Paragon provide more functionality for little to no cost.

I make 2 images with Acronis
#1). Taken just after install, Windows update, driver install and activation

#2). 1 full image of C taken about once per month, in case of disaster I go back here.

If I want to start with plain vanilla and change up some of my core apps, I use image #1.

 

[patio]

I use Acronis but for those low on cabbage i highly recommend Macrium Reflect...

After getting burned twice in Vista i will never again trust MS for an image of my system.
Win7 or not.

 

[pparks1]

I don't load a whole heck of a lot. For me, it's
1). Open Office
2). Anti-virus of choice
3). notepad++
4). 7zip
5). vmware player
6). firefox
7). paint.net
8). fox-it pdf reader
9). imgburn
10). tree-size free
11). filezilla
12). a game or two, here or there.

And I think that is about it.