Thinking of installing Windows 7

[jm1]

Wow. I just installed it! Took all of 15 to 20 minutes for a clean install! What a great OS! Still have to transfer my files over.

 

[gregrocker]

Congratulations and nice work! A few tips:

Be sure to check optional Windows Updates for newer drivers. Any drivers then missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer/Device.

Take time to install programs, allowing a day or two in between each to monitor performance changes. Don't let any programs freeload on your CPU/RAM by writing themselves into the msconfig>Startup list. I only allow my AV and gadgets in the list and have a 30 second startup which stays fast.

Suggest MS Security Essentials free AV. Installs in about a minute and then becomes mostly invisible with no system impact. Get it and forget it.

After everything is as you want, clean and order HD with free state-of-the-art CCleaner "Run Cleaner" and Registry tabs, then Auslogics Disk and Registry defraggers. Run them monthly to keep whistle clean and sorted.

Finally, get a Win7 Backup image so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD or a replacement.

 

[jm1]

Once again. Thanks for all of your help! If it weren't for this forum, I'd be in a mess right now! The only driver I had to install was for my Wi-Fi card. Which, the Windows advisor warned me about. That took about two minutes to install. Immediately after that, I took an image using Macrium. Which, by the way, is great! Thanks for your advice on the programs! I am planning to install the bare essentials right now (Firefox, Thunderbird, Openoffice, and iTunes). I am planning to take it very slow. Thanks for the suggestion on Microsoft Security Essentials. I installed it on my netbook running XP less than a week ago to test it out, and I like it. I will probably install it on Windows 7. I'll have to try "Run Cleaner." Are CCleaner "Run Cleaner" and Registry tabs, then Auslogics Disk and Registry defraggers all in the same program? Thanks once again for all of your help! I think I am going to really enjoy Windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

CCleaner is a great tool to clean up your HD. It is valuble for its cleaner, Registry cleaner and a more user-friendly interface to msconfig where you can edit your Startup Programs (although the best interface to msconfig by far is Windows Defender>Options>Software explorer>Startup - if you haven't had it disabled by MSE install).

Auslogics Disk and Regsitry defraggers are by far the best, offered free because of the optimizer ad after each defrag ("You're system is not optimized!" - ignore it).

Just google each and choose the download offered by CNET, always the safest and easiest site for d/l's, where you can read editor's and users reviews for each.

 

[jm1]

Will do! I want to keep this new OS clean and shiny!

 

[CarlTR6]

Congratulations on the successful install. Enjoy!

 

[jm1]

I will! Quick question, when I installed it I wasn't plugged into the Internet, so Windows didn't activate. I didn't notice it until just today. I activated it and deleted the original image I took of Windows 7 and replaced it with a new image after I activated it. The new image also has most of my programs and files. Do you think this is okay? Just out of curiosity, if I activated it and needed to reimage my hard drive with the image that didn't have the activation, what would happen? Thanks once again!

 

[CarlTR6]

You would have to activate again if you reimaged with an image prior to activation. Great job on imaging!