Che cosa hai detto: qual è il miglior ordine per l'installazione di app su un nuovo computer?

STEP 1 ---- 1. Format and partition HDD – C: for Windows and apps, D: for Data 2. Install Windows 7 and SP1 3. Create 1st system image backup (Backup 1) with Macrium Reflect (can backup RAID5) (This is now source used when reinstalling from scratch)

STEP 2 ---- 1. I tweak Windows extensively, so this gets done now 2. Secret sauce is Liberkey – this is installed on D:. Allows me to browse for stuff, use CCleaner, etc. without affecting OS setup and C: drive (keeps it clean). Keeps app install on C: drive (later) to a minimum. 3. All Windows Updates installed 4. Create Backup 2

STEP 3 ---– 1. Install Office 2010 (+SP1 now) 2. I tweak Office settings extensively for workflow, so this happens now. 3. Create Backup 3 4. As driver and app updates can change quite a bit and/or have unexpected consequences, I prefer to get my “essential” setup done first. 4. When I get rid of my HP AIO printer (and delete the huge pile of drivers and software it requires) and buy a new AIO (not HP!), I only need to go back this far.

STEP 4 ---– 1. Install all drivers and settings for them (Catalyst, printers, etc) 2. Create Backup 4.

STEP 5 ---– 1. Install essential apps ‘n other stuff (Firefox, DropBox, Java, DirectX, etc) and all settings. 2. Liberkey and Firefox profile(s) in DropBox 3. Combo of Live Mesh and DropBox keeps files and media synced between PCs. 4. Backup 5 – all done (whew!)

NOTES ---– 1. I know conventional wisdom is to install drivers with Windows and then backup, but I prefer doing it incrementally. As Windows 7 has excellent driver support, I can put this off until I have my core “work” functionality installed. 2. If anything goes wrong with apps or drivers, I don’t have to go to square one. 3 Even if I make major changes (like when I was wrestling with ways to limit Libraries from messing with my file system and workflow), I can: – install each backup stage – make necessary changes – create new (updated) backup stage – this might be time-consuming, but much less so than doing so from scratch

Bare Metal Clean Installs have been my specialty since I was beta testing Windows 95 OSR2 in 1996.

Hardware First

Bios updates are always done prior to installing your OS. You can use the great Ultimate Boot CD to get to a command prompt and flash the motherboard BIOS, then reboot and teak the settings. This will make for a more successful (read: better performing) OS install. On newer systems I like to set the hard drive controller to AHCI SATA mode, not IDE mode, as I find it works smoother with less CPU overhead.

Get any expansion cards installed and have all your hardware ducks in a row BEFORE you begin the OS install.

Software Next

I like to build a custom OS installer for my systems, slipstreaming all the latest updates and drivers into the mix so the system will be totally up-to-date when the OS install completes. The great DriverPacks by Wim Leers and company go a long way to making this happen, and there are some wonderful tech forums where people eat, breathe and sleep this stuff. I used to use nLite and vLite, but now I use something called SMART which can alter the service settings to make the box work faster, be more secure and reliable, for whatever you need to do.

After the OS and current drivers are installed, I like to use System Restore or Ghost to make a backup/save the clean install so if I need to, I can go back to it easily.

I also reboot the system a few times during this phase to populate the Prefetch folder and flush out any startup and shutdown potential problems. Get the networking setup and tested, but don’t go out to the web much until later when security software is installed

Applications, Oldest First, Newest Last

I start with browser, archiving utilities (WinRAR, Firefox), add the Adblock and NoScript plugins, text editor (NotePad++) and FTP (WS_FTP or FileZilla), then the bigger apps, oldest first and newest last.

Very last, install anti-virus, and firewall (I love MS Security Essentials), and something called WinPatrol (Scotty says “woof woof”) which monitors all kinds of system stuff all the time and tells me when something tries to install itself.

YMMV, but this approach has stood me well for many years and hundreds of installations. I am transitioning all this to a virtualized approach, where my host OS will be plain and simple (though secured) and all my apps stuff will be done in easily restored VM disk files.

I love technology. And I love How to Geek!

According to Dell:

The correct order to install drivers on all portable systems is as follows: Notebook system software Chipset Video Cardbus / Media card controller Audio Network Wireless Touchpad Modem Bluetooth (if available) Dell Quickset Any other applications

Fellow Ninite users – remember to keep your installer, you can run it again to update all your installed software in one hit. You can even set it as a scheduled task (admin rights) if you like. I do this on all those PCs you get stuck ‘fixing’ for friends and family. What with that and Windows set to update all MS components you know that most of a systems is being regularly patched for any vulnerabilities.