Setting Up A Brand New Pc

[D4\/!d]

Hello, I have just ordered my new SFF PC. It will arrive with no software installed, not even the OS. I want to try to do it all myself. I have bought an OEM of XP Pro with SP2, and ok, that will be the first job to install. I have seen a number of good guides to do a clean install. For example: clean install, clean install geek and clean install tutorial.

I also found a checklist on TweakHound. The BIOS is checked and set to boot from CD before HDD.

However, before I embark on this project, I thought I would just ask you folk for tips and suggestions - you can always come up with uptodate practical help. :flowers:

Here are some specific questions:

Is there any point in transferring the contents of the i386 folder to my HDD and installing from there?

I want to put the OS and Apps into a separate 10Gig partition/volume. Some folk say, in order to avoid the first level of virus attacks it is a good idea to put the OS on the D:\drive (not the C:\drive). So can I specify the D: when I run the installation. And what would go in the c:\drive? I intend to have another partition for Data and folders such as My Documents, My Photos, and Documents and Settings. Plus other partitions for such things as music files.

I understand that now, you have to Activate XP straight away before you are able to download any XP updates. Before any Internet activity I will set up a Firewall. I am getting a wireless router Netgear 624. Is this hardware firewall sufficient, or must I also use firewall software such as ZoneAlarm?

I don't ever use, so I don't want to install, Windows Media Player 10. Must I install it though for other things to work? Likewise, must I have .NET Framework?

That's it for now. I should be grateful to receive your comments and any advise you can give.

Thanks :)

[expertec]

Is there any point in transferring the contents of the i386 folder to my HDD and installing from there?

I don't know... I have done many many Windows installs and never done that. Installing from the CD always worked fine. :)

I want to put the OS and Apps into a separate 10Gig partition/volume. Some folk say, in order to avoid the first level of virus attacks it is a good idea to put the OS on the D:\drive (not the C:\drive). So can I specify the D: when I run the installation. And what would go in the c:\drive? I intend to have another partition for Data and folders such as My Documents, My Photos, and Documents and Settings. Plus other partitions for such things as music files.

Who says that? I can't see how that would protect against viruses at all. :huh:

However I do always partition the drive. I have a partition © for Windows and programs, and a separate partition (D) for all my personal files (documents/music etc).

With todays applications and OS, I'd think 10GB was a bit small, and you should make that one a bit bigger. What size is the hard drive?

I understand that now, you have to Activate XP straight away before you are able to download any XP updates. Before any Internet activity I will set up a Firewall. I am getting a wireless router Netgear 624. Is this hardware firewall sufficient, or must I also use firewall software such as ZoneAlarm?

Good choice of router, Netgear are a very good brand. :)

The hardware firewall should be sufficient, and indeed running a hardware and software firewall can cause conflicts and loss of connectivity.

I'd just say to make sure you have the router firewall set up and tested using ShieldsUp! before you connect your new PC.

I don't ever use, so I don't want to install, Windows Media Player 10. Must I install it though for other things to work? Likewise, must I have .NET Framework?

Depens what programs you're using... some such as DriveImage (I think?) require the .NET Framework. You can leave it unless you such a program that needs it. You don't have to install WMP10, if you don't want to use WMP at all, you can deselect it during Windows installation. :)

[-pops-]

Messing about leaving this and that out of your install will most likely lead to problems either now or later on. If you are not ABSOLUTELY certain that you can do these things, let XP install as it wants to. You are not losing anything by installing WMP or .NET so why risk cocking up the whole thing by omitting them?

I've installed hundreds of copies of Windows of all sorts of flavours and with every one I've allowed it to load everything up as it is supposed to and it wants to. Never had a failure, as opposed to a number of people who have come to me with tales of woe and a fubar box of expensive nothing achieved by trying to be clever and beat the system trying to improve what Mr Gates thinks we should have.

[expertec]

Personally I would install them, but it's his choice.

I can see what you're saying -pops-, and I can see trying to remove Internet Explorer could easily cause that kind of damage, but neither Windows Media Player nor .NET Framework are an integral part of Windows in at all the same way.

[D4\/!d]

let XP install as it wants to. You are not losing anything by installing WMP or .NET so why risk cocking up the whole thing by omitting them?

I understand what you are saying. Good advice, thanks pops :)

With todays applications and OS, I'd think 10GB was a bit small, and you should make that one a bit bigger. What size is the hard drive?

Two hard drives, 120 Gig each :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I have a 9.5 gig partition on my present setup, containing OS and programs, with 2.5 gig to spare B)

I'd just say to make sure you have the router firewall set up and tested using ShieldsUp! before you connect your new PC.

Good suggestion, thanks expertec :)

Thank you for your useful comments. :D

[expertec]

Two hard drives, 120 Gig each :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I have a 9.5 gig partition on my present setup, containing OS and programs, with 2.5 gig to spare B)

Everyone's needs are different... here is my C drive on this computer:

:D

[D4\/!d]

WOW..!! a bit different to mine - I guess I'm not a heavy user ;)

[expertec]

I can't say I've ever heard my chair complaining...

[D4\/!d]

I expect it's voice is muffled ;) :blush: ;)

[Scarecrow Man]

You may want to copy the i386 folder to your drive after installation. If you are ever asked to insert your XP CD (drivers or sfc for example) you can just point the program to the i386 folder and achieve the same results.

[dagwoood]

Everyone's needs are different... here is my C drive on this computer....

Expertec, I noticed that you have your drive indexed. I don't want to sound like I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs( :blush: ), but your system will run a lot better if you turn this off as it impacts on the drives performance.

D4\/!d, hope you don't mind I've strayed off topic.

[expertec]

Hehe... I know about that. What I didn't know before today was that I'd left indexing turned on! :rolleyes:

[D4\/!d]

Everyone's needs are different... here is my C drive on this computer....

Expertec, I noticed that you have your drive indexed. I don't want to sound like I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs( :blush: ), but your system will run a lot better if you turn this off as it impacts on the drives performance.

D4\/!d, hope you don't mind I've strayed off topic.

's ok - it's all helpful stuff - I guess mine's OFF then ??

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Hello, I have just ordered my new SFF PC. It will arrive with no software installed, not even the OS. I want to try to do it all myself. I have bought an OEM of XP Pro with SP2 ...

I have been wondering since I read this post yesterday: where did you buy an OEM version of Windows? Unless it comes with your computer, you have no way of legally purchasing an OEM Windows version.

Just curious... :blink:

[-pops-]

I have been wondering since I read this post yesterday: where did you buy an OEM version of Windows? Unless it comes with your computer, you have no way of legally purchasing an OEM Windows version.

Just curious... :blink:

It is possible in the UK to buy OEM versions of lots of software by purchasing a "qualifying" item of hardware. This qualifying hardware varies from dealer to dealer but it may be, say, a hard drive with some or a mouse with others.

In one build I did, I forgot all about buying the O/S but I was able to get an OEM Windows XP at a very good price by purchasing an 80mm case fan. This may have been because I was a good customer but, in these automated times, I doubt it.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I see; thanks for the explanation. (I was not trying to accuse D4\/!d of anything; just curiosity).

[dagwoood]

's ok - it's all helpful stuff - I guess mine's OFF then ??

D4\/!d, by default XP installs with indexing running. From what I've read, this used to improve performance on old h/d's, but modern h/d's are faster so they don't need to be indexed. Having indexing running is detrimental to the performance of modern drives.

Disable it in your on the drives properties page and you can then disable the service from running via Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Services.

HTH, dagwoood.