The first thing I do is take a Windows XP disc and reinstall Windows from scratch. Then I visit www.driveragent.com for the latest drivers for my system.

After that, it's applications by order of release date (although Office 2007 is always the last app I install).

I personally do not like to purchase name brand desktop computers due to the fact of the unknown parts used. I will build my own computer, since i know what i put in it, and so far have not had any problems with my 5 year old desktop.

As for laptops and tablet PCs that are name brand, I first remove Norton, then install a third party firewall like comodo 3.0 then clean out all that crapware run it for a month and see if the peformance is decent or if there are quirks from leftover crapware. If there is crapware still left on I'll do a clean install. After the clean install I'll make a backup of it.

uuuh.. speaking of the devil.

I have prepping my girlfriends T61 for the whole evening today...

one thing i should point is to uninstal lenovos fingerprint software and install Upeks generic suite. That way it will be way more usefull for web pages etc.

I do a fresh operating system install also for any new computer. Then install latest drivers available. After installing all the programs I need, I just go tweak some starups and services, and delete all the desktop icons except trash can. It seems to help the computer run little faster

Another "speaking of preping''. I just getting ready to unbox my new LE 1700.

I'm planning on checking out the factory XP Tablet build for a few days. Then I'll Image XP. And then I'm going to do a fresh install of Vista.

Doug

First thing I always do is go thru the computer and delete the CRAP-WARE that every company thinks I want. That includes all the trial-ware and short term software.

I wish it would be possible to just get the OS and nothing else!

TMc

"one thing i should point is to uninstal lenovos fingerprint software and install Upeks generic suite. That way it will be way more usefull for web pages etc."

Where can I get this?

1) Delete the "crap"
2) Adjust Windows settings to my liking
3) Install hardware/printers drivers
4) Image
5) Install programs
6) Adjust programs
7) Image
8) Hook up to internet
9) KaBoom!
10)Back to step 4
11)Wonder why I bought a new computer, when my old one worked fine...

Forgot step 3.5
(Not for the faint at heart or you'll have to start over)

I've been able to get down under 20-25 process' running in XP, most computers have over 60-70 when they are new. Really helps the performance for my particular usage.

A)Type in msconfig/services: Delete programs-that don't need to start up
B)Type run>gpedit.msc deactivate un-neccessary process'-you don't need
C)Type run>services.msc deactivate autorun(drives me crazier than I already am) and unneccessary stuff
D)Go to HKLM registry, delete unneccessary "windows run" files- be careful here, back up your full registry

I've never seen an OEM installation of Windows that ran properly. Always, always, always do a clean install...

that's true, and OEM installation never run properly. However I like to try to fix the broken new laptops :)

1. turn off wi-fi or disconnect the network cable
1. Uninstall Norton
3. Uninstall OEM crap applications
4. Uninstall outlook express and messenger
5. Restart the computer
6. Install Office 2003 (still don't like office 2007)
7. Install the antivirus (choose the outlook plug-in, update it and schedule daily updates (in my case AVG 7.5, light and secure)
7. Install Diskeeper and schedule weekly updates
8. Install Acrobat professional 8
9. Install Firefox and setup as default browser
10. Install Live messenger, Google Talk and Skype (disable autostart and auto log-in)

the following steps are my personal setup.

11. Install Alcohol 120% for CD/DVD coping
12. Install Nero Burning software
13. Install Hotspot Shield
14. Install Mind Manager 7 Pro
15. Install VM WARE
16. Install VoIP Stunt
17. Install VSO Image resizer

18. Restart the computer

19. Run>msconfig and delete programs that don't need to start up
20. Defrag the hardisk
21. restart and double check that everything is smooth (processes, start-up applicacions, hardware drivers, etc)

21. Image the partition with Norton Ghost
22. Make a boot DVD or set of DVDs with the image and norton ghost.

** any mayor change in software, I suggest to make another image.

:)

if it won't work or the performance is under what I expect, I start a clean install.

Cheers everybody and have a great weekend :)

Carlos
From Bolivia