How to build and rebuild a Windows PC, the basics, some optimization information, and security optimization, each as necessary and appropriate.

There are a few basics to this. In short, only load what you need and when you need it, have an easy path to get back to a clean build of the basic operating system, and to optimize it as appropriate. You may need to rebuild regularly.

Rebuild (Pre-Build Steps)

• Backup (or at least have it all on another partition)
• If CD/Drive not bootable, BootUp Disk (Win98 Disk) with SmartDrv and CD support
• Copy User Profile(s) (must use Administrator Account)
• List all applications installed
  • Get config/user data for each application
  • Export IE cookies/bookmarks (only for 9X/Me or PreNT)
• List all Hardware installed (Device Manager) that needs drivers
• Get latest BIOS/drivers/firmware for each hardware
• Document (mainly only needed for pre-NT):
  • Drive/Mappings (if any)
  • Printer Mappings (if any)
  • FTP sites
  • Web Folders
  • SYSTEM Name
  • Users
  • WorkGroup/Domain Info
    
• Copy autoexec.bat, config.sys, dosstart.bat, system.ini, win.ini as appropriate (pre-XP and pre-NT)

Build

• Update BIOS
• Install Windows
• Join Workgroup/Domain
• Remove unneeded stuff using Add/Remove Programs | Windows Components
• Install Latest Service Pack (take snapshot here)
• Install Updated Hardware Drivers (take snapshot here)
• Install Must-Have Basic Software (take snapshot here)
  
  • Anti-Virus: Avast (preferred) or AVG (or commercial)
  • Anti-Spyware: Ad-Aware
  • Firewall: Kerio (originally Tiny, now Sunfire) or ZoneAlarm
• Install/Update Foundational Software
  • Office Suite: OpenOffice (although no PIM)
  • IrfanView (graphics viewer)
  • Opera and/or Firefox (web browsers)
  • FileZilla (FTP)
  • Thunderbird (e-mail)
  • 7-Zip
• Windows Update (until done)
• Install Fonts
• Set NTP (net time /setsntp:ntppub.tamu.edu,pool.ntp.org,time.nist.gov,time-a.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov) (XP only?)
• Add Users/Update Profiles
  • Add Printers
  • Update CA,LMHOSTS if needed
  • Import Favorites/Cookies
  • Dial-ups, Locations
  • Manager: Local Computer Policy - Display
    Environment Settings - Temp/Swap
    Remote Settings (Disable)
    Startup - 5 seconds
• Optimize Default/All Users Start Menu, Quick Launch, etc.
• Setup automated ChkDsk and Defrags
• Install other software, codecs, etc.

Optimize

You can further optimize Windows performance by going through these various suggestions.

• Optimize Windows
• Optimize Security - Some good stuff, some repeated, and some unnecessary but may even speed up your computer. You really don't need a firewall if you're behind a cable/modem router/NAT device. You absolutely must have Anti-Virus running all the time.