The first steps after installation

M

mike-cow

Vista Pro
What do you do as the first steps after installing the OS?
Here's my first few steps:

(This is for my computer, if it was someone elses I'd likely not do much more than install all updates.)

  1. Update everything, install all drivers and antivirus.
  2. Disable windows firewall - I use a dedicated firewall, I want as much performance for my personal use as possible.
  3. Set a fixed swap file equal to the amount of RAM (currently 4GB).
  4. Disable UAC - It's MY computer, it should not annoy me. And if I get some crap, then I reinstall...
  5. Set CD drives to the last drive letters (Y: and Z: currently). It's become a habit.
  6. Install NKProds nCleaner, Auslogics disk defrag, Auslogics registry defrag - Cool stuff. :cool:
  7. Use my computer.
I may have forgotten some steps here, I hope not. Anyways, I'm curious about what you do to keep your system as you like it, please contribute. :D


--- Disclaimer! ---
This is NOT a guide for getting extra performance, nor is it anything I suggest that you do on your own computer. I do NOT take any responsibility for trouble caused by following my suggestions here.
---
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Athlon X2 6000+
    Motherboard
    ASRock ALiveXfire-eSATA2
    Memory
    2x2GiB DDR2 PC2-6400
    Graphics card(s)
    GeCube ATI Radeon HD3870 512MiB GDDR4
    Sound Card
    Built in HD Audio, digital output
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206BW, SyncMaster 940B
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 + 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WDC 250GB SATA + lots of externals. :)
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 500W
    Case
    Antec Sonata III
    Cooling
    Air
    Mouse
    Logitech G9
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (1st edition w blue lightning)
    Internet Speed
    DL/UL: 50/10Mbit
I assume some of what your listed would be subject to preference and risk tolerance.
-Set Menu, desktop, video and sound preferences.
-Restore backup data
-install all apps
-Post build cleanup, ccleaner, defrag, scandisk etc.
-when all is well, activate the MS products that need it
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Core Duo 2 E6700
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5W DH Deluxe
    Memory
    4g-Corsair XMS2 6400
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI 4870x2
    Hard Drives
    2 Maxtor Essential SATA2 drives Raid 0 Pioneer 212D SATA DVD-R/W
mike-cow said:
Disable UAE - It's MY computer, it should not annoy me.
Click to expand...

Hello Mike.

If you mean to say "UAC" it is a well known fact that disabling UAC slows down
the performance of Vista (that may annoy you more)!

I agree with your right to choose. Though you would find that after the initial install
period that you won't be 'bothered' by UAC very often.


Later :shock: Ted
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    * BFK Customs *
    CPU
    Intel C2Q 9550 Yorkfield
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5Q Pro
    Memory
    8GB Dominator 8500C5D
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX ATI 1GB 4870 XXX
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD 7-1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1x 47" LCD HDMI & 2x 26" LCD HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080P & 1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    2x 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache WD Caviar Black
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX
    Case
    CM Cosmos RC-1000
    Cooling
    Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans
    Mouse
    Razer Diamondback 3G
    Keyboard
    HP Enhansed Multimedia
    Internet Speed
    18.6Mb/s
    Other Info
    My First Build ;)
Bare Foot Kid said:
mike-cow said:
Disable UAE - It's MY computer, it should not annoy me.
Click to expand...

Hello Mike.

If you mean to say "UAC" it is a well known fact that disabling UAC slows down
the performance of Vista (that may annoy you more)!

I agree with your right to choose. Though you would find that after the initial install
period that you won't be 'bothered' by UAC very often.


Later :shock: Ted
Click to expand...

You're quite right there, it may be a good idea to reactivate it when done with all the initial installations. I haven't really felt any performance degradation by disabling it though, I'll experiment a bit and see what happens.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Athlon X2 6000+
    Motherboard
    ASRock ALiveXfire-eSATA2
    Memory
    2x2GiB DDR2 PC2-6400
    Graphics card(s)
    GeCube ATI Radeon HD3870 512MiB GDDR4
    Sound Card
    Built in HD Audio, digital output
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206BW, SyncMaster 940B
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 + 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WDC 250GB SATA + lots of externals. :)
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 500W
    Case
    Antec Sonata III
    Cooling
    Air
    Mouse
    Logitech G9
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (1st edition w blue lightning)
    Internet Speed
    DL/UL: 50/10Mbit
well i cant say i do much to keep it maintained ...its pretty self sufficient

i run S&D & AVG once a month..... that's it!!
vista's great ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    ME.....
    CPU
    Q9450 @ 3.6ghz
    Motherboard
    P5K PREMIUM
    Memory
    8GB 1066mhz buffalo firestix
    Graphics card(s)
    HD 5970
    Monitor(s) Displays
    20'' syncmaster
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    160GB 7200RPM SEAGATE BARRACUDA IDE 160GB 7200RPM SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA 2
    PSU
    XCILIO 850w
    Case
    unknown ATX
    Cooling
    Arctic cooler pro 775
    Mouse
    logitech cordless optical
    Keyboard
    logitech EX110
    Internet Speed
    2mb

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    * BFK Customs *
    CPU
    Intel C2Q 9550 Yorkfield
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5Q Pro
    Memory
    8GB Dominator 8500C5D
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX ATI 1GB 4870 XXX
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD 7-1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1x 47" LCD HDMI & 2x 26" LCD HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080P & 1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    2x 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache WD Caviar Black
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX
    Case
    CM Cosmos RC-1000
    Cooling
    Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans
    Mouse
    Razer Diamondback 3G
    Keyboard
    HP Enhansed Multimedia
    Internet Speed
    18.6Mb/s
    Other Info
    My First Build ;)
After the initial install, driver upgrade and update downloads I would backup the system. Then if you ever need to do a reinstall it will be alot quicker.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I5 3570K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77-DS3H
    Memory
    4 x 4GB corsair ballistix sport DDR3 1600 Mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte Geforce GTX 660 TI
    Sound Card
    creative x-fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Primary CiBox 22" Widescreen LCD ,Secondary Dell 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    Both 1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    2 x 500G HD (SATA) 1 x 2TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Complient PSU
    Case
    Antec 900 Ultimate Gaming Case
    Cooling
    3 x 80mm tri led front, 120mm side 120mm back, 200mm top
    Mouse
    Technika TKOPTM2
    Keyboard
    Logik
    Internet Speed
    288 / 4000
    Other Info
    Creative Inspire 7.1 T7900 Speakers Trust Graphics Tablet
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