On Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:29:56 GMT, Judson McClendon wrote:
> How did I do it? When I originally installed everything in August
> of 2005, I made a backup immediately after installing Windows,
> then another after installing additional device drivers, then
> another after activation, then several more as I installed all my
> software (my setup is fairly complex, it takes me several days to
> do it from scratch). I documented what was done at each step of
> the way in a 'setup log', which was backed up and kept. The last
> thing I install is dated software like Norton Antivirus, done
> after the last 'setup' backup. Then I copy my latest data files to
> the target PC and make the first dated, production backup. It was
> a simple matter to refer to my 2005 setup log, locate the last
> original setup backup that did not include any programs that had
> changed or been updated since, reload it, and resume installation
> from there. Took much less time than if I had installed Windows
> from scratch, I didn't have to bother with Microsoft's flaky
> activation process, which sometimes requires you to call in and
> takes 20 minutes. My system is now rock solid, and the scanner
> works perfectly; used it this morning.
Damn. That's a lot of backups.
Alternately, you could do what I used to do:
1. Install the OS of your choice. (At the time it was Windows 2000
for me.)
2. Install all appropriate drivers and OS patches.
3. Install antivirus and firewall (if connected to the internet).
4. Install PC emulation software. (At the time I used and recommended
Connectix Virtual PC. After MS bought it, I switched to VMWare.)
5. Repeat the process inside a virtual machine.
6. Make a copy of the VM. (Separate drive images and everything.)
7. Install what you will in the VM copy.
8. If installing something breaks something else, revert.
It works so well that I intend to do that exclusively once I get a
computer not controlled by a hamster in a wheel.
--
auric dot auric at gmail dot com
*****
Remember when *** was dirty and the air was clean?
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