Re-install Operating System

  • Thread starter Thread starter Martin
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Martin

I read in another forum one good way to get rid of junk is to reinstall the
OS, say once a year. Since my OS (Vista Ultimate) came pre-installed how can
I do this?
 
Martin said:
I read in another forum one good way to get rid of junk is to reinstall
the OS, say once a year. Since my OS (Vista Ultimate) came pre-installed
how can I do this?
Click to expand...

It really isn't necessary to reinstall the OS if nothing is wrong and you
maintain your system well. I can't remember the last time I reinstalled one
of my Windows machines and even then it was because the hard drive died.

However, if you wish to return your computer to factory condition, refer to
the manual that came with your machine or look on the mfr.'s website for
instructions.

Malke
 
Backup personal data & settings, use Factory restore. But doing a
once a year reinstall is not needed. It's the "Placebo" effect you get
from a Fresh install. Windows is a platform, so when it's unloaded
with 3rd-party apps and profile data it runs faster. Actually doing an
OEM factory reinstall brings along all the "Crapware" that most of
the OEMs get paid to install on their images - so you don't even get
the "Fresh Install" effect.

Junk as you call it can be controlled or prevented by doing routine
maintenance.
 
Thanks R McCarty for your reply. Would you mind telling me in more detail
please about what the routine maintenace would include.
 
Either Disk Cleanup or manually cleaning up Temp folders, Browser
caches, Keeping drivers updated, along with software patches and
updates. Occassionally running a Chkdsk to verify the drive/volume
is "Clean". Defrag in Vista mostly looks after itself, but I prefer to use
a 3rd-Party defrag tool Perfect Disk. Probably most importantly I use
an Imaging program, Acronis True Image and have it scheduled to
run weekly. This is important because if a recent change or update
causes problems you can restore the last Image with little or no time
or effort. System Restore is OK for short term rollbacks but isn't a
reliable way to take the system state back more than a few days.

Not so much maintenance, but to help performance & stability try
to keep Startups & Watchdog apps to a minimum # and resist the
temptation to install every "Freeware" application available on the web.
This includes new machines where it's good to review what the OEM
installed and purge/uninstall the stuff you don't want or need. No point
in having a bunch of applications installed that will never be used.
 
Martin said:
I read in another forum one good way to get rid of junk is to reinstall the
OS, say once a year.
Click to expand...


Never take any computer-related advice from whomever posted that utter
nonsense, again.

There is no sound technical reason for periodically reinstalling any
properly maintained operating system.

Since my OS (Vista Ultimate) came pre-installed how can
I do this?
Click to expand...


If you have no better way to spend several hours and want to start this
bizarre hobby, simply follow the restoration instructions provided by
the computer's manufacturer.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Bruce said:
Never take any computer-related advice from whomever posted that utter
nonsense, again.

There is no sound technical reason for periodically reinstalling any
properly maintained operating system.
Click to expand...
You are dreaming if you think a Windoze system can be "maintained". They ALL
suffer from bitrot and over time the ONLY solution is to reinstall from
scratch. That silly registry system Windoze uses eventually gets so
bloated, there is no other way to "maintain" it then to wipe it out and
start fresh.
If you have no better way to spend several hours and want to start this
bizarre hobby, simply follow the restoration instructions provided by
the computer's manufacturer.
Click to expand...
How many hours would one have to put in over the course of a year
to "properly maintain" a Windoze "operating system"? Now, be truthful here.

Cheers.

--
Frank's Brain Activity Plotted (watch the red line):
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Astronomy2/PreformanceMonitor.jpg

How a Windows Firewall protects your computer:
http://tinyurl.com/2z9qdn

AlexB (another Vista expert): "I ruined at least 5 or 6 installations of
Vista before I realized what was going on."

Contact AlexB to find out how to "delouse" your Vista system.
 
NoStop wrote:

....You are dreaming if you think a Windoze system can be "maintained".

You mean like your ah..."relationship' cough...with RS...?

They ALL
suffer from bitrot and over time the ONLY solution is to reinstall from
scratch.
Click to expand...

Do you mean like having that special "operation" to "clean" things up,
er...out?

That silly registry system Windoze uses eventually gets so
bloated, there is no other way to "maintain" it then to wipe it out and
start fresh.
Click to expand...

You mean like what now happens to you once a month?
Oh, pity that!
How many hours would one have to put in over the course of a year
to "properly maintain" a Windoze "operating system"?
Click to expand...

Windoze? Is that some kind of over-the-counter medication you've been
taking for that "bloated" feeling you've been complaining about?

Now, be truthful here.

Yes...we won't laugh...well maybe not...LOL!
Frankoh and Cheers doris and all the best to RS...hahaha!
 
NoStop said:
You are dreaming if you think a Windoze system can be "maintained". They ALL
suffer from bitrot and over time the ONLY solution is to reinstall from
scratch. That silly registry system Windoze uses eventually gets so
bloated, there is no other way to "maintain" it then to wipe it out and
start fresh.
Click to expand...


You do realize, don't you, that by making the above baseless
assertions, what you're really saying is that *your* "technical" ability
is as abyssmal as your spelling ability?


How many hours would one have to put in over the course of a year
to "properly maintain" a Windoze "operating system"? Now, be truthful here.
Click to expand...

After a brief hour or so of scripting and automating things, none.
Don't aszsume that everyone is as utterly incapable as you brag of being.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Thanks R McCarty for your reply. Would you mind telling me in more detail
please about what the routine maintenace would include.
Click to expand...

Martin, additionally to R. McC's advice...

The best defenses are:
Do not work in elevated level; Day-to-day work should be performed while
the User Account Control (UAC) is enabled. Turning off UAC reduces the
security of your computer and may expose you to increased risk from
malicious software.

Familiarize yourself with "Services Hardening in Windows Vista".

Keep your operating (OS) system (and all software on it) updated/patched.

Reconsider the usage of IE.

Review your installed 3rd party software applications/utilities; Remove
clutter.

Don't expose services to public networks.

Activate the build-in firewall and tack together its advanced configuration
settings.

If on high-speed internet use a router as well.

Routinely practice safe-hex.

Regularly back-up data/files.

Familiarize yourself with crash recovery tools and with re-installing your
operating system (OS).

Utilize a real-time anti-virus application and vital system monitoring
utilities/applications.

Keep abreast of the latest developments - Sh!t happens...you know.

The least preferred defenses are:
Myriads of popular anti-whatever applications and staying ignorant.

Peez of Pith :-)
 
Thanks R McCarty for your reply. Would you mind telling me in more detail
please about what the routine maintenace would include.
Click to expand...

I should've included this in my earlier response :-)

"So, you didn¢t patch the system and it got hacked. What to do?
Well, let¢s see: ..."
"The only way to clean a compromised system is to flatten and
rebuild. That¢s right. If you have a system that has been completely
compromised, the only thing you can do is to flatten the system
(reformat the system disk) and rebuild it from scratch (re-install
Windows and your applications)..."
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/secmgmt/sm0504.mspx
 
NoStop said:
You are dreaming if you think a Windoze system can be "maintained". They
ALL
suffer from bitrot and over time the ONLY solution is to reinstall from
scratch. That silly registry system Windoze uses eventually gets so
bloated, there is no other way to "maintain" it then to wipe it out and
start fresh.

How many hours would one have to put in over the course of a year
to "properly maintain" a Windoze "operating system"? Now, be truthful
here.

Cheers.

--
Frank's Brain Activity Plotted (watch the red line):
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Astronomy2/PreformanceMonitor.jpg

How a Windows Firewall protects your computer:
http://tinyurl.com/2z9qdn

AlexB (another Vista expert): "I ruined at least 5 or 6 installations of
Vista before I realized what was going on."

Contact AlexB to find out how to "delouse" your Vista system.
Click to expand...
 
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