Windows Vista Re-install

I’ve been running MS Windows Vista on my primary home PC since May 2007 & after 17 months of continual use, abuse, updating & patching it was time for me to consider ‘refreshing’ the installation.  Of course for those that have been here before this actually means a re-installation of Vista. “No problem” thought I, shouldn’t take that long & the Christmas break was coming so I’ll have time to ‘get ‘er done’.

First things first, I needed a new larger hard-drive as the old drive was nearing the end of its life so I set about ordering up a 500GB SATA drive from Newegg.ca. I’d never used Newegg.ca before.  What can I say, the reviews I’d read on-line were bang on, Fast & accurate processing and quick delivery (even though it was via UPS).

With the new Hard-drive in hand & some time over the holiday’s I set about re-installing MS Windows Vista.  Below is a listing of the steps I undertook complete with handy links to the products I used.  All-in-all things went really well and now I’ve got a much more responsive and more importantly ‘clean’ installation.

1. Backup old MS Windows Vista installation to MS Windows Home server.
2. Shutdown PC, disconnect old IDE Hard drive and install new SATA Hard drive.
3. Start PC and access BIOS to check on boot configuration (verify that DVD drive is a boot device).
4. Restart PC with Windows Vista DVD loaded into DVD drive.
5. Install MS Windows Vista 'upgrade' as an Evaluation installation (Do not enter Product Key).
6. Restart PC & start Windows Vista for the first time.
7. Insert Windows Vista DVD into DVD drive causing installation to autostart.
8. When prompted for option to upgrade or install a clean copy choose option to perform a 'Clean installation' that backs up initial Windows installation.
9. Restart PC.
10. Remove 'Windows.old' folder (contained backup of 'Evaluation installation of Windows Vista').
11. Run Windows Update - 74 updates installed.
12. Restart PC.
13. Run Windows Update - 7 updates installed.
14. Restart PC.
15. Run Windows Update - 3 updates installed.
16. Restart PC.
17. Run Windows Update - 1 update installed.
18. Run Windows Update - 1 update installed (Windows Vista SP1 - 51.5MB)
19. Restart PC.
20. Run Windows Update - 6 updates installed.
21. Restart PC.
22. Go to Windows Update application and Opt-In for Microsoft Update.
23. Run Microsoft Update - 1 optional update (Silverlight) installed.
24. Activate Windows Vista.
25. Copy Applications from USB stick to 'Downloads' folder (WHS Connector, Ilium eWallet, Network Magic & Norton 360).
26. Install Windows Home Server (WHS) Connector application.
27. Install Ilium eWallet application (Password vault).
28. Mapped Network Drives on Home Server.
29. Start eWallet and opened eWallet vault on P:
30. Install MS Office 2007 Professional.
31. Run Microsoft Update - 25 updates installed, including SP1 (370MB).
32. Download Epson software for Cx6400 All-In-One printer/scanner/copier.
33. Download & install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
34. Update Adobe Acrobat Reader.
35. Setup Epson Cx6400 drivers and scanning software.
36. Backup PC to WHS - Flag backup as "DO NOT DELETE (Complete basic installation)".
37. Shutdown PC.
38. Reconnect old IDE drive.
39. Start PC.
40. Use Computer Management console to 'move' IDE drive to be D:
41. Copy 'Parents' documents, etc from D: to C:
42. Configure MS Outlook, import PST file from D:
43. Install Intuit Quicken 2009 & updates (from internet).
44. Install Family Tree Maker (FTM) 2009.
45. Backup PC to WHS - Flag Backup as "DO NOT DELETE (Includes basic personalisation)".
46. Shutdown PC.
47. Start PC.
48. Install Cisco Network Magic 5, Activate with Key in eWallet.
49. Install Norton 360 2.0.  Asked to download new installer files. Accepted.
50. Restart PC.
51. Update Norton 360.
52. Restart PC.
53. Install Google Chrome browser.
54. Set-up Google Reader & Google Mail with their own desktop application icons.
55. Install Windows Live suite (Messenger, Writer, Photo Gallery, Toolbar, Office Add-In).
56. Shutdown PC.
57. Start PC (Live suite installation completed at start-up).
58. Start preparing this document from notes taken throughout process. ;-)
59. Install Java.
60. Install iTunes for Windows.
61. Sync iPhone.
62. Install Google Picasa 3.
63. Install Google Earth 4.3.
64. ... Continue installing software applications as required.  This process continues as of this writing & will probably take another couple of weeks before I get everything reinstalled the way I want it.