The Ultimate WinXP Rebuild Feature

just finally completed my slipstreamed xp disk and it works great now installing all drivers and updates and inserts key and name/domain name and sata drivers without any intervention from me.
 
TrUz said:
Best thing to do is: Re-install your OS, install all your drivers, programs you always install etc... Defrag, tidy up then take an image. Anythings goes bad, load the image! :)

TrUz
Click to expand...
What sort of software would you do that with?

Wouldn't it take up a huge amount of space - how would you get on with storing it for a future emergency...

I think when I did a rebuild earlier in the year my C:\ drive was about 15 GB :eek:

That was just drivers and essentials.

I suppose you'd back it up on 4 DVD's or a separate HD or partition :rolleyes:

SW.
 
Couple of people have asked so here is what I do.

Software used:
  • Windows XP
  • Acronis True Image

Re-built and Image:
  • Download XP SP2 if not already integrated.
  • Download all drivers for your hardware.
  • Disconnect your PC from the internet.
  • Format and re-install Windows
  • Install service packs and updates (if any).
  • Install drivers for your hardware.
  • Install any programs you wish to be on the image.
  • Install Acronis True Image.
  • Clean any un-wanted rubbish from your PC.
  • Defragment your hard drive.
  • Reboot.
  • Open Acronis True Image and create the image.
  • Either store the image on Acronis secure zone or burn to DVD.

Job done, you now have an image of your Windows installation that you can re-load in about 10 minutes depending on the size of the image.

Hope this helps. :)

TrUz
 
sam.wheale said:
What sort of software would you do that with?

Wouldn't it take up a huge amount of space - how would you get on with storing it for a future emergency...

I think when I did a rebuild earlier in the year my C:\ drive was about 15 GB :eek:

That was just drivers and essentials.

I suppose you'd back it up on 4 DVD's or a separate HD or partition :rolleyes:

SW.
Click to expand...
With Acronis you can store the image across X amount of DVDs or on the Acronis secure zone. But I would only recommend using the secure zone or you create it on a seperate hard drive to your system drive.

TrUz
 
I bought a hard drive for £30 and regularly make a copy of my c:\ drive with Norton Ghost. If anything goes wrong I will just pop that in as my c:drive and continue as though nothing has happened.
Touch wood nothing has happened yet.
 
TrUz said:
Couple of people have asked so here is what I do.

Software used:
  • Windows XP
  • Acronis True Image

Re-built and Image:
  • Download XP SP2 if not already integrated.
  • Download all drivers for your hardware.
  • Disconnect your PC from the internet.
  • Format and re-install Windows
  • Install service packs and updates (if any).
  • Install drivers for your hardware.
  • Install any programs you wish to be on the image.
  • Install Acronis True Image.
  • Clean any un-wanted rubbish from your PC.
  • Defragment your hard drive.
  • Reboot.
  • Open Acronis True Image and create the image.
  • Either store the image on Acronis secure zone or burn to DVD.

Job done, you now have an image of your Windows installation that you can re-load in about 10 minutes depending on the size of the image.

Hope this helps. :)

TrUz
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info :)

Why would you want to disconnect from the Internet though? What about automatic update and the like? I suspect you are looking at it from a security point of view, and you want it to be as clean as possible :D

Fair point ;)

SW.
 
I usually leave my internet disconnected until I have installed my AV program. I use a NAT router so it is probably a little OTT but never mind. :)

TrUz
 
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