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Some First Things To Do After Reinstalling Windows XP

Posted on August 14, 2008 at 5:26 am

As a recent article from the site Info Packets suggests, Windows XP is still out selling Vista. If you are a user who chooses to stick with XP until the release of Windows 7 or perhaps a completely different operating system, chances are you are going to want to re-install XP fresh on your machine.

After years of installing, uninstalling, and patching XP and other software applications, nothing is better for performance than a fresh and clean install. When you do, here are a few things to remember to do right after the installation.

The first thing is organize desktop icons to have quick access to different system functions, and while I am there I uncheck the annoying Desktop Cleanup Wizard. You know the balloon that constantly nags you about desktop icons.

The next thing you might want to do is uninstall needless XP programs such as MSN and Outlook Express (if you do not use it). Open Control Panel and click on Add or Remove Programs. On the left hand side of that window click on Add/Remove Windows Components.

The Windows Components Wizard opens. Uncheck each of the Windows components you want to uninstall.

Install Clear Type Tuner Power Toy. This Windows Power toy will allow you to control how the text on your screen will look. Remember to have the monitor resolution at its highest setting, or the setting which is appropriate for you.

Finally, go to Windows Update and download all of them if your not sure which ones were on the old system, otherwise go through and uncheck the ones you know you do not want.

This would be extremely monotonous and a waste of time if you were to have several machines to do or if you reformat often. However, if it is only on rare occasions as in you have never done it before, then going over everything is cool in a geek sort of way. Then again, if you don’t want to waste any time with this you can always create a slipstream installation disc.

Written by Mysticgeek who is also a contributing author at How-To Geek.

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2 Responses to “Some First Things To Do After Reinstalling Windows XP”

Matt said on : August 20th, 2008 at 9:31 am

I’m terrified to do this. I have a backed up just about everything I can think of to an external drive. I also use Mozy backup online, and have made a list of my applications (mostly free things that I can download again)

But, I’m still afraid that I’m going to miss something that will be irretrievably lost. Is there a way to do a fresh install while keeping ones applications and files intact? Would it have the same benefit? klein3351f@yahoo.com

Thank you!