How-To Geek
Ask the Readers: What’s the Best Order for Installing Apps on a New Computer?
Whether your computer is brand new or feels brand new after an OS refresh, we’re curious to see what order you install applications in. What goes on first? What goes on last? What is forgotten until you need it?
This week, inspired by this Best Order to Install Everything guide over at the Windows 7 tutorial site 7 Tutorials, we’re curious to hear what order you’re installing applications in. Whether you just purchased a new PC, wiped an old one, or performed an upgrade the necessitates re-installing some apps, we want to hear about it.
Sound off in the comments with your installation lists and tips; make sure to check back on Friday to see our What You Said roundup.
Got Feedback? Join the discussion at discuss.howtogeek.com
Comments (119)
Jason Fitzpatrick is warranty-voiding DIYer and all around geek. When he's not documenting mods and hacks he's doing his best to make sure a generation of college students graduate knowing they should put their pants on one leg at a time and go on to greatness, just like Bruce Dickinson. You can follow him on Google+ if you'd like.
- Published 06/29/11
http://www.ninite.com is the way to go with 90% of the software most users need.
1. Antivirus
2. Office
3. Browser
4. Browser addons (flash player, etc…)
5. Skype/IM software
6. Start installing useless stuff…
Oops, I forgot the drivers. They go first :)
1. updates
2. security
3. ccleaner/defraggler
4. clean system image
5. “insert your crap here”
1. SlimDrivers
2. Ninite all apps
3. Profit
And to make the process a bit more nebulous: http://ninite.com
1. Updates.
2. Antivirus.
3. Head to ninite.com and grab all the essentials in one lump installer.
1 – Firefox.
2 – Drivers.
3 – Ninite for batch installing a bunch of stuff.
4 – Whatever else I need.
The guide is interesting, but my own routine has always worked well for me:
1. Security Software
2. Firefox
3. Windows Updates
4. Quicken (my most important app, can’t live without it)
5. My other important apps:
MailWasher Pro, iTunes, Acronis True Image, Carbonite, Microsoft Office, SUPERAntiSpyware,
and Malwarebytes
6. My other apps are installed as needed
Tsk, Jason. It’s 7Tutorials, not 7Windows. :)
1 – Browser.
2 – Drivers.
3 — Updates.
4 – Ninite.com
5 – Everything else…
1 Drivers
2 Ninite (w/ Essentials for antivirus)
3 Office
4 Other Software (i.e. engineering software)
5 Personal Tweaks
1. Drivers
2. Chrome
3. Antivirus
4. Nero
5. Updates
6. personal software
1. Google Chrome
2. Java
3. Windows Update
4. Antivirus
5. Drivers
6. Programs and what not.
1) Opera
2) ninite.com (mse, chrome, skype, vlc, itunes, picasa, utorrent, dropbox, 7-zip)
3) os updates
1. Security (AV & firewall), installed via USB stick – I don’t trust a live internet connection until I’ve got my belt and braces fastened
2. Firefox & noscript/adblock addons
3. Windows updates/service packs
4. Misc driver updates (usually graphics)
5. Various browsing essentials (flash player, pdf reader etc)
6. Utilities (Ccleaner, VLC player, 7-zip etc)
7. Productivity stuff (OpenOffice, GIMP etc) so I can occasionally pretend to do work
8. Finally the important part: games, games and more games :)
Man I have never heard of ninite. That is one very cool site. Thanks
1 Drivers
2 Ninite. All Adobe Java Net Framework
3 Media Player (so it updates with windows updates 1st time )
4 Antivirus
5 Windows Updates
6 everything else
I always instal the more “complicated” or suites or system software first
2nd-ing Arty — Ninite
No reason to choose anymore– check box and go!
Brilliant service
Chipset comes before drivers, though
1.Firefox
2.Antivirus
3.Porn,Porn,Porn,Porn,Porn.
4. Repeat 3
5.All useless stuff
I use this way.
1.- Drivers ( in this order chipset, sound, modem, vga, eth, others)
2.- Windows updates
3.- Browser Mozilla
4.- Office Suite
5.- Office Updates
6.- Antivirus Avira
7.- Nero or another Burn tool
8.- All not used software but must be installed.
1. Update Windows
2. Ninite (downloaded on another computer w/Security Essentials)
3. Any missing drivers
4. Any other programmes not on Ninite
5. Tweak to my liking
Browser and Antivirus goes 1st in no strict order. It is then followed by other softwares to be used regularly (Media players, Photo viewer, Messenger, utilities).
What is forgotten is those softwares that were used very rarely before formatting but were not so useless to be uninstalled. Their setups are kept to be installed when they would be required which might be after a month, 6 month etc.
Pre-built Computer or Laptop:
1. Decrapifier –> Run before next step
2. Windows Update
3. Security essentials
4. Flash, Silverlight, etc
5. Apps
Clean OS:
1. Major drivers (Mobo, LAN, etc)
2. Windows Update
3. Minor drivers (webcam, keyboard, printers, etc)
4. Security Essentials
5. Flash, Silverlight, etc
6. Apps.
Fresh OS
OS
All OS updates
Avira
Rocketdock
MS Security Essentials
Adobe Reader, Flash, Shockwave, Air
Java
Apps (iTunes, GOM Player, Real Player, etc)
New PC/Laptop
Remove all crapware
Update OS
-See above for rest-
I do this for a living this is my job.
Also I add all browsers including: Mozilla, Opera, Safari and of course, Chrome.
1. Chrome
a) drivers only the necessary ones
The following is from ninite.
2. Antivirus (MS security essentials)
3. Flash
4. Java
5. Shockwave
6. Silverlight
7 Dropbox
8. Google Earth
9. Skype
10. Thunderbird
11. Evernote
12. Teamviewer
+ Adobe reader
_____________________________
13. MS Office
14. Updates
15. Updates
16. Updates
17. Updates
18. Updates
19. Photoshop
20. Radmin
21. Updates
22. …
It is very weird looking at this list right now. It did not make me an impression before, that I install tons of 3rd party software that is actually needed to run Windows normally.
Forgot VLC
Fresh OS
1. OS
2. Windows Update
3. Drivers (essential ones only)
4. Browser (FF plus add-ons = adblockplus and noscript only and plugins: flash only)
5. Sandboxie
6. MS Office
7. Games
8. Anything else if I forgot something
9. Antivirus/Firewall (don’t really need firewall) (Always last) to prevent the antivirus from corrupting any other applications
Windows:
1-Antivirus;
2-Revo Uninstaller;
3-Office;
4-Updates;
5-Everything else I need in alphabetical order;
What is left behind are audio and video editors.
OSX:
1-Everything I need in alphabetical order;
2-Updates.
The ones that are left behind are also for audio and video editors.
If I have the all the things (which I usually check):
1º – Install drivers first to avoid spending unnecessary time installing other stuff if somethings go wrong with the drivers. And to have internet.
2º Ninite to install the Antivirus and then I update it
3º Install the updates from Windows Update
4º Install Office and install the updates
5º While nº4 – Configure the system and start tweaking the system for more performance. Ex: Shortcuts on the menu start, add user, user password
6º Reboot
(if it’s a new computer, I would clean now the registry and desfragment the disk before I create a image of the disk and preceding with the setup)
7º Install Flash, Chrome, Dropbox, etc with Ninite
8º Configure Chrome, Dropbox with the accounts and update the iTunes library
9º Configure my backup system using my backup configuration
8º Reboot (maybe unnecessary)
9º MSCONFIG to clean the start-up and the services and if everythings goes fine after another reboot:
10º Clean the junk and the registry using Ccleaner
11º Desfrag the computer
12º Last reboot
(…) – Install other software that I might need.
2 Notes: Albeit being the owner of the PC I work as a user to avoid virus (since after installing everything, I usually don’t notice the lack of privileges (which I can restore anytime). The other note is that I use portable apps.com for everything except for chrome and vlc. Less footprint!
Little extensive but this is almost exactly what I do. I hope this is understandable and that I’m doing this right! I think I didn’t forget anything.
Forgot the directX after the drivers
Firefox first, of course! :)
Fellow Ninite users – remember to keep your installer, you can run it again to update all your installed software in one hit. You can even set it as a scheduled task (admin rights) if you like. I do this on all those PCs you get stuck ‘fixing’ for friends and family. What with that and Windows set to update all MS components you know that most of a systems is being regularly patched for any vulnerabilities.
If only you could stop people clicking on ‘Install me!’ pop-ups you’d never get hassled again…
angry birds.
With an OEM machine:
1 – Revo Uninstaller (or use portable from USB or ExtHDD) to remove all crapware including the Norton or whatever pre-installed “60 day only” free updated AV before activating…lots easier to do before the activation)
2 – AV of choice (MSE or Panda Cloud depending on if for me or some noob friend…Panda needs no definition updates that they may forget to keep up with)
3 – CCleaner (also set a startup auto/silent scheduled task for continuous cleaning of all the usual suspects on every reboot)
4 – Dropbox (I keep lots of the following installers/portable apps in my dropbox for setting up new machines/re-installs)
5 – Opera, Firefox and Chrome
6 – VLC, Winamp, Gimp, IrfanView, Audacity
7 – PDF-Xchange (to hell with Adobe Reader…probably uninstalled in previous work with Revo)
8 – GUI Modding stuff…Ranimeter, 7 stacks, LogonBG Changer, Classic Shell, Desktop Coral etc.
9 – Ashampoo Burning Studio
10 – VirtualBox (and then proceed to intall Ubuntu…and XP on a Win 7 machine)
11 – Anything else that I feel I need to actually install(after I copy lots of portable apps from USB drive to D: partition)
And then on the Ubuntu VM:
1 – Opera
2 – Conky
3 – VLC
4 – Dropbox (also keep things like conkyrc and other linux customized window manager/theme config files there as well)
5 – Anything Else as the need arises
1. Firefox
2. MSSE
3. Whatever I realize I need.
1) OS
2) *All* updated drivers, program updates and service packs to OS and installed peripherals
3) Productivity tools (Office, printer, etc)
4) *All* updates to productivity tools
5) Utilities (Flash, JAVA, HDDLife, SDDLife, etc)
5a) check Microsoft update again
6) Non-internet programs (Nova backup, Slyfox, Windows Live Mesh, Netgear DEW, etc.)
7) Anti-virus and all definition updates (having anti-virus software running too soon can interfere with proper system build)
7a) disconnect from network and internet
8) deep virus scan
8a) reconnect to network and internet
9) Internet-based programs and updates
10) deep virus scan
12) tweak the registry (but not clean/compress the registry)
13) Set-up managed tasks and schedules
Since I have switched to solid state drives, I do not defragment the primary drive nor run registry cleaners. Out of habit and training, I do a complete rebuild about once per year to keep everything fresh and running at full capacity. To make things go faster, I will download all internet-based programs, utilities and drivers to a spare drive (and run virus scan) BEFORE building so I won’t have to during the rebuild. I will also print off a list of all the programs listed in Program Manager.
I do offline installation of .net frameworks so itll speed up windows update by not havin to take the time to wait wait wait.
1-Drivers
2
3-Windows Update
4-Office 2007/2010
5-Updates agian
6-MSE and Malwarebytes
7-Windows Live Essentials Standalone
8- Firefox. Chrome + addons
9-Dropbox
10-other software + ninite.com stuff
1st. Microsoft Security Essentials
2nd. Google Chrome (coz IE sux)
3rd. Ccleaner
4th. Drivers
5th. Windows Update
6th. Do an image of the C: drive
1. Service Packs Updates (pre-downloaded and burned to dvd)
2. FireWall
3. Antivirus
4. Backup Creator
5. Office
6. Cd/DVD Burner
7. VLC Player
6. Misc Work related and games
1. Firefox
2. Avast
3. Install as I need…
1. Get someone to do it for me.. Done! (xD jk)
Ethernet Driver
Video Driver
Windows Update (Gets all the other drivers)
Ninite (Browsers, Runtimes, Antivirus/malware, Utilities)
Office
or… just install Ubuntu in which case:
Avant Window Navigator
Compiz Config Settings Manager
Equinox Themes
Faenza Icons
^^All UI customizations
and everything else I need comes with the OS.
(Windows o/s)
1. Router Software
2. 3rd party Firewall
3. 3rd party AntiVirus
4, Code Text editor
5. Telnet client/Ftp other xfer devices
6, Compilers and Utilities
7. 3rd party Browsers
8. database Apps
9. Word processor/spreadsheet/project management
10 Games (Guild Wars, etc)
after that is on as needed basis
First and foremost, I uninstall any crapware/bloatware installed (if it’s a new/end-user computer), or anything else that’s unnecessary.
Then I install:
1) Drivers
2) Updates, Service Packs, etc.
3) MSE (Comodo Firewall–if necessary)
4) MSOffice (or equivalent)
5) Google Chrome (or Firefox, depending on user’s preference)
6) VLC Player or SMPlayer (depends on my mood, lol)
7) PDF Reader (PDF-XChange, or Adobe Reader; again, depends on whose PC it is)
8) Adobe Flash Player and Java
9) iTunes, if necessary
10) ChatZilla/XULRunner
In Linux, I install:
1) Updates
2) gufw (if necessary)
3) LibreOffice
4) SMPlayer or VLC Player (depends on the distro)
5) AmaroK or Banshee
6) Thunderbird
7) XChat
8) Deluge or KTorrent
9) Wine
10) Audacity-FreeWorld
11) WinFF
12) Kid3(-qt)
Of, course any customization and user-specific applications are also installed afterwards, but that’s my general list.
1. Drivers
2. Kaspersky
3. Windows Updates
4. Firefox & Chrome
5. Ninite comes in and takes:
Thunderbird – Google talk – Notepad++ – VLC – KMPlayer – Winamp – Quick Time – Flash – Java
.Net – FoxitReader – Ad_Aware – CCleaner – TeraCopy – TeamViewer – TrueCrypt – Launchy – 7Zip -
WinRar – FileZilla
6. Nokia PC-Suite
7. Configuring installed software
8. Capture restore point
9. Final modifications
10. Way to go!
When I set up my computer I did it in the following order:
OS (duh)
antivirus
Chrome
updates/drivers
Skype and other such programs like that
Programs/Games
1. OS
2. Anti Virus
3. Web Browser
4. Media players
5. Steam
6. Desktop Enhancements (Dock, Visual Style etc)
1) Drivers
2) AV
3) Browser/s
4) Utilities
5) Productivity
6) Entertainment
1. Router Driver
2. Chrome
3. Download MSE(microsoft security essentials) and install
4. nVidia Driver
5. Zune
6. Updates
7. Productivity
8. Games
9. Shut Down!
1.Antivirus
2.Run Windows Update to install drivers without headache
3.Install Dropbox with all the portable apps
Done in about 10 minutes.
Sudo apt-get update
Profit
1. Drivers, 2. Firewall, 3. Antivirus, 4. Windows updates, 5. Java sdk and runtime, Games for windows marketplace, 6. I mostly use portable applications thus my next step is to copy my apps folder from my backup drive to the hard disk. 7. Pin the most used apps to the taskbar. 8. Copy remaning backup of media, documents, games…… 9. Defragment drive, customise OS
On Windows machines:
1. Drivers
2. DirectX
3. Firefox
4. Winamp, WinRAR, codecs, antivirus, Flash Player and so on
5. Other stuff
On Linux machines
1. Drivers (if needed)
2. Flash Player, proprietary codecs and Microsoft fonts
3.Other stuff
this is my preferred list always i follow,
1. Drivers
2. Anti virus
3. Vlc
4. browsers
5. Office Suite
6. Picasa
7.browser plug ins flash, shockwave, silver light
8. .net framework packages
9.KLM codec pack
10. team viewer
11. chat messengers yahoo, gtalk, msn, skype
12. Google earth
13. Adobe reader or foxit reader
14. PDF creater
these are only the basic applications required for normal users.
STEP 1
———-
1. Format and partition HDD – C: for Windows and apps, D: for Data
2. Install Windows 7 and SP1
3. Create 1st system image backup (Backup 1) with Macrium Reflect (can backup RAID5)
(This is now source used when reinstalling from scratch)
STEP 2
————
1. I tweak Windows extensively, so this gets done now
2. Secret sauce is Liberkey – this is installed on D:. Allows me to browse for stuff, use CCleaner, etc. without affecting OS setup and C: drive (keeps it clean). Keeps app install on C: drive (later) to a minimum.
3. All Windows Updates installed
4. Create Backup 2
STEP 3
———–
1. Install Office 2010 (+SP1 now)
2. I tweak Office settings extensively for workflow, so this happens now.
3. Create Backup 3
4. As driver and app updates can change quite a bit and/or have unexpected consequences, I prefer to get my “essential” setup done first.
4. When I get rid of my HP AIO printer (and delete the huge pile of drivers and software it requires) and buy a new AIO (not HP!), I only need to go back this far.
STEP 4
———–
1. Install all drivers and settings for them (Catalyst, printers, etc)
2. Create Backup 4.
STEP 5
———–
1. Install essential apps ‘n other stuff (Firefox, DropBox, Java, DirectX, etc) and all settings.
2. Liberkey and Firefox profile(s) in DropBox
3. Combo of Live Mesh and DropBox keeps files and media synced between PCs.
4. Backup 5 – all done (whew!)
NOTES
———–
1. I know conventional wisdom is to install drivers with Windows and then backup, but I prefer doing it incrementally. As Windows 7 has excellent driver support, I can put this off until I have my core “work” functionality installed.
2. If anything goes wrong with apps or drivers, I don’t have to go to square one.
3 Even if I make major changes (like when I was wrestling with ways to limit Libraries from messing with my file system and workflow), I can:
– install each backup stage
– make necessary changes
– create new (updated) backup stage
– this might be time-consuming, but much less so than doing so from scratch
My preferred order if installing a new OS is usually:
1. Drivers & update
2. Office suites & PDF
3.Graphic apps (on demand) & CAD
4. Video playback software (dvd, vlc)
5. Utilities (dictionaries, bibles, encyclopedias)
6. Recreational (Games)
7. Browsers (may come in at No.2)
8. Antivirus
1. install driver
2.Browser
3.windows update
4.anti virus
5. apply registry tweak that i like
6. install the rest of my software in any order (included players , pdf reader, office and others )
7. after all done ,clean temporary files with ccleaner
8. clean registry and defrag registry
9. defrag hdd
10all done
First download the latest drivers before formating and put them in a safe place, then format, then:
1. Install all drivers (make sure you install the chipset driver first)
2. Install all updates (dont forget to look at what updates are to be installed, uncheck any unwanted drivers or optional updates you dont want)
3. Install all security programs (Antivirus, firewall…)
4. if you want to install a defragmentaion tool, it would be better to install it now
5. Install your favorite applications at whatever order you want
6. if you are a gamer, install the latest version of directx 9 and physx before installing any game
I always install from lower layer to higher, except antivirus -
1. OS
2. drivers
3. service pack
4. windows update
5. video codec
6. office
7. browser, bookmarks, plug-ins
8. essential apps – adobe, flash, pdf writer, winrar, picture viewer, etc
9. big apps – photoshops, virtualbox, itunes, ebook management
10. update windows again
11. restore data files
That Ninite is the most useful link to information I’ve seen in a long time! I’ve been limping around pecking out all the sites one at a time for a while- drivers, updates, etc… this site puts them all in one place. Thank you!
1. Chipset Drivers
2. Display Drivers
3. Sound Drivers
4. Antivirus
5. Browser
6. OS updates / Antivirus Updates.
7. Games
My Order is as follows…
1. Operating System (This is Obvious)
2. Drivers (Anti-Malware tools can conflict with proper driver install, which is why this is 2nd)
3. Service Pack
4. Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware (Other Security related tools i.e., Host File)
5. OpenOffice or other Productivity Software package
6. Firefox & Thunderbird (Still love POP3 mail over web based)
7. Essential apps (flash, pdf writer, zune software, paint.net, O&O Defrag)
8. Windows Updates
9. PC Games (i.e., Valve Steam)
10. Full defrag of all drives overnight and I am ready to go.
*All of this takes me about 1.5 hours considering that most of the Update packages are downloaded to my drive, so it is just a matter of running them one by one.
Ninite is only good to me if you have access to the internet. Many of the computers I service do not have the luxury of the internet, and the ones that do, are still using 56kbps V.92 modems. Ninite would be very difficult to use. That is why I store many apps and updates to my external 500 GB hard drive.
i work at a data center and need both Linux and Windows on my machines to experiment with.
On an OEM machine
1) Remove all unwanted installed apps.
2) Run updates
3) Install MSE
4) Install MS Office and any other frequently used apps.
5) use partition magic or other program to resize the windows partition to allow a linux setup
6) Install Ubuntu and swap space
7) Install any needed drivers in Ubuntu
8) Install Ubuntu updates and set us firewall rules
9) modify grub to boot windows by default (for the rest of the family)
10) install any additional Linux software wanted.
11) make restore DVD set
12) install any additional windows software wanted
On a new hard drive
1) Install windows on partition 1
2) Install Ubuntu on and swap on the remaining space
3) Install any needed drivers in Ubuntu
4) Install Ubuntu updates and set firewall rules
5) modify grub to boot windows by default (for the rest of the family)
6) install any additional Linux software wanted.
7) boot to windows and install network drivers if needed
8) start windows updates
9) install firefox MSE and winrar
10) Start second round of updates
11) Install MS office and any other frequently used software.
12) Make DVD restore set
13) Install any additional windows software wanted.
1. OS and available service packs from local media
2. Configure network and sharing
3. Security from local media
4. OS updates using default browser
5. Install preferred browser from on-line source
6. Secunia PSI from on-line source
7. Install office and service packs from local media
8. Install remaining apps and runtime enviros using Nineite when possible
9. Install Soluto and configure start-ups
10. Monitor system state with PSI and perform remaining updates as needed.
11. Restore user files from backup.
No wonder this takes all day!
1. Decent web browser i.e firefox or maxthon
2. Drivers
3. Glary Utilities
4. Office
5. Everything else
1. antivirus
2. windows update
3. drivers
4. chrome and firefox
5. windows apps (office and windows live)
6.OpenOffice
7. Skype
8. Itunes
updates
slim drivers (run)
microsoft sercruty essentals
windows live essentals wo messenger
trillian
evernote
itunes
soluto
slim____ (all three)
advanced system care
skype
WotC Magic: The Gathering Online
then wile i wait because by now i have a backup of things i get the installation disk for office
install office home and student
start configuring all programs
trillian
mail
evernote
eye-fi (thank you HTG mothers birthday present you gave me the idea)
andvanced sysem care
then restart
run advanced system care
run microsoft security essentals
libre office
i use ie so no browser and the other programs i dont install rght away
Although there are packages that everyone uses (browser, anti-virus, defragger, etc), the applications differ. In any case, When I’m setting up clients’ systems, I look at inter-dependencies. For instance, setting up a mail client comes before installing the anti-virus because, the anti-virus should be “know” what mail client it’s to protect. On the other hand, a defragger is a “stand-alone” and can be among the final installs. Be aware, also, of potential conflicts: 2 anti-virus programs on one system is not a good idea at all since one or both may determine that the other is harmful. If you install AdAware before SpyBot S&D, you’ll get a warning and required response about a possible conflict.
Having said all that, you still have to consider what installations will take the longest and which will require responses and don’t forget the operating system updates, some of which are optional only if certain applications are (or are not) installed.
Even transferring from one system to another requires the same precautions.
With hardware as inexpensive as it is today, the cost — whether your own time or a consultant’s — is a major consideration.
Well on a Windows system I always start by installing Firefox and getting rid of Internet Explorer, then configure Firefox before anything else, AdBlock and FasterFox.
Step Two is usually torrent software, uTorrent being my favorite, once my ports are forwarded I get my Anti-Virus, and Firewall running.
Then I get my Windows Update on, and restart the computer a jazillion times :(
After that it depends from wipe to wipe, but I generally stick to the same bunch of apps,
iTunes is a must, along with Zoom Player for the codecs.
Fre:ac is a good audio converter, haven’t figured out how to convert FLAC to .mp3 yet though.
TrueCrypt for all my sensitive parts ;)
And then it’s Oblivion all the way!
OS (including drivers and updates)
Avast
Zonealarm
Firefox
World of Warcraft
Ninite (after playing WoW for a bit to see how it looks after a new OS install)
Office
First I uninstall anything that looks like OEM bloatware. Then I install Anti-virus (on Windows), followed by Opera and Notepad++. Everything else can wait until I need it.
The first thing for me is Google Chrome, then Dropbox.
After that, I just install things as I need them. I mostly live on the web, so anything else is just auxiliary.
Why would anyone choose anything other than Ninite for being #1?
The Ninite site, BRILLIANT! I would also like to thank everyone here who mentioned it. I have used most of the programs on the site, so this will be such a time saver.
According to Dell:
The correct order to install drivers on all portable systems is as follows:
Notebook system software
Chipset
Video
Cardbus / Media card controller
Audio
Network
Wireless
Touchpad
Modem
Bluetooth (if available)
Dell Quickset
Any other applications
1. RAID drivers, then OS
2. Windows Update
3. Video card drivers
4. Anti-virus
5. Other drivers
6. Browsers and add-ons (e.g. Firefox, Flash, Java)
7. Applications
7.1 Office
7.2 Adobe CS3
7.3 Acrobat
7.4 Dropbox
7.5 iTunes & Winamp
7.6 Skype
7.7 Others
8. Games
I don’t use Ninite because I want complete control over which drive each application installs to. If I only had one hard drive, then I would definitely just use ninite.
1. Updates
2. Drivers
3. Chrome and Firefox
4. Plugins
5. Libre Office
6. Dropbox
7. Eclipse
8. VLC
9. Picasa and Gimp
10. A BitTorrent Client
Network, video or chipset drivers (If I need to)
Windows Update (Enable Microsoft Update)
Ninite (Firefox, Thunderbird*, VLC, Flash, Java, Paint.NET*, Reader*, LibreOffice*, Essentials, Malwarebytes*, CCleaner, Auslogics, TeraCopy*, 7-Zip, Notepad++*)
Nitro PDF*
Any other apps & extensions (Adblock Plus w/ lists, DownThemAll!, Tab Mix Plus)
Secunia (Make sure everything is up to date)
Magical Jellybean Keyfinder (Backup product keys)
Double Driver (Backup drivers)
Run Experience Index
Make restore point
Update other drivers & install peripherals
Sysinternals Suite (Autologon*, Autoruns, Process Explorer)
Ultimate Windows Tweaker + manual tweaks (Through menus or .reg files)
Run Windows Update again
Run Disk Cleanup, CCleaner then Disk Defrag
Setup backup & image machine
*Optional
One of the first items to add is startup monitor
all at once.
apt-get install -y $(cat my_list_of_cool_apps)
oh, and then dropbox.
OS
Drivers – Chipset>Video>Network>Sound
Antivirus
MS update
Office
MS update
PDF Reader
Cutewriter
1. OS
2. Change search engine in IE to Google
3. Decrapifier (i skip this step if i am installing a OS from the original DVD)
3. Visit Ninite.com
4. Firewall (Ninite believes that windows firewall is sufficient)
5. Firefox addons
6. MS Office
7. Windows Live Essentials
8. Automatic OS Updates
9. Prey + other software that ninite does not include DVDFab, Nokia ovi, TED
1. PC-Decrapifier (if running a BRAND new commerical box).
2. Update OS.
3. Install Microsoft Security Essentials (Direct from Microsoft or a trusted download site).
4. Update any drivers needed with system.
5. Use Ninite to choose my favorite free apps (browsers, utilities, office, graphics).
6. Windows Live Essentials
7. Update any programs that have new definitions or security files.
8. Enjoy using my new box.
I work in an IT shop and here are the steps we take on each new box.
1 – Remove bloatware (if the box is prebuilt, if not skip this)
2 – Drivers
2.5 – Reboot
3 – Ninite pack with AVG, MalwareBytes, Ccleaner, Adobe Reader & Flash, Teamviewer
4.5 – Reboot
4 – Office
5 – Updates
6 – Updates
7 – Yet more updates
A useful note: on alot of machines AVG will not update properly after being installed via Ninite, it starts its update and simply hangs. The second reboot takes care of that problem.
Partition
OS
Drivers for motherboard and graphic card
Antivirus AVG
Firewall ZoneAlarm
Adobe Reader, FlashPlayer etc
Updates
Office
Other programs that you use
System restore points and backups
Your Personal Data
And of course reboot as you go so apps install properly
Bare Metal Clean Installs have been my specialty since I was beta testing Windows 95 OSR2 in 1996.
Hardware First
Bios updates are always done prior to installing your OS. You can use the great Ultimate Boot CD to get to a command prompt and flash the motherboard BIOS, then reboot and teak the settings. This will make for a more successful (read: better performing) OS install. On newer systems I like to set the hard drive controller to AHCI SATA mode, not IDE mode, as I find it works smoother with less CPU overhead.
Get any expansion cards installed and have all your hardware ducks in a row BEFORE you begin the OS install.
Software Next
I like to build a custom OS installer for my systems, slipstreaming all the latest updates and drivers into the mix so the system will be totally up-to-date when the OS install completes. The great DriverPacks by Wim Leers and company go a long way to makingthis happen, and there are some wonderful tech forums where people eat, breathe and sleep this stuff. I used to use nLite and vLite, but now I use something called SMART which can alter the service settings to make the box work faster, be more secure and reliable, for whatever you need to do.
After the OS and current drivers are installed, I like to use System Restore or Ghost to make a backup/save the clean install so if I need to, I can go back to it easily.
I also reboot the system a few times during this phase to populate the Prefetch folder and flush out any startup and shutdown potential problems. Get the networking setup and tested, but don’t go out to the web much until later when security software is installed
Applications, Oldest First, Newest Last
I start with browser, archiving utilities (WinRAR, Firefox), add the Adblock and NoScript plugins, text editor (NotePad++) and FTP (WS_FTP or FileZilla), then the bigger apps, oldest first and newest last.
Very last, install anti-virus, and firewall (I love MS Security Essentials), and something called WinPatrol (Scotty says “woof woof”) which monitors all kinds of system stuff all the time and tells me when something tries to install itself.
YMMV, but this approach has stood me well for many years and hundreds of installations. I am transitioning all this to a virtualized approach, where my host OS will be plain and simple (though secured) and all my apps stuff will be done in easily restored VM disk files.
I love technology. And I love How to Geek!
MARK STRELECKI
Atlanta, GA.
SP3
Anti virus
Office
PDF Reader
Media player
Meant to post this over here vs. over with the tutorial…..
Anyway, right or wrong, this has worked for me.
I especially think that checking that AHCI mode is set for your SATA hard drive in the bios for new hard drives and that you install the chipset update and Intel Rapid storage manager is important.
I also burn all the needed files onto a CD before the build so I don’t have to find and download things on the fly. Don’t even need your browser this way. And I use folder names starting with the installation order number so when you are dead tired installing things you don’t have to think too much! :)
• Update Bios.
• Update all bios settings, make sure Hard Drive on AHCI
• INSTALL WIN 7
• Install Antivirus
• Chipset – Intel .INF chipset update utility
• Intel Rapid storage driver
• Ethernet driver
• Video Driver
• Audio Driver and apps
• Windows update – Critical only
• Microsoft office
• Printer Drivers
• Intellipoint and Intellitype if applicable
• Other applications
• Image with Ghost
Ninite.com, saves hours of downloading free essential apps for any new install. Get your AV,PDF reader, browsers, etc… All in one quick and easy spot.
drivers
avira
superantispyware
and then crapware as needed
no office! I use just google docs
0.windows
1.drivers
2.antivirus
3.kmplayer
4.vlcplayer
5.pron
6.pdf reader
7.pron ebooks
8.virus
9.repeat from 0.
1. Configuring the OS options (GUI, settings, preferences)
2. System Restore Checkpoint
3. Drivers
4. OS Updates
5. Anti-Virus
6. Web-Browser(s)
7. Disk & Registry clean and deleting System Restore Points
8. Disk defrag
9. Runtime libraries, Plugins, Codecs
10. Favorite software
11. Disk & Registry clean
12. Disk defrag
13. Restore backed up files & settings
14. System Restore Checkpoint
1. Keyboard Layout
2. Microsoft Office + plugin
3. Leave the computer to update its system files
4. Microsoft Security Essential
5. Medis player codec
6. Download manager
7. Photoshop + corel + evernote + …
8. Restore files back from external hard drive
9. Cutomize the working environment and enjoy
1. Drivers
2. Internet Security Suite
3. Windows Updates
4. Web Browsers
5. Office Suite
6. Media Players
7. VOIP clents
8. Image Editor
9. Plugins and Players, Browser Add-ons
10. System Utilities(like uninstallers, registry cleaners etc.)
11. Games
1.OS
2.SP
3.Drivers
4.windows updates
5.Softwares
6.Antivirus/anti malware/anti spyware
Windows 7 ultimate,no display,sound drivers from my side.Win 7 is great.
HP AIO drivers.
Important non optional updates..Net4,portable Process Explorer,Winrar 4
Security-AV usually Avast free then Zone Alarm Pro,MSE and offline MSE update.Winpatrol Plus
Internet-Nokia PC Suite for Internet
Backup-Dropbox then sync to get back basic things
Firefox,Chrome offline installer,Flash,Java.Addons in both.Internet Download Manager
Acrobat 10.0.3 Pro,VMware Workstation 7.1.x and in that Ubuntu 11,Fedora,Linuxmint,Puppylinux not working properly,No Gnome 3+.Till Gnome 2.x
Everything search software,Revo Uninstaller Pro,Wondershare Time Freeze I won,Sandboxie,USB Disk security.NoAutorun Registry import.
Tuneup Utilities,Auslogics Boost Speed.Raxco Perfect Disk.
These are basic and installed after format.Otherwise Chrometa.Disk Boss,Clock on tray ultimate,MS Office 2010 pro plus,PDF Factory pro,Fineprint 6.x,Preton Ink saver,Dtsearch,Pimero Plus,Incredimail Plus,The Bat 5,Snagit 10 etc and 10000+ there.In one Win XPSP3 in VMware WS,NOD 32 AV,2nd XP-Zonealarm Extreme security so that they can also scan a USB drive used for storage.
All soft from Liberkey and Portableapps.com already installed in two pen drives.
Only huge drawback is not using most imp soft I already have Novastor Backup Pro latest,Acronis TIH 2011 with addons,Paragon Backup Recovery Suite 10,Norton Ghost 15.Active Image,O&O Diskimage,Terabyte Image for Windows etc etc and File backup sync like Good sync enterprise.Superflexible file synchroniser,Second Backup,Karenware free Backup,Ocster Pro 6.x Business and Pro.I have all which I can’t write here but can’t decide which is best and reliable.So nobody is ever used.
Also Teracopy Pro is excellent,I forgot Gizmo which is a must for all and Zentimo storage manager and so many but I will stop for now.
Download security software and most recent service pack to a thumbdrive on a different computer.
After the OS install is done (or you open the new computer), DON’T connect it to the Internet. Install all security and the service pack FIRST and make settings changes.
THEN connect it and do all OS patches and virus definition updates first. After that, it hardly matters what order you install anything.
Drivers
Security
Chrome (I wonder if Microsoft tracks the first url entered into Explorer. I wonder what percent is used to download Chrome/Firefox.)
Ninite
Everything else.
Most of my work is done ‘in the cloud,’ so I just need a modern browser. But I do tend to enjoy having my preferred desktop apps available when needed.
1. Wipe and reinstall to get rid of crapware
2. Drivers
3. Updates
4. Microsoft Security Essentials
5. IE9
6. Windows Live Essentials
7. Office
8. Install ccleaner
9. Uxtheme patch and download several 3rd party themes
10. That’s basically it. Some other stuff like other browsers, LibreOffice,etc.
Well, assuming that drivers are automatically installed with Windows, the list for me goes like this …
These are the main applications I recommend:
Antivirus/Firewall (Kaspersky or Comodo or maybe both)
Browser (Google Chrome and Firefox)
Office (2007 or 2010)
And since I`m a developer, I add these extra applications:
Microsoft Visual Studio (2005, 2007 and 2010)
WAMP Server
Oracle Database Engine
Then the rest of the stuff (IncrediMail, Messenger, Utorrent, VMWare, Virtual Box, etc …)
Steps to install.
1: buy a used computer (because even 2 or 3 year old systems are still good and you save them from landfill and save the footprint of buying a new one.)
2: Use a bootable security disk to wipe the hard drive, who knows what might be on there.
3: Install Debian Linux 6 (default install includes a lot, OO.o or now LO and the basics for mail, net… works with almost any hardware. If the machine you are installing on is even older use Puppy Linux instead.)
4: install synaptic package manager (Makes everything from here on easier.)
5: install firestarter and anti virus
6: install java and eclipse.
7: install the gnu compilers (C, C++, Fortran, Ada)
8: Install firefox and Chrome (check that the java plugins are installed correctly, install the java browser plugin package, then no script and other ff plugins)
9: install wine
10: download, configure, make, make install the freewrl code. (3d virtual simulation and ajax 3d)
11: vnc, server and client
12: go look at the latest xkcd.com and have someone make coffee
13: In Eclipse install the latest Google Graphical window editor.
14: Install Python and the eclipse python editors
15: You may now want to install different anonymity packages or tunnels.
16: various security tools, nmap, ngrep, SELinux, log analysis and intrusion detection tools
17: drink your coffee you earned it.
1- firewall and antivirus
2- windows update
3- ninite
4- anything else
OS first, which i will then update. then, the best is a little tool called Ninite
http://ninite.com/
This is a very handy app, which you just select what software you want to instal oon the website, and download one installer for all of them. this installs about 10 of my fav softwares (from chrome to Songbird, and Skype to VLC) all in one big install, so no more boring searching the web, downloadsing millions of exes, this just installs everything you want at once!
Guys,
You have such a huge amount of scientific knowledge about computers and how to install operating systems, Windows and Linux, and all the necessary applications that it all hit me like a punch thrown by a heavyweight boxer. I’m still dizzy.
You have won my admiration. I’m learning a lot with what you have told.
Thanks a lot.
After OS
>Drivers
>AntiVirus
> AntiVirus Update
>OS Updates
>Office/Browers/Other Applications
>
Looks like all the others are copying myself, but theres some additions as well…Back to the drawing board…..
Im about to redo my list of “new installs” and add some. Then Image image image after allathat…
NINITE is great…
Chipset Driver
nvidia drivers
0ther Drivers as needed
Firefox
Chrome
Windows updates
Office
Office Updates
Nero 9
Nitro PDF reader
Malwarebytes
Ccleaner
Display Fusion
Games
I never use any Anti Virus programs
because I have never had a virus in
9 years of computing
It seems I am too late!
Win7
Laptop Drivers and laptop System Diagnostic
Antivirus & Firewall (Comodo)
Browser (Chrome)
Optimizer:including registry cleaner (Uniblue powersuite)
PDF readers(2)
Microsoft Office (just powerpoint and word which I need)
Webcam software (YOUcam)
Download manager (Orbit)
Video player (KM Player)
My digital camera software (CANON)
& some other occasionally needed softwares
Oops! I forgot Decompressor or compressor (WINRAR)
Windows Pcs
1 Install Driver software
2 Install Neccessary support software – bleachbit, I.Security, Adobe Flash, Java, Reader (from USB Stick), Soluto to find out about lags in Windows startup.
3 install firefox from portable firefox already secured on USB drive.
4 Install Windows updates via batch scriptijng from usb drive.
5 Tweak system for custom use – Registry hacking and changing windows settings for better performance. Depending on MEMORY, disabling paging of windows system to HDD.
6 repartition via gparted
7 if using a 2nd HDD – move pagefile (if Windows) to 2nd drive/2nd Partition
8 Eliminate all unneccessary services
9 Defrag from a UBCD to get best performace out of Drive
10 MSConfig to use all available processing power and memory to Windows startup
11 install all other software and have fun
Linux Systems
Partition during setup
After 1st boot – edit grub.conf to edit kernel parameters
update repositories and remove braille and remove/diable Assistive Technologies
install sysv-rc-conf from the repositories and remove items that are not needed on the system runlevel by runlevel.
edit metacity and nautilus for leaner system
Install insserv, fedora readahead and configure them.
edit blackist to diable pc beep, ipv6, and kernel modules that are not needed on local system
install bootchart2 from the repositories
fine tuning
Install Virtualbox and install guest os and configure guest os.
Install 1 or 2 games from the repos
add adblock, element hider, ramback, popup blocker, autopager, no script to firefox
tweak about:config in Firefox to get pipelineing, lower memory usage, send local caches to memory, diable ipv6
I get everything installed, updated, and make sure everything is working properly, including printers, and then and only then do I activate my products – including Windows. I have had to call Microsoft too many times because something went wrong to make that mistake again. Then I make another backup, this time knowing it will work if need be. My Windows Home Server makes backups, but I know I have exactly what I need, ready to go, on disk, without any fuss or trouble.
after the OS (7 enterprise)
1. cjipset and Drivers
2. anti virus (ESS and smadav)
3. for work (office 2007/2010, nitro PDF)
4. internet (firefox, chrome, add ons, IDM , thunderbird, digsby, putty, mIRC and FTP transfer)
5. multimedia (GOM, AMP/JET audio, ACDsee)
6. for system utilities (ccleaner, defragler ,your uninstaler, Alcohol 120%, 7zip, unlocker, ramrush, autoruns)
7. game (borderland and AOE III)
1. Drivers
2. Browser(s)
3. Easus Partition Master (the create partitions)
4. StorageCraft backup/recovery software
5. Winzip & 7zip
6. Updates
7. Antivirus, firrewall, and other security apps.
8. MS Office, Open Office, and then Office updates
9. PDF readers (3)
10. TrueCrypt
11. KeePass
12. Irfranview
13. System related utilities
14. Various games
15. Everything else (there are many)
in General you should install all your hardware drivers correctly first
then see which program (software) is older and install it first
Because some old .dll files may over write the new ones accidentally
I prefer to install the anti virus the last thing