drive image

[gusl]

I'm setting up WinXp again, trying to write down my steps... and figuring out what I would like in a drive image.

The following are the essentials, which ANY respectable Windows system should have.

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SYSTEM
Windows XP
service pack + latest Windows updates

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL
* WinZip 8.1
* Acrobat Reader + GhostScript/GhostView
* CD Burner (Nero)
* FTP Program

BROWSING
* Google Toolbar, with its Pop-Up Killer
* AdAware

EDITING TOOLS
* EditPlus v2.11
* MS Office + PowerPoint, mostly because many people treat its formats as standard.
* PhotoShop, handy but not as essential as other things here.

MULTIMEDIA
* DivX codec installed
* DVD program (PowerDVD5)
* DVD Region Free v3.0

THE FIRST THINGS I CHANGE WHEN I SEE A WIN MACHINE
* Put Notepad on the QuickStart menu, or EditPlus is available.
* Display folders and files in "Detail" format by default.
* Show file extensions.
* Make Windows "Classic Style".

oh, and turning OFF hardware acceleration makes everything faster.