New Installation

#1 should be to install Windows. I think you might have brain overload. Get some sleep.

maybe so

Hows this:

1. Install Windows

2. install chipstet drivers

3. install nic drivers

4.USB 3 drivers

5. audio

6. video

7. Avast , Classic Shell, Revo, from a disc I made

8. Windows Updates

Digger

There is more to it than just the sequence, however. Now you'll probably get as many different opinions on just how to do an installation as you'll have people offer their advice. I can only tell you how I do things and I'm very slow about this because I make complete disk images along the way so I can back out in minutes instead of hours. Here are a couple of things to consider.

Make sure your BIOS is reasonably up to date. Check your BIOS version and check for updates on the manufacturer's web site. Check each new version for what the update offers. Don't worry about such as issues with specific games but do pay attention to stability issues and added hardware compatibility. If anything looks useful to you now or in the near future, consider updating the BIOS. I'll give you fair warning that you can brick your system if you don't do this correctly or lose power during the flash process. Make sure you're on the UPS. Hands tightly together in the praying position during the flash. I can let you know that some BIOS updates after the installation can trigger Windows "Found new hardware" message so just be aware of this.

As for the installation process, here's what else I do. I do not connect any external devices. I connect only one hard drive. I install Windows fresh and complete and make an image of the drive if USB ports are working. I will configure only one administrator account at this time and use it for the remainder of the basic installation. I install chipset drivers and NIC drivers as you stated. You can install other MB hardware drivers as well. I will then consider doing going on line to do all Windows important updates. Don't let Windows Update install any drivers, however. I may or may not choose to install an anti-virus program just yet. I will, then, take another image snapshot of the drive. If I've not done so earlier, I'd install my AV program now get it updated and let it scan the drive.

Next, I add use accounts as desired. In the beginning, make them all administrators and bust them down later. Why? Because you'll find the limited privileges make it difficult to configure some of their custom settings.

You can now install printers, other internal hard drives, etc. Making another hard drive image after all hardware is complete and functional is a good idea.

Now you install your programs. You mentioned Revo and I'm not convinced that's necessary but it's your choice. I suspect it uses some resources all of the time as it monitors all installations. I've not found Windows 7 to be all that bad about removing properly written programs and I expect 8 will be as good. It's up to you. So now you install your programs and continue to make images along the way...especially if you have major applications like Office and some graphic arts like Adobe. If you bung up the installation, restoring the last image gets you out of it in a few minutes.

Anyway, that's sort of what I do. Every install is different so there's no one plan fits all. To me, the most important part is being able to hit the reset button when I mess something up.

Oh...and lastly...don't activate Windows until you're completely happy and have a full backup image of that happy point. If you activate early and then need to back away, you get to activate again. Good luck.

Thanks Steve

I haven't done a complete installation of Windows since Windows 95 , all of the rest of the computers had the OS installed when I purchased them so I'm making sure I get it right. I pretty much forgot all I thought I new about that. LOL

I'll be bench testing in the morning and putting it all together. I was going to start this evening but I ate a big dinner and now I'm Good For Nothing . The OS won't be here til tomorrow evening anyway. UPS doesn't come around till 5 or 6 .

If I finish it up early maybe I'll pop in a live cd and check the hardware.

Have a good one,

Digger

The reason I'm installing Revo right away is when I go to the Gigabyte site to get my drivers they only list rev.1.0 and rev.1.1.

The motherboard I have is rev 1.2 and so is the supplied disc.

The disc also has Norton on it and I want to remove that post haste if it does get installed , also the version of Avast comes from Download.com and who knows what little surprises might be hidden there.

Digger

it's not critical after chipset drivers. If you have an Intel board, don't forget MEI and Rapid Storage.

I am finding that my version (2010) acts differently with larger drives in that it defaults to sector by sector mode. This means long image times and huge files. If you're in the 1T range on your HD, I'm going to recommend creating a much smaller partition for the OS. 500 GB works for me but 1T does not. Perhaps newer versions of Acronis or other imaging software offerings handle large drives better.

Make a new discussion on. Unlike some factory restore systems the new NATIVE way uses USB sticks or drives. I have used it and it's pretty good. If you want restore DVDs you have to look at other software. Acronis, Aseuas (?) or such.
Bob