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5 Applications to help reformat Windows
By Martin English | September 8, 2008
Every so often you have to reinstall XP. it may be exciting the first time, but after that you want to make it as painless as possible. Download Squad has 5 usefull applications for making a Windows reinstall easier.
- DriverMax. Running DriverMax before the format lets you back up all the drivers on a system. It even loads drivers for non-present devices, which means you don’t have to fight a printer or webcam install CD later on.
- Migwiz is the standard Microsoft file and settings transfer utility, which works extremely well, but it is critical to use the exact same version of the executable to avoid problems. Copy the USMT folder from the computer’s c:\windows\system32\ and save it to a USB drive, or do what the wizard wants you do and create a wizard disk. Run the exe from there both before and after the reformat.
- Nlite (or VLite for Vista) enables a silent Windows install!. Extract your CD’s contents to a folder, run N/VLite on it, fill in the blanks, and grab some application addons from Winaddons. Burn your disc and presto, you’ve got a silent Windows install!
- WPI – Windows Post-Install. This makes post-reformat installs a breeze. Throw your favorite apps in a folder and set up their silent switches in the WPI configuration page. Reinstalling them is as easy as checking some boxes and clicking a button. There is an excellent tutorial at the WPIW site, which will guide you through setting up your first Wizard.
- PING (Parition Image is Not Ghost). Once you have a nice clean install, create an image so you don’t have to go through it all again !!! Imaging saves all kinds of hassles and the image itself can reside on an external hard drive until it’s required again. Pick up a reliable mdoel of external drive and store an image on, instead of reformatting again next time.
Topics: Microsoft, Productivity, software | No Comments »
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