How To Fix Your PC -- I fixed mine so read all of this

Well, there is something good today that has happened. Well actually it was yesterday, already. I have finally got my PC fixed the way I want it running and working. I formatted it to a RAW hard drive and started from scratch. Here is how you do it:

You will need to backup all your files you want to save. These include pictures, financial records and what not. Back them to a CD (For me I backed up my pics, and "users" directory from C:\Program Files\Trillian as well as my skins directory. Then I discarded the rest lol.)..

You need to find your copy of your re-install CD's such as Windows XP and your system drivers.

Just for the hell of it, hit the power button right off your PC and just hard turn it off. But, put your XP re-install CD in first! .. Then turn off hard shut down. You will then want to turn it on and before you even see the first part of your boot screen, within one second after you turn your computer again hit [F12] on your Keyboard twice -- this will open the boot menu.

From here you will see the 4 choices in boot menu for boot up. Use your cursor keys to drop down to the 4th choice which is "From CD Drive Device" then hit [ENTER] ... You will see text that will appear that says "To Continue booting from CD please hit enter..." You will need to hit the [ENTER] key again. Now you will see the setup begin. From this point on before you do anything else be sure you follow my steps exactally in the right order:

- Hit [F6] so that the setup will later let you install 3rd party drivers. This is where most make their mistake right here. Well just one of many mistakes. - Next, you will be prompted again to select location of 3rd party drivers. Just hit [ENTER] to continue. -- Now, let the setup continue to upack files. When setup makes screen appear with choices to either repair or install fresh copy of Windows© XP® -- select install fresh copy. Now, the setup will prompt you about repairring the exsisting copy again. Simply hit [ESC] key on your keyboard to NOT repair nor install new copy. This will take you to the formatt menu. From here the setup will show you the exsiting copy located on a partition of your exsisting C:\ drive ...--- Here you will need to do the following:

- Hit "D" on your keyboard to delete the partition or partition(s) which contain copies of Windows or other opperating systems. You will be prompted to hit [ENTER] to confirm. Then one last confirm to Loose all backup data by hitting "L" on your keyboard.

- At this point, you have a RAW hard drive with absolutely no data on the hard disk. This means even your Express service code copy is totally wipped out as well. That and you can gurantee this means all viruses, spyware, and all of that is totally gone as well..lol

- Now, from this RAW hardrive you are ready to install a fresh new copy of Windows XP on your computer. Be sure to selet in the prompt options at this junction "Install Windows XP on Selected Partition" -- Do not create another partition otherwise you will not have automatic boot up on Windows XP.

- Windows XP setup will be automatic from this point. Let your CD do the rest of the work. When prompted however, for the Network Setup Wizzard to enter your Network Name, and location. For the reasons that this will also sign your internet cookies do not use your real name for this setting. Simply type in "me" , "mycomputer", "family", or "user" or something like that! ~ This will sign your cookies with ie' example: " cookie@users.txt " .

- Setup your internet time zone in the options of the network setup wizzard, and then hit submit. The setup will now install your network settings on your computer. At this point, Windows XP will finish setup in just about 15 minutes. Your computer will restart automatically.

FINAL SETUP: When your computer restarts, the graphics will look funny on your computer as there is still the task of you intalling your drivers and ultilities on your computer. For each PC it's different. So, I will NOT go into all of these details. You will be prompted upon your computer first inital startup with this new copy of Windows© XP® on it to allow windows to set your screen resoluton for you. Click "OK" to allow this then proceed upon load up to setup your install disks for your drivers and applications software installs. Once you've installed the following drivers you will need to restart. Despite the prompt for restart each driver, I would install all of ONLY the following before you restart:

1. Sound Driver (Usually SoundMAX© Digital Audio -- is the best one).
2. Video Driver - Whatever your macchine calls for on your disks which contains these drivers.
3. Intel® ChipsSet© drivers.
4. Your network drivers (Most Pc's are Broadcom Control Suite)

Be sure to install your graphics control center located in the Ultilites Disks for Dell or HP computers. Then hit restart on your start menu.
LAST NOTE: Before you resart run your "System Configuration Ulility" by clicking on Start and then on the [RUN] type in "msconfig" and the system config will open for you. Next click on Startup and disable everything in startup. After that, click "Apply", then on Services disable the following items: "Automatic Updates", "Windows Security Center", "Telephony", "Distrubuted Link Tracking", "Remote Services", "Remote Desktop", "Remote calling", "Netwaiting Service", and "Dr Watson"! Click "Apply" and then "OK" -- you will be prompted to restart. Then you restart.

Also, do not install the lastest copy of Apple® iTunes© player on your computer. Instead goto: http://oldapps.com/ and download the earlier 5.5 build of iTunes player as it was in fact the most stable and best build Apple ever made. Not sure why they ever changed it again and again. The newer builds really suck!