What are you guys doing for your programs? One of the biggest reasons why I don't clean install regularly is because I always have a bunch of programs and reinstalling them is a big pain in the ass. When I got windows 7 I partitioned my HD so all of programs and OS are on one partitions and my docs/photos/vids on another to make it easier to do clean installs.

Also, what about drivers? Do you just have all of your driver installers stored somewhere? I hate looking for drivers.

http://ninite.com/

whoa ho ho hoho ho.... didn't know about this. nice.

I do it the hard way. I am sure there are better ways for me to do it, but I got 2 PC's right now, 3 monitors, and work from home. I got nothing but time and I can do my work from either machine typically, while reformatting the other. It is much more efficient for me if they are both running but I get paid by the hour.

I need to get a laptop so I can do some work from the couch sometimes.*

+1, thx

I've decided tenkeyless keyboards + numpad separate is the way to go. Tenkeyless because the mouse sits much closer to the keyboard which I feel is more ergonomic. As well, the home/end/pageup/down buttons are FAR easier to access as they are right next to your right hand (if you're righty). I find it hard to hit them quickly and accurately with a full keyboard now.

This is the setup I rock mainly:



with this on the left side somewhere



Also, mechanical keyboards are sooooo nice. I'm using a top end rubber dome (what 99% of keyboards are nowadays) and it's really disgusting compared to my mechanical setup above.

Numpad I could probably do without but some programs use Numpad shortcuts, as well some bioses require use of numpad.

omg, any idea where I can buy one? I love em w/o numpad's but my Evoluent KB1 got bad keys so quick I was pissed. I would love a mechanical tenkeyless.

here you go my friend

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/produc...ter=spacesaver

quick guide

cherry black = gaming
cherry blue = typing
cherry brown = gaming/typing mix

topre = $$ but apparently great, also they are not evenly weighted unless it says, the happy hackings are evenly weighted i believe. evenly weighted = better for gaming. they optimize weighting for typing by putting easier to push keys for your pinkies.

more resources to look at for research:

http://www.overclock.net/computer-pe...ard-guide.html

http://www.geekhack.org/

tyty, looks like I will be buying myself (another) belated birthday present.

Have I ever posted a pic of my setup ITT?

probably, but post it again! too many pages to dig and look

3x22" Acer's
2 PC's (Input Director to share the mouse/keyboard)
desk L - 72" x 30" main and 48" x 24" Return Bridge, for a 6x6 L.

1 x 22" - AMD 4200+, 2gb RAM (~4 yrs old), 250gb, and 750gb HDD, ATI Radeon 4650. Used mostly for playing music, downloading/watching TV, and testing various HM importing issues/questions/bugs.

2 x Other 22's - HP Elite (1 yr old). Ci7-920, 9gb DDR3, came w/ 64gb Vista. Installed Intel 160gb SSD and W7 Ultimate this summer and 1TB Caviar Green (wish I got black now). This is my multi-task monster. Multiple browsers open for email and forum support, tons of apps/documents open, teamviewer, etc, and where I play poker on rare occasions.

Very nice.

Have you thought of upgrading the monitors? I used to use TN panels, but ever since I've used IPS I love them so much more. Everything looks much better to my eyes. Also, I think this is a typo, but 750gb SSD?!?!?!?

If you ever want more speed, you could overclock that i7 to ~4GHz. Probably can't do it on the stock HP motherboard, but $120 can get a 1366 mobo that could.

Yes, typo, fixed.

I am probably getting a 30" to replace the 2 on my work machine, after the first of the year. I already spent my allotment for this year on PC parts and desk furniture.

Doubt I will over-clock this. It is plenty fast as is and I dont want to have to gut my whole case. Maybe I will over-clock my next PC if I finally decide to build one myself.

i have one of those keyboards, it is good.

i particularly like that it is PS/2 compatible, so i can turn my pc on by pressing the 'p' key rather than hunting for a switch under the desk somewhere.

Yeah Im really lusting over a dual 30 inch IPS setup. The new dell 30 IPS hopefully will go on sale sometime soon.

re: reformatting, backups, images etc

Can't remember where I first read this, but one rather elaborate and involved strategy consists of taking multiple images throughout the OS / software installation process, which let's you go back to various points depending on what your needs are (and presumably you would update the later images as software updates and your own needs changed).

So first image would be the base OS install, nothing else.
Next image might be after you install drivers.
Next one after you perform all the current OS updates.
Next, software installed.

etc, until you have even all your user settings configured. It's likely far too involved for all but the nittiest and geekiest, but definitely a couple of different images could be useful for users that frequently need to reset. e.g. an OS+drivers only image with all updates to date for a base image, which you can occasionally update as service packs are released, and a subsequent image with all your common software installed as the more commonly restored image.

Similar strategy can be done for VM's, saving copies at different stages, or more simply as a clean OS with common software installed, so you don't have to repeat the same steps every time you need a new VM - just copy the configuration and disk files (and edit as required).

How do I look for that?

Dood, just get a Samsung F3 7200 1TB. It's the best spindle drive atm imo!

Unfortunately, that info is not available in the product details given on Newegg. You have to read reviews or go to the manufacturer's website instead.

btw, I agree with oldgrandma. The Spinpoint F3 1TB is one of the fastest drives out there. To a good part, that's due to the fact that it uses 500GB platters (i.e., higher-density platters than the 320GB platters in the Caviar Blue drive you linked).

what it do-

I'm just going to do my own work and not be a big douche who cheats.

Is it really ok to clean air vents on a laptop with compressed air?

Yes. If possible you should hold the fan still with something like a paper clip so you don't spin it up too fast when cleaning your vents.

Make sure you don't tip the can and spray out whatever liquid is in the can.

Wow, that is great! It touches probably 70% of my bases when doing a fresh install.

ninite is not without faults. I tried to install JDK with it earlier and it wasn't working properly.