Solved Best order to install everything on a clean Win8.1 system?

[Lovestar]

I haven't given this much thought on builds I've done for my own use so far, but now I'm starting to build systems for other people & I'm putting more effort into making sure everything is done correctly and will remain stable as long as possible (especially under the care & feeding of a typical PC user).

I currently have a fresh build which has all the hardware installed and verified working properly, looking at a completely clean Windows 8.1 desktop. I also have prepared all the 3rd-party drivers and updates needed for the components (INF, GPU, etc).

What's the recommended order to proceed now, given all this stuff that needs doing to finish configuration and hand it off to the new owner?

• Windows Updates
• Windows settings / personalization / configuration
• 3rd-party drivers / updates
• Software installs

And, is there a way to make sure Windows 8.1 won't auto-install its own choice of drivers? I've already obtained from the manufacturers the correct (compatible, stable) versions that the system should have on it.

(Desktop PC, custom build, Windows 8.1 64-bit — if you need more details just ask ^^)

 

[pparks1]

For me, i install the OS and just enough drivers to get device manager clean. I then run Windows update until complete. I then take an image and call it "plain vanilla". I then install my normal software using a combination of ninite.com and just the 3rd party installers. Once done, I take one more image.

I don't worry about replacing all Windows device drivers. I install the chipset and the SATA controllers for sure. I always install the audio and the video drivers. For everything else, I only install if the device manager shows a warning or something not working.

That's worked well for me at home, building computers for others and in my job setting up all workstations at our office.

 

[azasadny]

I do the following:

- Install OS and activate
- Install all OS patches and updates
- Install all hardware specific drivers, starting with chipset drivers
- Install applications and then update them
- Install CCleaner and run it
- Install MalwareBytes

 

[AddRAM]

And if it`s a hard drive, run disk cleanup and defrag it at least 3 times before you create that image.

 

[topgundcp]

In addition to suggestions above.If you search the forum on: "Unable to install NetFramework 3.5", you'll see a lot of them. So after installing Windows + Updates. I always turn on the .Net framework feature since some third party/MS software rely on this to function.
Control Panel->Programs & Features->Turn Windows Features on or off and put a check mark on .NET Framework 3.5. Clikc OK.

 

[Lovestar]

For me, i install the OS and just enough drivers to get device manager clean. I then run Windows update until complete. [...] I then install my normal software using a combination of ninite.com and just the 3rd party installers.

I went with this method, because I reasoned it to be the most stable start: basic OS, then all core hardware communicating properly with OS, then polish up the OS, then fluff / frivolous stuff.

Everything went really smooth and the system is functioning lightning-quick and very lean so far, after being put through lots of benchmarks and stability tests.

@azasadny's order also makes sense: basic OS, then fully-up-to-date OS, then start adding in external things from 3rd parties. But I had to pick one! ^^

In addition to suggestions above.If you search the forum on: "Unable to install NetFramework 3.5", you'll see a lot of them. So after installing Windows + Updates. I always turn on the .Net framework feature since some third party/MS software rely on this to function.
Control Panel->Programs & Features->Turn Windows Features on or off and put a check mark on .NET Framework 3.5. Clikc OK.

And thanks for reminding me about this. I made sure to grab .NET 4.5.2 right away, but I forgot about .NET's weird multi-install behavior.

If I have 3.5 / 2.0 enabled, and 4.5.2 installed, do I need to still get 4.5 and 4.5.1? Or does 4.5.2 cover both of those for dependent programs?

Edit:
Answered it myself, I don't know if I did it somehow or it's Win8.1 default but after getting 4.5.2 through Windows Update and enabling 3.5 / 2.0 under Windows Features, the registry keys now verify the system has 2.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 enabled. ^^