reinstalling os and programs

[Glenn13]

I have a lot of crap running on my windows xp pro machine. I want to start over and reformat the hard drive. I would like to know the corect order to install things after the OS -i.e. antivirus-office-nero-etc.

[Force Flow]

I usually do the O/S (and drivers), then O/S updates only if there are major updates (ie, an entire service pack), then an AV program and firewall, then minor O/S updates, then java VM (or SDK), then office and any other MS software, followed by any software that supports hardware (ie, CD/DVD burner, DVD-ROM, etc), then everything else.

Up until when I install AV protection and a firewall, I keep the computer disconnected from the net. Any thing before that I need, I pre-download before I start the wipe (ie, service packs and updated drivers)

[macko72]

I normaly doing this way:
1. OS 2. Anti virus and Firewall (especialy if you need to download updates) 3. Updates 4. Any order you like for everything else

[Jomama]

Crap happens. One thing you might consider as long as you're going to reformat, is to make more than one partition. Use C: for the OS; D: programs; E: my docs and downloads; F: audio/Video; G: Games. And so on. If your OS goes south, everything else will stay intact. Also makes defragging, scandisk and AV scans go quicker.
Some programs will insist on bing on the root drive with the OS but most will not.
Good luck