windows XP: turn on classic theme
windows 7: turn on classic theme
windows 10: jump out of window

Install Total Commander

- Windows 95: Get your first BSOD.
- Windows Plus!: Try every theme, cursor and sound combination... and decide to use the default settings.
- Windows XP: Get rid of the themes service.

Windows 98:
Disable Task Scheduler with msconfig and enable file extensions and hidden files in the folder options.

Windows XP:
Patch uxtheme.dll and install a dark theme. After that, enable file extensions and hidden files in the folder options.

Windows 10:
Install the Linux subsystem and Debian. Then run Winaero Tweaker to disable advertisements and telemetry and get a bash on right click.
After that, enable file extensions and hidden files in the folder options.

MacOS:
Run a bunch of console commands to make sure it doesn't create DS_Store files. Run a console command to prevent it from adding attachments as thumbnails in the mail program. Install MountainDuck to get around the fact that the Finder is garbage software. Install Chrome because Safari is terrible for web development. Eventually realize that the OS itself is a raging dumpster fire and go back to Windows 10 😄

Bonus - Android:
Root the system with Magisk and install AdAway to remove ads in every browser and application.

Windows 10 Pro
Plug-in the Ethernet once you've verified the Firewall and Anti-Virus are definitely installed and working.

For both 98SE and XP, the first software I install is Norton Ghost 2003. Once I image the fresh install, I feel a lot more comfortable mucking around by adding drivers, etc. A fresh install of XP SP2 still fits on a CD-R.

Check Device Manager

In the bad old days, before routers were common, the first thing to do after installing Windows 2000 was to install a software firewall. (Who remembers ZoneAlarm?) If you forgot to do this your computer would soon be loaded with viruses, without even launching a web browser.

98: install nUSB, then the 2004 update pack.

Install Linux and play xbill...that is all........

DOS 6.22: Give the floppy drive a good workout and install some games!
Win98SE: Give the CD drive a good workout and install some games!
WinXP: Give the DVD drive a good workout and install some games!
Win10: Give the modem and router a good workout and install some games!
Linux: Give Firefox a good workout and read about some games!
Mac OS: Throw up all over it, making the computer look not unlike a flower power iMac from 2001. You know, the kind that came preloaded with Bugdom. That really was some game!

1. Create an empty partition to contain pagefile.sys.
2. Move pagefile.sys to the said partition.
3. Turn off autorun for all drives.
4. Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Option -> View, then show hidden files, extensions, and Windows-protected files.
5. Set group policy to prevent any users other than administrator from installing applications.
6. Replace Windows' HOSTS file with my customized HOSTS file to block ads and other undesirables (like corel.com).

And yes, those are parts of my obsessive-compulsive disorder.

I do (3) and (4) on your list. Moving the pagefile to a different partition doesn't really serve a purpose; you have to use a different physical drive for it to have the desired effect. Also, you need to have some pagefile on C: (maybe a small one) to save crash dumps (if you care).

old OS for retro use: get an image with nothing but the drivers installed, for when I screw it up installing dozens of things
modern OS: not much these days, I guess installing my preferred audio/video players and browser extensions is a must for me

95C: Ctrl-Alt-Del to stop the 'installer'

leileilol wrote on 2020-04-30, 11:06:

95C: Ctrl-Alt-Del to stop the 'installer'

Taking the CD out during that last boot or leaving out the non Win95-XX CAB files out of your install folder "automates" this for you.
but definitely a necessity

I always install StartisBack++ after Windows 10 finished installing. I just can't stand the new Start menu with all of those tiles. My personal taste.

Dose no one here install the drivers for the system? 🤣 haha.
Anyway I start by installing the software for the system.

austinham wrote on 2020-04-30, 16:15:

Dose no one here install the drivers for the system? 🤣 haha.
Anyway I start by installing the software for the system.

That's what I was going to ask.