I'm preparing to rebuild my M205-810. Part of t

[gordonsta]

I'm preparing to rebuild my M205-810. Part of that preparation has been to:
- pour over the many informative threads here (thanks to many contributors for the good background material)
- read through all three episodes of Warner Crocker's reinstallation diaries (Thanks Warner) http://wickedstageact2.typepad.com/l...installat.html
- read through a series of blog posts by Marc Orchant about the rebuild he did last year to his M205 (Thanks Marc) http://tabletpcs.weblogsinc.com/archives/2004/09/ (look for entries with rebuild in the title)

I've got a first cut at my plan of attack, but still have a few questions. I hope to tap the collective wisdom of the Buzz forum to refine the plan and get specific answers to my questions.

Here's a little background on the set-up as well as the tools I have readily available that will hopefully help provide a good context for the questions. The 205 has a 60 GB HD, 2 GB of RAM, 1500MHz Pentium M, no Bluetooth and is used in the Toshiba advanced port replicator as well as mobile. I also have a desktop PC running XP Pro; good for downloads while the 205 is in mid-rebuild. I have purchased a Toshiba 100 GB HD from Newegg (great pointers in topic 29693) and a 2.5" drive enclosure with USB 2.0 interface.

My first cut plan is:
- download AVG Antivirus (Marc has persuaded me) and put it on media that can be read later BEFORE I hook the re-imaged 205 to the Internet
- run Belarc (see Warner's diaries)[thumbsup]
- do a full backup of the 60 GB HD to a networked drive on my desktop PC
- remove the 60 GB HD, and install it in the drive enclosure
- ensure the 60 GB HD can be read by my desktop PC
- install the 100 GB HD in the 205
- remove 1 GB of memory (temporary action to avoid hibernate issue in testing)
- reinstall the factory image from the DVD (I did this when I first bought the machine as it was a refurbished unit, so I know the combo drive is bootable)
- remove all the c**pware from the machine (again see Warner's diaries)
- install AVG Antivirus
- install spyware tools
- connect to Internet
- update antivirus and spyware tools
- Windows update
- update all drivers
- generate a restorable image of the new HD (question 1)
- run key tests (memory, hibernate, dock/undock …)
- install core applications & updates (question 2)
- run key tests again
- install secondary applications
- generate restorable image
- reinstall 2nd GB of memory
- run key tests again

[?]Questions:
1. What's the best way to make a restorable image of the HD at any point? My desktop has a DVD burner. I'm hoping there is a tool that would allow me to generate a restorable image to a networked drive on my desktop unit and then burn it to a DVD that could be used to restore to a known good point.
2. Would you generate a restorable image after installing and updating each major core application (Office 2003, MindManager, OneNote, to name but a few)? I'm trying to strike a balance between being too paranoid and too loose.
3. Is this a better way to get a clean install of Windows XP Tablet edition with SP2 installed? On Sep 06 2005 : 3:29:42 PM trevelyan posted the following:

Well, I finally found the easiest way to get a clean install of Windows XP Tablet edition with SP2 integrated, using the CD key on the bottom of my laptop:
1) Download WindowsXP Media Center edition ISO's for two CDs (easy to find-look on torrent sites)
2) Change the I385/setupp.inf file to accept OEM CD keys by editing the PID and changing the last three values (should be 000) to OEM.
3) Burn CDs and install :)

4. Are there any obvious steps missing or out of sequence? I've already assembled my application CD's and keys. If I missed something I will have the full backup as well as the original 60 GB HD available.

[aaron.axvig]

Sounds perfect. Personally, I would just back up the harddrive, wipe files, and reinstall. I'm not sure you end up saving time in the long run of making an image of the clean install, but it is possible it could save you in 1 out of 1000 installs. <<rough estimate

If I were to do this in the most careful manner, though, what you have listed looks complete. In specific:

1. Run through this list for a backup program that fits your uses. http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/system/fwbackup.html Or, you could purchase (or ripoff) a copy of Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image.

2. I think that would be too paranoid.

3. You might have trouble getting some of the Toshiba software on if you go that route. However, some of the Toshiba software isn't worth having (CrossMenu), and some is (Power Manager). <<opinions

4. Explained above.

[Wcrocker]

gordonsta,

It looks like you've got things mapped out nicely. Thanks for the kind words and I'm glad my blogging helped out.

As to your questions:

1. I use both Norton Ghost 9.0 and Apricorn's Software to for making images. Acronis TrueImage is gaining lots of great user reviews here on the Buzz and elsewhere and I'm probably going to be giving that a try soon. All of these are good tools, although some report problems with Norton's Ghost. I haven't seen any in my personal usage.

2. The paranoid balance issue is one you'll have to judge. I probably go overboard when I'm doing this kind of rebuild and make multiple images. Some of the major apps create system restore points prior to an install. Those restore points will be saved to any image you create.

3. There are some threads here somewhere that talk about slipstreaming SP2 into an install disk. I've never tried that so I can't comment. I do the restore and then install SP2.

Again, you seem to have outlined things nicely. The only thing I would offer (and this is probably already included in your testing) is to add some complete shut downs and reboots after installing the major apps. It helps clear things out a bit.

Good luck and keep us posted as to your progress.