If I do a complete Nuke & Pave (fdisk & reformat), then yes it's a completely clean install & there's none of the cruft left behind.
BUT.
There is ALSO that annoying little thing of having to find the code for the copy of WinXP I install.
I have multiple copies, all purchased from my local Fry's, because I build systems & buy a copy for each system I intend on selling.
Try to install XP with the code, get told it's invalid, call up MS.
Bicker with the CSR in order to convince them that YES it's my legal copy, NO I'm not pirating it, YES this is a new install, Blah-blah-blah...
Once I finally convince them to let me use my legally purchased goods, I get to spend the next six hours going through the MS Updates, AntiVirus, SpyBot, Sygate Personal Firewall, anti-scumware, video driver, find that modem driver I'd forgotten I'd need because this system uses a funky chipset, etc etc etc...
...Or...
An hour removing as much cruft as I can find, cleaning it back down to something acceptable, (already containing the SP2, Antivirus, firewall, et al), and just installing what-ever few pieces of software the next customer might need.
I know I claim otherwise, and YES I've been married before, but I'm not REALLY a masochist! <8-)P hehehehe |
