The Big Computer Downgrade (part 2)

As I mentioned earlier, I downgraded the computer this weekend to Windows XP. For no other reason than the fact that I've never catalogued it before, I thought it would be interesting to log the changes I had to make to the base install to get everything working the way I want it.

• First things first...install the Ethernet drivers and get on the internet.
• While I've got the Dell Resources disk open, install sound card drivers, SMbus drivers, and AMD processor driver.
• Now that the internet is working, download the video card driver.
  
• Hit Mozilla.org and grab Firefox 2.0. Bye-bye IE. Grab the del.icio.us extension for Firefox so I have ready-access to my bookmarks.
• Reboot so the video drivers and other changes take effect.
• Install the monitor drivers for both the primary (Dell E228WFP) and secondary (ViewSonic Va912b) monitors.
• Fix Firefox default download directory to not clutter the desktop.
• Anti-Virus! Free-av.com
• Turn off Windows Firewall (I've got a NAT for that)
• Install Windows automatic updates, reboot, then go to windowsupdate.com get the "genuine advantage validation tool" to prove I'm not a piraate and then fill up the basket with 87 upgrades/updates (most of which are security updates).
• Install SlingPlayer for Windows so I can watch the Rugby World Cup while I work on the computer.
• Grab iTunes with Quicktime and then download the DiVx codec
• Get rid of Steam, an online gaming service unwanted installed by the video drivers.
• VLC player for Windows
• Got my first BSOD (blue screen of death), rebooted.
  
• GooglePack with Google Earth, Google Desktop, Adobe reader, Skype, Spyware Doctor, Picasa, Google Photos Screensaver, Google Talk, and Real Player
• Printer drivers for the HP 3930
  
• iSproggler for my iPod
• Grab the latest Jave Runtime, reboot and then download Azureus
• Go back to windowsupdate and grab 7 more updates including the .Net framework to fix an error with the ATI video drivers and IE7 (why, I'm not sure)
  
• Format the D:\ partition and re-allocate windows virtual memory to use this dedicated swap space
• DirectX 10
• Nero 7 Ultra Edition, and added LAME MP3 encoder serial
  
• OpenOffice.org via BitTorrent
• Firefox extensions and themes: BetterGmail, DownThemAll, FireFTP, ForecastFoxEnhanced, IETab, iFoxSmooth, Linkification, LittleFox, ReloadEvery
• SDP Downloader and URLSnooper
• CutePDF Writer
• AnyDVD, Cucusoft DVD to iPod, and WinRAR
• Setup the printer for sharing as well as the C:\ drive
• TweakUI for XP
• Intellitype & Intellitouch drivers for my mouse and keyboard
• MAME32
• Heatsoft Automatic Synchronizer
  
• Downloaded Ubuntu Feisty Fawn distro boot disk and began my dual boot linux installation.