> I run a small computer repair shop out of my home and I have
> installed XP on dozens of systems. Lately when I do a clean install
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> What is the best procedure for a clean install if you have XP or XP
> SP1?
Personally - I like to integrate/slipstream SP2 and as many critical updates
as I can into the installation media before using it to reinstall. Then
right after the installation is done - I install all the hardware drivers
from the manufacturer's support web pages and 'tweak' the system (getting
rid of unnecessary startups/services/a bunch of the really useless XP
prettifications, Internet explorer TIF settings, etc.) Follow that up with
getting the rest of the updates and installing antivirus/antispyware and
then the applications and all their updates.

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Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
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