Wrong place to post question..but

[kayofcircles]

I don't know where to put the question.

Does anyone know of a tutorial/checklist site for loading OS and such onto new hard drive? Like "First you FDisk, then Format, then load OS," blah and blah? Something we could point newbies to that would tell them how to check Device Manager..and msconfig somewhere along the line..that kind of thing?

[Budfred]

I can't answer the question, but I bet the thread would fit either under Suggestions (since it is an idea for the forum) or PCWorld (since it is a general issue about computers). Good idea either way...:)

[pentachris]

http://fdisk.radified.com/

It's pretty thorough. Doesn't cover anything past partitioning, formatting and getting the Windows installation started, though.

For a newbie, I might recommend starting at the top and stopping when they get to the section titled "Miscellaneous Info." Some people may start to get confused, or worse, over-adventurous after that.

[kayofcircles]

Thanks, pentachris...have added that link to my Favorites. The truth is that my husband and I have been meaning to make such a checklist for us, but haven't gotten it done. I was thinking along the lines of "install the hard drive, install the OS, install mobo/card drivers, install modem, check Device Manager, decide what you want to do about that "Task Scheduler" thing, install your firewall and antivirus, do your DialUp (or whatever) configurations, check and see if you can get online..." etc. When I thought about it later, though, I realized for it to be all that useful to newbies, it would almost have to be a "book" with instructions on what to do if..say..you check Device Manager and have exclamation points everywhere... :D

Guess we'll just have to quit fooling around and make a list. Sometimes when you're building for someone else, you get in a hurry or they're hanging over your shoulder..and you forget something important, you know? Like checking msconfig...or Safe mode, if you've moved puter from your place to theirs..and therefore your monitor to theirs.