I just finished installing Windows XP again after replacing my hard drive that contained my C: partition.

Since my Western Digital 200GB drive was going bad, I replaced it with a Seagate 250GB drive.

Windows XP reinstall was a joy (ok, that was a little sarcastic). It was a pain as always. Fortunately, I keep all my OS CD”s and my driver CDs for my motherboard and video card in my motherboard box for a given machine.

Some time ago, following instructions from Fred Langa, I had created a “slipstreamed” Windows XP CDROM that included my original Windows XP CD plus the XP Service Pack 2. This meant that I would get “almost all” the updates as part of the installation.

Not quite. The first time I ran Windows Update, I converted to Microsoft Update (which everyone should do), and I got a new windows installer. Then, I had to reboot.

The next time I ran Microsoft Update, I got three files — another Windows installer, a critical XP update, and the famous Windows Genuine Advantage tool. Then, I had to reboot.

The next time (and this is immediately after the reboot) that I ran Microsoft Update, I got 49 critical Windows updates! Office isn”t installed. Visio isn”t installed. Just Windows., my antivirus (NOD32) and my firewall (Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall Whee!

I still have to install my antispyware (CounterSpy) and all the rest of my software — and copy my backup files onto my hard drive.

It”ll be several days more before this is all complete…

Now, I”m ready