Use a program called nLite to slipstream all of your drivers into your Windows XP installation. You can also add updates and service packs that can be downloaded from Microsoft. Doing this before installation prevents corruption that could occur from installing them after. If you accidentally get any viruses and don’t know about it, critical operating system files could be harmed from running the updates. Finally, nLite can remove all the programs and services that you don’t need to save disk and RAM space. Using nLite is helpful to make installation simpler, and saves time if you find yourself reinstalling Windows quite often. After you’re done processing your original Windows install CD, nLite will create an ISO file that can be burned to a blank disc. As long as you use your product key from your genuine COA, this is totally legal.

Make sure you have your Anti-Virus software on a CD before hand, and that it’s the first thing you install after installing Windows. This means that you will not have to connect to the Internet to download your AV software, and it will be less possible to obtain a virus before the AV software is actually installed.

 Have all of your software discs in a pile ready to install, in the order you’re going to install them in. Personally, I always install Microsoft Office first, followed by all my other productivity software. I install games last. Try to find out what works best for you.

Take time to customize your desktop. I’m sure most people don’t find the Luna (a.k.a. Playskool) interface very attractive, so feel free to change it right away. I actually recommend downloading the Royale theme from Microsoft, which is the visual style included with the Media Center and Tablet editions of Windows XP. It’s basically the same colors as Luna, but with better shading, and it’s glossy like the Windows Vista interface. It can make your desktop so much more elegant looking, and is more exciting then Windows Classic.

Organize your Start menu. If you leave your Start menu the way that setup programs organize it, you’ll quickly have a cluttered mess on your hands that takes up your entire screen. Instead of having it organized by software vendor, organize it by categories such as “media”, “productivity”, and “games”. Not only does this leave you with a lot of screen space, but you’ll be able to find programs much faster.