Setting up internet on fresh format

[Agent Plissken]

Hey, can someone guide me through connecting to the internet for the first time on my fresh formatted windows... Yes, I am a noob, I thought it worked automatically last time I formatted and that is not the case this time!

[InfiniteNothing]

How would you like to connect to the internet? Ethernet, Wireless, or Modem?

[ramazank2]

Did windows recognize your ethernet card/WiFi and install drivers?

[Agent Plissken]

I just got off Charter tech support. I was on hold for 45 minutes... They could not help me.

I am connecting through ethernet. I clicked on networks and I dont see any LAN or anything there so I tried to create a new one, but after I finished all the steps nothing happened and a new one wasnt created... arrg

[DarkFury]

Who is your service provider? If you already have a broadband modem (cable or DSL) then the service should already be active. If you have DSL, then the question becomes, does your modem hold your UserID/password or does it rely on you to configure your browser to dial in to the server? (or do you have a router that does it for you?)

If you are using WindowsXP, normally you can just set everything to "Obtain IP Address Automatically" and it will bring in your IP settings once your UserID/Pass has been accepted by your ISP.

However, since I don't know the exact service you are using versus the equipment you currently have, I can't give you any more detailed advice of how to get it going again.

BTW... once you do get a connection to the internet going again, I'd HIGHLY recommend that you go and get all of your Windows Security updates first! DO NOT surf to any other websites before you get all your updates in place and get your Anti Virus and Anti Adware/Spyware programs in place. Your PC is at a most vulnerable state after a fresh install... and if you go randomly wandering the internet without adequate protection, you WILL contract an STD (systematically transmitted disease. :eek: :heh: ) that could potentially nullify the advantages of doing a fresh re-install.

Good luck on getting it going mang... :thumb:

[Cubsfan]

Did windows recognize your ethernet card/WiFi and install drivers?
:stupid: Make sure that drivers are installed for your card. If they are, then you should be able to unplug your ethernet cable and a little message will show in the system tray that says "LAN Cable unplugged". Or just check in device manager.

[ramazank2]

Go to Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device manager

Do you have any unrecognized devices or disabled devices?

[Agent Plissken]

Cubsfan and ramazank2 I think youre onto something! I need drivers! Crap, I cant find the disk that came with my motherboard anywhere! CRAAAAAP!

[Cubsfan]

Cubsfan and ramazank2 I think youre onto something! I need drivers! Crap, I cant find the disk that came with my motherboard anywhere! CRAAAAAP!

What motherboard is it? I'm sure the drivers are readily available online somewhere.

[Hoser]

What if the computer without the network drivers is the only computer available at that time? Then drivers online are out of reach.

[Cubsfan]

What if the computer without the network drivers is the only computer available at that time? Then drivers online are out of reach.
That would be a problem. Although I'm guessing that he's got access, what with the posting and everything.

If you were in that situation, you'd need to find a friend to help you out, or go to the library or something.

[Agent Plissken]

OK guys. Im back online on my own computer! I dont know why my ISP tech support couldnt tell me something as simple as "INSTALL YOUR MOBO DRIVERS"... oh well. Thanks Cubsfan!

[DarkFury]

OK guys. Im back online on my own computer! I dont know why my ISP tech support couldnt tell me something as simple as "INSTALL YOUR MOBO DRIVERS"... oh well. Thanks Cubsfan!
Doh!!!

I didn't realize you were using the mobo ethernet card... Yeah, that would cause it as well.

Well it's cool that you got it working... hopefully everything else will work well for you at this point. But be sure to get those updates though... to keep it nice and clean. :thumb:

[Maarchk]

haha the key to success when you plan to do a fresh install... Do i have all the little drivers i need.. cause dang you can get hung up. Especially if its the only computer you have... Thats why i usually borrow a laptop or something that has internet access if i kill my computers.. that way with my ipod i can swing drivers and updates around as need be to get things moving..
Glad to hear it worked out... Hmm and yes, its a GREAT idea to keep your mobo drivers disk and all other important cd's somewhere that you REMEMBER. :)

[ArkiStan]

THat's a lesson I learn every slingle time I reformat, yet fail to account for and get myself in a ditch. Now I always try to have a CD ready with all the latest drivers before I reformat, especially the ETHERNET DRIVER!! hehe. Now I use ghost and it's all good.

[Agent Plissken]

Hey I was thinking about GHOSTING my HD now... how much is the software?

[DarkFury]

Hey I was thinking about GHOSTING my HD now... how much is the software?
Ghost by itself is usually around $69... however if you buy the entire Systemworks Suite Professional for $99 (now called Norton Systemworks Premier) it comes with it.

Usually there are rebates and deals out there to get Systemworks Professional to bring that $99 price down... over the years I've gotten every yearly update for around $20 - $30 after rebates (Be sure to check with Outpost.com as they are one of the main companies that puts SW Pro out for direct rebates... before the upgrader rebate kicks in.)

Here is the current one on Outpost.com ($99 - $20 upgrade rebate)
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4585597?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

However, if you don't wanna spend the money... try the program that MechMike0034 suggested for free in this thread:
http://forums.gotapex.com/showthread.php?t=98083

[ArkiStan]

I got the OEM version of Ghost 2003 (without box or instructions) for under $10. It's a straightforward program and there are good guides on the web so that was more than enough. I've been using it for a couple months now and it's wonderful.

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=606754/qlty=o

There's a difference between Ghost Ver. 9, 10 and 2003. Each have their pros and cons. Some "purists" believe 2003, an older version, is actually better cause it's fundamentally DOS based and stabler.

[DarkFury]

I got the OEM version of Ghost 2003 (without box or instructions) for under $10. It's a straightforward program and there are good guides on the web so that was more than enough. I've been using it for a couple months now and it's wonderful.

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=606754/qlty=o

There's a difference between Ghost Ver. 9, 10 and 2003. Each have their pros and cons. Some "purists" believe 2003, an older version, is actually better cause it's fundamentally DOS based and stabler.
Sweet....

I keep copies of both Ghost 2003 and Ghost 9 in my current lineup.

Ghost 2003 is great because you can run it from a floppy... and backup your drive before ANYTHING (including Norton Systemworks) gets loaded to your system. This gives you the ULTIMATE "clean install" without any extras installed on the machine and allows you to "turn back the hands of time" for any programs that install time based registry entries.

However, with Ghost 9.0 and higher... you get the benefits performing Ghost backups while Windows is running (in 2003, you would re-boot back to DOS) and you can do the incrementals and full backups using the included scheduler. It is "the solution" for backing up your data for folks who forget to backup their data.

Either one will do the job.. but with both... your data is virtually untouchable by the forces of evil out there. :thumb:

[zero2dash]

So...(the question is) - is any ver of Ghost after 2003 as effective at its job?
ie Does backing up while Windows is loaded affect the backups any?

I would think that since 2003 whereas its booting in PCDOS outside of Windows, it would be better able to backup all of the data without the OS actually running at the time.

(I've also seen a lot of complaints about v9/v10 but didn't know why.) I'm still running 2003 here...:shrug:

[DarkFury]

So...(the question is) - is any ver of Ghost after 2003 as effective at its job?
ie Does backing up while Windows is loaded affect the backups any?

I would think that since 2003 whereas its booting in PCDOS outside of Windows, it would be better able to backup all of the data without the OS actually running at the time.

(I've also seen a lot of complaints about v9/v10 but didn't know why.) I'm still running 2003 here...:shrug:
Ghost 9.0 is effective... I use that on my main box.

Doing backups with Windows up has no effect on the backup. The main benefits of keeping Windows up is that the scheduler can do it's job... Ghost 2003 couldn't do that. You had to shut it down and reboot to backup.

Personally, I see the value of both (since I had the older version). However I WILL NOT give up my copy of Ghost 2003. It is STILL "da bomb" as far as doing a backup anywhere (with or without ghost being loaded on the machine.)

[ArkiStan]

I'm sure ver. 9 and 10 do a decent job, but I read a lot on the web that "dedicated" users believed that there's a risk to "hot-backups" (making a backup of an OS that is running). The reason being that there may be changes being made to Windows as it is being backed up. However, even these users admitted that they had not experienced problems with later versions 9 or 10. They were just being safe.

I personally have no problem with ver. 2003 rebooting into DOS for the backup. It's not like I have to do any extra work. I still run the program from within windows. Ghost then automatically boots out to DOS, does its job, and then reboots into windows again when it's done. If I had not been sitting there staring at the monitor, I would never have known that the program had even left Windows.

The "supposed" additional stability, along with the sub-$10 price tag made it a pretty clear choice for me. If you don't need all the bells and whistles, just a very simple, user-friendly program that does a solid job of making backups, you want 2003. No doubt about it.

Here's a link by a Ghost enthusiast that gives a good overview of all the different versions:
http://ghost.radified.com/

[DarkFury]

I'm sure ver. 9 and 10 do a decent job, but I read a lot on the web that "dedicated" users believed that there's a risk to "hot-backups" (making a backup of an OS that is running). The reason being that there may be changes being made to Windows as it is being backed up. However, even these users admitted that they had not experienced problems with later versions 9 or 10. They were just being safe.
I run my backups in the wee hours of the morning while I'm asleep... so pretty much I doubt that there are many changes going on in Windows while the program is running.

But hey... use whichever program makes you feel comfortable and fits your wallet I say. :D

[Cubsfan]

I run my backups in the wee hours of the morning while I'm asleep... so pretty much I doubt that there are many changes going on in Windows while the program is running.

But hey... use whichever program makes you feel comfortable and fits your wallet I say. :D

Just curious, but have you ever had to do any restores from these backups? I know that some of the backup solutions that we have at work can't backup files that are in use (I don't know how it defines in-use though), so that you couldn't do a complete restore.

[DarkFury]

Just curious, but have you ever had to do any restores from these backups? I know that some of the backup solutions that we have at work can't backup files that are in use (I don't know how it defines in-use though), so that you couldn't do a complete restore.
Yes... when I bought my Western Digital Raptor (74 GB), I used a backup copy to transfer the file from the Ghost to the new drive.

It worked flawlessly for me. :thumb: