Acer TravelMate 800 - Clean Installation

Howto install a clean copy of Windows XP on a Acer TravelMate 800.

1. Backup all data
2. Boot from Windows XP Install CD and format the HDD
3. Pick a strong Administrator Password when asked. Don't loose/forget this password EVER.
4. Add a new user when asked to.

1. Control Panel: User Accounts: Change the way users log on and off: Unselect 'Use the Welcome screen'
2. Control Panel: User Accounts: Pick the user at the bottom: Create a password
3. Right click on Task bar: Properties / Start Menu: [x] Classic Start Menu, OK.
4. (optional) Right click on Desktop → Properties: Theme: Windows Classic, OK.
5. (optional) Right click on 'My Computer' → Manage: Local Users and Groups / Users: Create another new user and add him/her to 'Administrators' group.
6. Click Add/Remove Windows Components, unselect MSN Explorer and Windows Messenger, then hit Next.
7. Control Panel: Regional and Language Options / Regional Options: Select German (Austria) and Austria
8. Control Panel: Regional and Language Options / Languages → Details: Select German (Austria)
9. Control Panel: Regional and Language Options / Languages → Details: Remove US Keyboard
10. Control Panel: Regional and Language Options / Languages: [x] Install files for East Asian Languages
11. Control Panel: Regional and Language Options / Advanced: Select German (Austria) and [x] Apply all settings to the current user account and to the default user profile.
12. Reboot

1. Download INF Update Utility for Intel 855 chipset families
2. Download TM 800 LAN driver
3. Download TM 800 Video driver
4. Download TM 800 Card Reader Driver
5. Optional: Mirror for the above files
6. Copy all drivers to an USB Stick

1. Install tm800lan.exe, follow Readme.txt, reboot
2. Install tm800vga.exe, follow Wizard, reboot
3. tm8004n1.exe, follow Wizard, reboot

1. Delete C:\ACER
2. Delete C:\Intel

1. Launch Windows Update - select and install all updates and service packs (several reboots)
2. Right click on 'My Computer' → Manage: Device Manager. Only the PCI Modem should be listed at “Other devices” now. Rightclick it and select disable.
3. Install AntiVirus program (e.g. NOD32, Kasperky, Avira (Avira NAG remover))
4. Reboot
5. Install MS Office, launch Word, accept EULA and run Live Update again
6. Recommended packages to install
   • ACDSee [commercial]
   • AD-Aware Free [freeware]
   • CCleaner [freeware] (do NOT install the toolbars)
   • Comodo Firewall [freeware]
   • DirectX [freeware]
   • Defraggler [freeware] (or Diskeeper 10 Pro Premier [commercial] if you're serious)
   • FFDShow [freeware] (or DivX [freeware] if you're confused)
   • iColor Folder [freeware]
   • iTunes [freeware] (or Foobar2000 [freeware] if you're serious)
   • Media Player Classic [freeware]
   • Mozilla Firefox [freeware]
   • Nero [commercial]
   • Recuva [freeware]
   • Skype [freeware]
   • Tweak UI [freeware]
   • VideoLAN VLC [freeware]
   • Winamp [freeware] (or Foobar2000 [freeware] if you're serious)
   • Winzip [commercial] (or 7zip [freeware] if you're serious)

• View:

• Tools / Folder Options / General:

[x] Use Windows classic folders

• Tools / Folder Options / View:

• Control Panel: Power Options