I've avoided using separate swap partitions because it confuses the users.

And as for reinstallation, when you do all of the updates, and install al of the programs, create ghost copy of the system, I now prefer Drive Image because in Advanced settings it has option to brake ghost file into 1.500.000 MB parts (3 can be wrote on the DVD). Then when reinstallation is imminent, just return the sistem from the ghost file and do necessary updates.

Of course, First thing I do is to move My Documents folder off of the C: partition so they are isolated from ghost rewrite, and of course I backup so far running system on another ghost since there are always little things missing on new system.

I've been maintaining M$ machines since '93. I don't do it for a living, but I do it frequently for friends and family. I remember when Windows could be configured or fixed from DOS by editing WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI (I miss those days). If I can't fix a performance problem with a combination of shutting down services, closing startup programs, defrag C: and virus/malware scans I next suspect the registry, but consult the owner before attempting any modification. During my consultation, though, I tend to recommend leaving the system as is or reinstall Windows.

In Linux, Wine's handling of the registry is more human-readable and easy to edit.

I agree; however, I don't move the pagefile unless it's to another physical disk. Being on a separate partition of the same physical disk doesn't improve performance enough in my opinion.

The problem with this is that a lot of other closed source software that people pay for can only be installed a certain number of times before it is no longer valid. After 2 or 3 wipes you pretty much have to re-buy all of your commercial software because you've installed it too many times.

I would like to see an example of such software.

Programs that require activation tend to use C: partition ID for their activation calculations. I found small program that can read and write those ID's. If you save the ID from old system and then change new partition ID to old one (bes before installation of any other such program, you can reinstall those programs without asking for new activation codes.

Of course, creating ghost copy of running healthy system again comes handy, avoiding such reactivations.

If you install to a partition other than C: frequently there's no need to reinstall the programs. I can't speak for all software, but for the majority of software that I've used (and admittedly that's not all encompassing) a new windows installation will allow the pre-existing programs to run as if nothing ever happened.

Imaging immediately following final installation (same as a complicated linux install) would be the right way to go if that wasn't an option?

More reasons I avoid using software that requires activation. I refuse to install Windows or Office XP or later because of activation. I don't even like games that have to be installed as an Administrator. My Windows partition is Win2K SP4 with and it works just fine for what little bit I do with it. For non-OS software I've begun to favor PortableApps since they don't even require installation - just extract the files to a folder anywhere.

It seems to me it's becoming increasingly popular for the software companies to control our computers and tell us what we can do with it. We [people in general] think we need their products (more expensive means better, right?) so we blindly accept the terms of the EULA and open an internet connection to give the product permission to control our digital life and send secret information back to the company. They say it's to combat software piracy but I think we just paid $$$ for legal commercial-grade spyware. Just because the product is made by one of the top-rated companies in the industry doesn't make it any better than a free open-source alternative.


Speaking of EULAs, I recently installed Kaspersky on a friend's computer and read the EULA before beginning: "If you do not agree to the terms do not continue the installation and return the product." ... "The product cannot be returned if the box has been opened."
I hope the stores don't know about that.

I did a reinstall of windoze for a friend once a good while back. Because of the hardware changes, mobo, hard drive and CPU, we had to call to get a new number. While waiting on this ~40 digit number, I mentioned that I had never ran into this on my OS before. She shouldn't have asked the next question. I explained that I use Linux and only Linux and that windoze is not allowed in my house. Linux does not require any registration, calling to activate and that we can use the same install CD/DVD to install on as many computers as we want. We also don't have to "buy" Linux, worry about installing anti-virus software, adware software or any of the other crap that windoze has to have to function.

The part that really got her was that Linux takes donations. We get to decide if the donation is deserved or not and how much it is. The lady was speechless after I explained Linux a little bit and compared the "costs" of Linux to theirs. I got my number tho.

hallelujah!

Doesn't the registry have to be on C:\ ?

I would assume so, but a reinstalled windows can execute the programs previously installed to another partiton. When Windows gets reinstalled it drags in the other NTFS partitions (possibly fat32 as well, never tried it). It's something I did a couple of times. Generally I didn't have a large need for additional software except a few utilities and could get by with a few broken trialwares when I couldn't find a decent "free" program to do what I needed. Knowing the end result, I always tried to keep additional programs to a minimum.

Come to think of it, in my case, it made all that windows-only software kind of meaningless.

Microsoft Office, Windows XP off the shelf edition, I can't count the number of programs I've lost from just toying with different operating systems and being too cheap to pay for them again. I think the Office keys open back up after a certain time without being used because my Office box "says" 3 times, and I had it stop working on me once before, but then I tried it again like 6 months later and it worked with online activation and everything.

This is true only for very small number of software that does not use registry, does not install any files to c:\windows or lower folders and does not need any operating system interaction. 70-80% of software including MANY games are just dead peace of code after he fresh reinstall unless you use Install-> Recover reinstallation type when reinstalling/repairing Windows (unless you have OEM version when ther is no repair option). Then even registry stays.

However, from what you wrote, it seems that speechless as she was, she did not eventually reclaim her ability to speak to proclaim, "How wonderful! Please rid me of Windows, and give me Linux!!" Why is that?

Did you expect her to lose her job too? They do record a lot of the phone calls. Also, how do we know she didn't go home and google Linux and find out her self? After all, a google search for linux returns over 200 million hits. Heck, she could be a Linux guru by now.

Of course, she may not even have a computer at home. She may spend all her money on the kids or something.

Who knows. Seed was planted tho. It was planted with the enemy tho. lol