I re-install Windows (restore basic Drive Image with no aps) once a year to keep the PC running better and bypas Norton's 1 year policy on free updates. I'm a bastard, I know. For my next build, I'm trying to keepo the background tasks as small as possible so I do not intend on installing Norton's Personal Firewall . .
The windows XP firewall will not save you if you happen to let Norton expire and it disables your internet connection and will only allow you to connect to symantec's update and subscription servers...
Is Windows XP SP2 fiewall good enough? I know to turn it off before playing SFC:OP so programability is not much of an issue. I just need to be able to surf porn sites without all my money being transfered to the Bank of Nigeria.
Not needed at all. Router +
Teleport Pro (set to download image files only or specific file extensions, ignore robots exclusions and not identify itself) will deliver way more safe porn than any sane person should require. On your connection the images will pour in faster than you can imagine. (check out the clients for their high-end versions...
)
Then there is the LiveCD or VM approach...
PS (since I know Bonk is reading this) you know that VMware can import Powerquest Drive Images directly into Virtual Machines? I imported the PC's basic image into VM, plan on installing my apps, creating a new Image of it, then loading it back as the Host OS. All drivers are already installed so Plug and Play should have it good to go after a reboot.
I was aware of that, but had not quite thought of using it that way... creative. I haven't had a chance to play with it much lately, the clock is ticking down on the ultimate appliance challenge and I haven't done a thing on it. Too much stuff going on at Dynaverse.net... Maybe I'll come up with a submission last minute though.