This post is part of a series of blog posts about Configuring a Sitecore Workstation. Previous post: Machine Specification and Ordering.

Before reinstalling Windows, ensure the machine is not connected to a network. Power on the machine to achieve the following:

• Note the BIOS version, and check if the vendor provides a newer version.
• Don’t bother downloading any updates.
• Despite what it says on any packing list, check the installed components in order to download the appropriate drivers. Specifically, check at least the audio, video, and wireless components.
• If Dell MediaDirect won’t go away, disconnect the power and battery, hold the power button for one minute to clear the flea power cell, then connect the battery and power and try again. If you get desperate, FN-power for diagnostics.
• Delete all partitions possible. If you are unable to remove a (hidden) partition, run the diskpart command line tool:
  • list disk
  • select disk <N>
  • list partition
  • select partition <N>
  • delete partition override
  • exit

Obtain all of the following materials and any relevant product keys. Try to get 64-bit software when available for 64-bit operating systems. I know you can mount ISO images as drives instead of burning CDs, but I haven’t looked into it, so I usually download and burn CDs.

Important: Just download these for now. The Configure Applications post in this series of blog posts about Configuring a Sitecore Workstation describes some installation considerations.

• Latest versions of relevant Windows edition installation disks.
• Relevant Windows edition service packs.
• Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise optical disks.
• Microsoft Office 2007 service pack 2 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B444BF18-79EA-46C6-8A81-9DB49B4AB6E5&displaylang=en).
• Optical disk player (generally an optical disk from the hardware vendor).
• Optical disk writer (generally an optical disk from the hardware vendor).
• Security software (Microsoft Forefront).
• 7-Zip (http://www.7-zip.org/download.html).
• Notepad++ (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=95717&package_id=102072).
• SysInternals Suite (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/0e18b180-9b7a-4c49-8120-c47c5a693683.aspx).
• A PDF reader from a vendor other than Adobe. I currently use Foxit Reader (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/download.php), but their starting to load it up with crapware, so look for alternatives and be careful when installing.
• The Save as PDF component for Microsoft Office (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4d951911-3e7e-4ae6-b059-a2e79ed87041&DisplayLang=en).
• .NET 3.5 including service pack 1 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=333325FD-AE52-4E35-B531-508D977D32A6&displaylang=en) – Windows Update may install this automatically.
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express edition (http://www.microsoft.com/express/sql/download/). My superstition is that if you register, it downloads faster.
• Norton Ghost (when imaging systems).
• HttpWatch Basic (http://www.httpwatch.com/download/).
• Sitecore materials (latest release, demo site installers, training materials, etc.).
• Sitecore license.
• Microsoft Office.
• GoToMeeting (https://www1.gotomeeting.com/en_US/island/downloadManual.tmpl?StartMode=Host&TargetBuild=366&cat=NoAX) – if the user does not require this, do not install it.
• VPN certificate for user.
• From the hardware vendor for the appropriate 32-bit or 64-bit Windows edition (use XP drivers for Windows 2003, Vista drivers for Windows 2008 and Windows 7):
  • BIOS.
  • Chipset driver(s).
  • Video driver.
  • Audio driver.
  • Mouse driver.
  • Laptop utilities.
  • Optical disk writer updates.
  • Optical disk reader updates.

For a developer workstation, also obtain:

• Firefox (NOT Minefield - http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/personal.html).
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2008.
• Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=FBEE1648-7106-44A7-9649-6D9F6D58056E&displaylang=en).
• JetBrains ReSharper (http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/).
• Microsoft StyleCop (http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/sourceanalysis) – see my post, Cool Code Styling and Documentation Tools.
• StypeCop for ReSharper (http://www.codeplex.com/StyleCopForReSharper).
• Agent Smith (http://www.agentsmithplugin.com/)
• Agent Johnson (http://code.google.com/p/agentjohnsonplugin/).
• TortoiseSVN (http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads).
• WinMerge (http://winmerge.org/downloads/).
• .NET Reflector (http://www.red-gate.com/products/reflector/) – see my post, Reflecting on Sitecore.
• .NET Reflector Code Search plug-in (http://www.codeplex.com/reflectoraddins/Wiki/View.aspx?title=CodeSearch&referringTitle=Home).
• .NET Reflector FileDisassembler (http://www.denisbauer.com/NETTools/FileDisassembler.aspx).

For myself personally:

• AgentRansack (http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/).
• CDEX 1.7 (the beta is stable – http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/?q=download).
• Microsoft Zune (http://www.zune.net/en-us/software/download/default.htm).
• Microsoft Visio 2007.
• Visio 2007 service pack 2 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=78E36742-8BDA-471E-88E6-9B561BB06258&displaylang=en).
• Skype (http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/) – if work not install Skype if work did not require it.

On to the next post in the series: Configure Core Components.