Build Your Own Windows: Preserving Your Changes

The problem with building a nonstandard version of Windows is that, well, it’s nonstandard. If you run into PC problems later and decide to reinstall Windows then many of your low-level configuration changes will be lost, forcing you to start the tweaking process all over again. Unless, that is, you take a few precautions.

Make a backup image

The simplest way to save your setup is to create a full backup image of your hard drive. DriveImage XML will do the job quickly and at no cost for home users. You don’t have a spare hard drive to hold the backup? It might be worth buying one: a 320GB model will probably hold 500GB of data thanks to compression, and prices start at under £30. Alternatively, try a clean reinstall of your system, with just Windows, your configuration tweaks and whatever shells, file managers and Windows add-ons you might need. This will probably consume little more than 15GB of hard drive space, even if you’re using the Windows Vista Ultimate Edition and are generous with your add-ons. With compression, DriveImage XML is likely to squeeze your entire setup onto a couple of DVDs, keeping any backup hassles to a minimum.

If you don’t want to create a backup then the next best option is to build a custom Windows installation disc. This can’t embed alternative shells or Explorer add-ons into your setup, but it does offer many other shortcuts. The Tweaks panel, for example, lets you change many default settings for your Windows services, Explorer, Internet Explorer and more. You can also embed Microsoft hotfixes, drivers and even a few applications onto the installation disc. It’s not as good as a full backup, but it’s quicker to create and will still save time if you do need to install Windows again.

Part One: Slipstreaming Your Installation

Part Two: Changing The Interface

Part Three: Installing Add-Ons

This Part: Preserving Your Changes