I posted this over on the hardware forum as well but this is essentially a FS9 set up issue, so I'll give it a go here too.I will take delivery in a few days on a Big Bad Boy Dell (my nickname, not theirs).P4, 3.6, 2 meg, dual 160 gig Raid 0 at 10k rpmATI Radeon x800 vid22 in. SonyI'm going to do a clean install of FS9 and basically start all over tweaking since I imagine many of the settings on my old rig, 1.7,512 GForce 5600 rig will be different.Any generic MUST DO set up tips would be greatly appreciated.Jim

My 2 cents1- Before anything, partition the HD in 4 (NTSF format). C: 10 GB should be enough for WinXP, D: 20 or 30 for FS depending on the foreseable FS addons you have in mind and the size of your HD, E: 1/2 of the remaining for specific programs as MSOffice and the likes. F: The remaning for miscellanious files like the downloaded zip and other files. If your system comes with Windows already installed use Partition Magic or similar utility to partition the drive as mentionned above. 2a- If needed install Win XP on drive C - DEFRAG C:2b- If it is not already set, install SP1 - DEFRAG C:2c- If it is not already set (and have an hi-spead connection!) install SP2 - DEFRAG C:2- Install hardware drivers - Graphic card, printer etc. - DEFRAG C:4- Install Windows addons - Antivirus (Norton is out, AVG and AVAST are in!!) - Firewall - Internet connection etc. DEFRAG C: between each addon.5- Do yourself a favor. Get Mozilla Firefox as an Internet browser instead of Windows IE. It is a lot similar to IE in its usage but a lot less prone to vicious attack (at least for the moment) IMHO. DEFRAG C:6- Get and intall SpywareBlaster - http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/ - freeware. Prevents Spyware intrusion upfront. Update evrery other week to keep current. DEFRAG C:7- At this point I would install a couple of program, again MSOffice and the likes onto drive E: and DEFRAG C: and E: after each install. Use them a little to make shure that everything works AOK in Windows environment by itself.8- Get onto the Net surf a little to make shure all is swift and tidy there as well.9- Defrag C: once more. Shut your system off and restart.Only after insuring everything is fine with Windows operations should you consider installing FS9. Would you build yourself a house on poor fondations? ;-)Then:Install basic FS9 onto D: - DEFRAG C: and D: - DO NOT ADD any addon at this point. Start FS9, run it a little and tweek the settings to your liking. Turn it off.Get and install FS9.1 update. - DEFRAG C: and D: Run FS9 and retweek it as necessary.Check the tips in the MS Flight Simulator Tips and Tricks forum above and apply, with caution, those you think would enhance your present installation. (Some may want to jump here and suggest the best of them ;))When you're happy with your settings and FS9/9.1 operation, only then should you consider to install the addons you whish to have. Would you build a second floor before making shure the 1st one is sturdy enough? Major addons like FSMeteo, FSNav etc. (those that modify the registry entries) I would follow up with a defrag of C: and D:. Aircraft and Scenery addons are not as bad though large one should be followed by a defrag of FS9 drive. Drive D: in this instance.At first, defragmentation of drive C: may take quite some time, maybe 30 to 40 minutes, but after a few, most of them will complete in 10 minutes or less. But it is when one goes through uninstalling something on drive C: that defragging may get time consuming. So plan ahead a bit and only install on drive C: things that are specificaly related to Windows operations and not susceptible to be uninstalled thereafter. All other programs or apps should be installed on drive E: (Resist to the EASY proposal of installing everything on C:Program FilesBla! ) and use drive D: only for FS9 and FS9 related addons.Defragmenting drive D, E, F etc. is a pretty sleek operation when compare to defragmenting drive C.Again, just my 2 centsHugo

"Defragmenting drive D, E, F etc. is a pretty sleek operation when compare to defragmenting drive C."That's usually becuase people leave the swap file on the C: drive while running the defrag. Works a WHOLE lot better if you move the swapfile to another partition while the C drive is being defragged/optimized.RegardsBob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300Washington, DC

THANKS Hugo, for taking the time to present such a thorough checklist! I am printing it out for future reference.Regards,Jim