A rebuild is a beautiful thing

How long do you put up with a problem before you fix it? Especially if it�s one of those �slightly annoying but I can work around it� type computer problems?� Do you wait for a quiet moment at work (yeah, right), or for a time when you are feeling particularly unproductive or are avoiding another task that would be more unpleasant?� Or do you wait until another one .. or two .. or many other little problems join in the party and gang up on you?

The famed Christmas/New Year break is a great time to tackle problems such as these (and major website revamps) whilst the answer phone is on and the office is officially closed.� Yes, all of you small business owners out there are nodding in sympathy � what else do you do when it�s too wet to actually enjoy warm Queensland weather and no committments?� You work on your business.� On, not in.� There�s a big distinction.

So, with my list of Vista problems mounting � sorry �applications related to Vista� problems, except for a weird �double paste� thing in file explorer � out came the trusty Acronis True Image for a full pre-format snapshot.��Even though the current installation was riddled with errors like swiss cheese, a full image is a must for preventing that��bugger I forgot that file hides in C:somwherecompletelyobscure and I only backed up My Documents�.

Trick for young players that use the online service from the Australian Taxation Office for submitting your BAS � your digital certificate file (something.p12) does hide in a very obscure place on your C:, so make sure you have a recent�backup of it.� It�s a pain to go through the revokation/new issue process when you find your only backup certificate�was the originally issued file that has now expired.

Next step, make a nice little list from your �Add/Remove Programs� or �Programs and Features� in Control Panel, to figure out what you will need to reinstall ��making sure you have the relevant installation�files/CDs/license or serial numbers.

Then, take a deep breath, and start a�new Vista installation, choosing to delete the existing partition and create a new one from scratch.� I must admit it was�very weird to find that it took me longer to install all of my applications than it did to install�Vista itself.� Gotta love Microsoft for getting with the imaging program for their software installs.

So far so good.� All of my little annoying problems have gone, my�Samsung laser printer now wants to print in colour AND double-sided again.� Also, no more annoying �double paste� thing (where file explorer refused to believe I�d chosen the paste command until I did it a second time).

However, I have yet to reinstall iTunes and my iPod shuffle (sigh).� Fingers crossed it will be OK this time!