[sqeaky]

The windows install/reinstall is pretty much guaranteed to be a huge pain. Its only easy when someone else set it up in advance for you.

You need have the original install media for each application because there is no centralized repo. For things you downloaded you need to go running around and re-download things, even basic things like drivers.

If you get the wrong network drivers because you misread a model number then you pretty much need a second machine.

This would be a minor thing if I didn't do a ton of windows installs when my friends and families got viruses. I have since given them one re-install and after that if they want me to clean up their virus they get Ubuntu. Dad and Grandma haven't got a virus since their Ubuntu installations and my Brother figured out his shit either he reinstalls and doesn't tell me or stopped getting viruses.

[joshstrange]

I don't use windows for anything anymore but having to occasionally rebuild a machine for a friend I've found this tool [0] to be a HUGE help and timesaver. It lets you pick from a big list of popular tools and it gives you 1 installer for all of them. Installing a base windows machine for me went from an all day off-and-on event to <10min to get 90+% of the apps up and running.

[0] https://ninite.com/