I had lost track of all the junk that was installed on my system that I finally got tired of it and decided to reinstall a fresh copy of windows and just my favorite applications and games. I only had about a handfull of application and games reinstalls anyways, so it took a good 6 hours to complete the final installation preceeded by 2 days of frustration.

What I learned from all of this is that Windows is dumb when it comes to drivers... period. So, eventually, I had to install all the drivers manually BEFORE windows downloads and installs them on my computer. That resolved a LOT of issues including wacky driver lockups and other weird problems.

After windows loaded for the first time, I installed the motherboard drivers, video drivers, DirectX and Net 4.5. Then I installed all my apps and games and finally connected to the internet to let windows update itself. This was the only way I found that would get the best performance out of my system. Now, me and my computer are happly humming along doing our own thing.

Always the same 2 important CD's when it comes to PC's. Windows CD and Motherboard CD everything else is a bonus

Step 1 install windows
Step 2 install motherboard drivers

From this point on everything should be straight forward. I normally run updated graphics drivers rather than putting in the CD. Then I run Windows Updates. I keep all my programs and games on a 2nd hardrive so just a matter of running reinstall just to put them back on the programs list.

One thing I NEVER do is install Windoze updates. They cause more problems than they solve. At least if you are going to install them take a backup point first. Some of those updates are sneaky and whisper in Bill Gate's ear what I am doing.

I always love how fast a pc boots when a fresh install has been done and no "Crap" has been loaded yet.

Jim, hope you have a good firewall to keep the riff-raff out. The only Windows updates I allow to be downloaded and installed are the security and critical fixes.

Agreed, MudWasp. A fresh install of Windows on a modern SSD drive, is a thing of beauty.

This is very true.

Sorry, but I'm not able to get online as much as I would like to nowadays due to RL. However, I did notice something very interesting in regards to stuttering.

I have an i5, SSD, 16GB RAM and previously an nVidia 680 GTX 2GB. Even after the clean install of windows, I would still get microstuttering. I even followed NickN's settings and still get the stutters. All this time I assumed that my system was either not optimized enough or I have crapware installed which was hindering my system's performance.

Then I started to think about upgrading my video card to a 4GB model and started to read some reviewes on various cards. I finally found a very cheap used MSI R9 290X 4GB, but needed to sell my card first before I could afford to buy it. Well, I managed to sell off my 680GTX and had just enough to buy the used card. It still has warranty remaining, so that is a piece of mind.

Got it installed, fired up WOFF and noticed a bit less, but STILL microstutters... DAMN!! TrackIR (on/off), sound (on/off), project lasso (on/off), nothing helped these irritating microstutters. I still could get solid 60 fps in most situations, but once the scene became crowded, the ugly stutters would ruin my immersion when I turn to look anywhere. A high end video card can't handle WOFF, but run other games buttery smooth.... no way.

Then I thought to monitor the card while playing a mission in WOFF and found that it never reached its maximum core clock and it would constantly fluctuate by 20 to 50 mhz during gameplay. No overheating issues because this card can take upto 95 degrees according to reviews and mine was stable at 75 degrees.

I had the same microstuttering issue in my previous 680 gtx WITH stabalized non-fluctuating core clock. So, I decided to give the 290 a try at stabalizing the core clock.......... EUREKA! no stuttering! (well one or two microstutters in 1.5 hours gameplay). ALL settings are maxed out in WOFF, 4x supersampling, 16x AF.... WOFF looks and plays gorgeous!

My amateur opinion is that WOFF needs a decent CPU, 3GB or more video card and constant core clock to play it at its MAXIMUM beauty. Case Closed and back to having some serious fun...

I've been thinking about a 4 GB card too...but it ain't happening anytime soon.

Glad you have things running how you want them!