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Thread ID: 61275	2005-08-30 10:50:00	Starting All Over...	MasturJeff (7803)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1357497	2005-08-30 10:50:00	Well, if any of you who post here and lurk frequently know my PC problems that have dated back to April, it's time for me to finally let go and reformat my PC. I have too many problems in the registry, start menu, add/remove list, etc. all over my PC. What's the easiest and best way to reformat my PC? It looks like I'm going to be burning alot of Data CD's today. :badpc: I hope I have enough CD-RW's to do the job. I'll have to burn my important personal files and folders, and then reformat, and then re-install XP Service Pack 2, and then re-install all my old programs from the many CD-ROMS and Online Downloads I have. I would like to thank Speedy Gonzales for all his help though, he's been trying to help me get my PC straight since Day 1, but I guess we fell short. I've learned alot about PC Security these last few months, and now I'll be better prepared to fight off spyware/viruses than I was earlier this year. Spyware is the reason my PC is in such bad shape right now! :angry	MasturJeff (7803)
1357498	2005-08-30 12:14:00	My first suggestion is not to use CD-RW disks if the data is valuable. They are just too unreliable, even worse if used with InCD or DirectCD Use CD-R disks of good quality. Then just put the XP CD in the drive, reboot and follow the menu selecting a reformat and install. If it does not boot from the CD, set it to do so in the BIOS.	godfather (25)
1357499	2005-08-30 21:37:00	If you have a large hdd, copy files you've downloaded to it. (a spare partition on the hdd). ie: MP3's, installation files etc. No point in backing up programs that have been / or were installed already, if u back them up and copy them back to the hdd, and expect them to work. They wont. You'll have to reinstall these. Yup, and MAKE SURE you get ALL the Windows updates this time. Well whats needed anyway.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
1357500	2005-08-30 22:25:00	Do you realise you can install a fresh copy of Windows without re-formatting your HDD?, I am not talking about a repair install otherwise know as installing over the top . Many people believe there are only two options, a repair install or a format . You can instruct Windows setup to delete all files and install in the old Windows directory, this will give you a fresh copy just like a format but leave your non-Windows files intact . You would still need to re-install anything that uses the registry like Office, but your personal files would be safe assuming you didn't use the Windows directory . Just in case you didn't know, as many people don't relise this in my experience .	Battleneter (60)
1357501	2005-08-30 22:39:00	Do you realise you can install a fresh copy of Windows without re-formatting your HDD?, I am not talking about a repair install otherwise know as installing over the top. Many people believe there are only two options, a repair install or a format. You can instruct Windows setup to delete all files and install in the old Windows directory, this will give you a fresh copy just like a format but leave your non-Windows files intact. You would still need to re-install anything that uses the registry like Office, but your personal files would be safe assuming you didn't use the Windows directory. Just in case you didn't know, as many people don't relise this in my experience. I do this all the time Saves backing everything up and even though most apps (not all) need installed again at least your preferences are usually saved I do however partition the drive if possible and make a copy of customers documents, emails etc just in case Takes a lot less time overall.	bartsdadhomer (80)
1357502	2005-08-30 23:01:00	Put some partitions on (if you haven't already) I use partitions to keep programs and data seperate, For me I have a primary partition of about 10-20 Gb where I install all my programs, OS etc, basically anything that lives in the registry, and the other partitions contain my MP3 collection, work files, personal stuff etc Proved damn useful last time i had a meltdown, as I was able to just reinstall O/s and apps and all the data was there safe and sound on the other partitions Two things to watch out for when formatting, "Internet favourites" (both IE and firefox)I always forget to back these up when reformating, and the my documents folder (I personally never use it, but the ocasional program will put stuff there) Cheers	Morgenmuffel (187)
1357503	2005-08-30 23:10:00	Put some partitions on (if you haven't already) I use partitions to keep programs and data seperate, For me I have a primary partition of about 10-20 Gb where I install all my programs, OS etc, basically anything that lives in the registry, and the other partitions contain my MP3 collection, work files, personal stuff etc Proved damn useful last time i had a meltdown, as I was able to just reinstall O/s and apps and all the data was there safe and sound on the other partitions Two things to watch out for when formatting, "Internet favourites" (both IE and firefox)I always forget to back these up when reformating, and the my documents folder (I personally never use it, but the ocasional program will put stuff there) Cheers Yes I agree, a seperate OS partition is the way to go and this is also what I do, that way a OS partition format is no real issue appart from favourites etc However most people don't do this and also feel they have to nuke it all and restart, which as I said is not the only option.	Battleneter (60)
1357504	2005-08-31 02:46:00	Let me ask a question here then . . . . I understand the burn-down-all theory . . and I have adhered to it for all the times I needed to re-install XP . Usually the reason for a burn-down was the incursion of a nasty trojan (W95 . CIH . damaged, for one), and I even had to reflash the BIOS . So here's the question: IF just because there's a virus/trojan, is it NOT necessary to format everything? I mean, if there's a truly nasty virus/trojan in the system, what makes one think the rest of the HD's and files/folders and non-registry-types are not polluted too? Aren't they infected too?	SurferJoe46 (51)
1357505	2005-08-31 02:58:00	If u mean are other partitions on the same hdd affected if / when u get a trojan, or virus, then I would say no . A partition would be like a separate hdd, even tho its still physically part of the main hdd . That's why its a good idea to partition a hdd in the first place .	Speedy Gonzales (78)
1357506	2005-08-31 03:14:00	Should have added this to the previous post BUT then, having program files on another partition besides c maybe different . If the trojan / virus affects the registry, you may have no choice but to format the lot . It would also depend on what the virus / trojan is, and what damage it's done, and whether u can undo what the virus or trojan, created in the registry . If u can, well there's no need to format everything .	Speedy Gonzales (78)
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