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Back Up Outlook 2003 & Reinstall Windows XP

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Hamilton III, 2007/12/17.

  1. 2007/12/17
    Hamilton III

    Hamilton III Inactive Thread Starter

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    I run Outlook, Firefox, Explorer, MS Office and the Adobe Suite of Programs. Trend Micro PC-cillin watches over everything. Inevitably, it seems that through use alone I manage to tangle system knot after system knot and things progressively get slower and less stable. All sorts of problems, delays, errors and general hiccups occur on my computer and I want it to stop. I reinstalled Windows XP in the past once and then did a fresh install on my replacement 100GB HD in my Dell Inspiron 8600 about 6 months ago. Both times the OS worked fast & smooth after the installation. I want that again and am willing to reinstall again.

    I have backed up everything except for Outlook 2003 w/Business Contact Manager. I have 3 years of email archives that I cannot afford to lose.

    My questions are as follows:
    1. How can I create a backup of Outlook 2003 that will ensure all emails, folders, auto-links for Bus Cont Mgr, and such will all be accessible once reinstalled?
    2. When I reinstall Windows XP, is there anything I should do to make sure that the HD is completely wiped out and ready for a fresh new Windows XP OS?
    3. I have never utilized partitions, but it seems like I should based on a few of the BBS articles I've read?
    4. Is there a recommended size for each partition of my 100GB HD? (OS, Programs and data?)
    5. Should Outlook 2003 w/ Business Contact Manager be on its own partition?

    I have tried going to MS Support but I don't find the specific answers to some of the above questions that I really want. Sorry for the laundry list of needs, but I just want to get my system up and running optimally and then try to keep it maintained without the need to reinstall in another 6 months.

    Thanks in advance for any advice and Merry Christmas to all of you out there. I trust that if you know the Lord that you are already blessed and if you don't...know that He is waiting with open arms whenever you are ready.
     
  2. 2007/12/17
    Miz

    Miz Inactive Alumni

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    Miz,
    #2

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  4. 2007/12/17
    Hamilton III

    Hamilton III Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you. That website's backup solution seems very straightforward.
     
  5. 2007/12/17
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Folow my notes :) .....
    I would recommend partitioning - the big advantage is that the OS and programs are installed on one partition and your data on another. If it becomes necessary to reformat the OS drive your data partition(s) is/are untouched. Note this does not obviate the need for regular data backups - hard disks can fail anytime :)
    Not really - the OS partition needs to be large enough to accomodate the OS and programs (there is no advantage in installing programs on a separate partition - most programs install a lot of files within Windows - if the Windows drive has to be formatted at any time it will still be necessary to reinstall the programs.) On a 100 Gb disk 15 - 20 Gb for the OS and Programs should be sufficient. My current setup XP Pro SP2 occupies 16 Gb of 50 Gb, but I have several heavyweight programs installed. XP itself is about 5 Gb. I would go for 20 Gb on your drive.
     

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