leftover old WinME after re-installation?

I've noticed that running a complete AVG scan for viruses on my friends' computers, takes about 6-7 minutes for them (some are relatively ancient computers with Win95, others new ones with WinXP). On my computer, it always takes 37 minutes (I have a Dell Dimension with a GenuineIntelFamily 6 Model 8 997 processor, 37.27 GB hard disk; came with WinME installed).
When I first got this computer, I tried to download the IE6 "critical updates and servica packs" from the Windows Update site, and encountered persistent problems with installing the update. I also tried downloading Netscape, but the installation of that, too, consistently got hung up before completion. Both *downloads* seemed to go fine, it's the installations that hung up.
The support people from Microsoft and Dell recommended I try reinstalling WinME, which I did twice, but even so, I could never get IE6 or Netscape to finish installing (and the attempts at the installation always left my system unstable overall).
Can you tell me if each of the previous installations of WinME might still be eating up space on my hard drive? All told, I've reinstalled the OS three, if not four times. I can't think of any other reason why my computer takes so much longer to scan than anyone else's. If the previous installations are still there, how do I find them to remove them?
Thank you!

 

Hi rebecca,

First, you need a tool to tell you what's on the HD and the sizes:

http://lists.gpick.com/pages/Hard_Disk_Tools.htm Disk Investegator, This is one, if you look around the List of Lists, you'll find others. I use Disk Pie, its share ware - but I think worth having.

Second, your reinstalls sound like they were always "on top" installs - never clean - meaning that the previous installations were never removed first.

To do a "clean" reinstall - use fdisk first http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q255867

Its on your boot floppy - or if you didn't create one, the MS Doc will tell you how.

BACKUP all your user data on removable media and document your current settings before.

Regards - Charles

 

I'm downloading Disk Investigator as I type, and will see what that turns up once I run it.
You're undoubtedly right about none of my installations having been clean - seems like something at least ONE (of the nearly dozen) of the support people with whom I intially spoke would've suggested to me, but maybe as far as they were concerned, it was something obvious that I should've known already (?).
I haven't been able to find out how to do a clean reinstall yet, as the link you suggested gives me the message, "the requested page is not available ", but I'll keep searching.
I gather this means there's no way to simply delete the previous installations, am I right? (oh, that's too bad, so sad!)
Thanks for your help, Charles!
Rebecca

 

No, not really. Support people - the OEM I assume - almost never would tell you to in effect the wipe drive and start clean. It involves going back to day 1 - have to reinstall all your software and any MS updates.

I'm not having trouble - post back if it continues - I can copy paste into a post.

The problem is identifying and "untangling" it.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks, Charles:
I tried the clean install link again, and this time it worked. One of these days when I have a chunk of spare time, I guess I'll give that a shot.

One final question for you, before this thread is closed: wouldn't the previous installations of WinME on this computer have dates associated with them that could be used as a means of identifying and untangling them?

Sure do appreciate your help!
Rebecca

 

No - Windows installed into the same folder(s).

If that wouldn't have happened, you'd be aware of it! Dates in and of themselves don't mean all that much - doesn't tell you whether a file by that name was there previously or not. You would have to have a "before picture" for that.

When you get around to doing the "clean" install - it is an install beause there will be nothing on the HD - post back, either here or a new thread.

In the meantime, you can start by conductiong an inventory of your user data, such as .doc and .txt files - spreadsheets, and etc.

Since you have to reinstall all your current programs - have the cd's for them, or their setup.exe files An example of setup.exe is the file you downloaded to install Disk Investigator or whetever program you ended up with. Setup files like these should be saved in a folder of their own and backed up on a cd.

An other example of a file to save is your IE Favorites folder - its in Windows.

Regards - Charles

 

Will do - thank you!