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Reformatting Hard Drive and doing a fresh XP Pro install

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by birdygal, 2005/12/10.

  1. 2005/12/10
    birdygal

    birdygal Inactive Thread Starter

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    I have managed to get my OS totally ******* up by installing some Windows updates that were not crititcal along with an updated Wireless driver. I tried the restore and it does not work. I ended loosing alot of working programs and the ones that still work do not work right.


    Right now my Wireless DSL connection is connected at half the speed, Windows Explorer takes forever to move a tiny file or view it. I have at least 500,000 files that are all under 150 bytes to back up before I can trash my OS and start over. It took me 3 wks to get my files sorted to where I can find them and I don't want to loose the way I have them sorted out in their Folders.


    I tried upgrading Norton System Works 2006 after numerous removal programs to get 2003 off I did manage to get it installed however I keep getting temporary files problems that it can't fix. I had to either pay another years subscription for System Works 2003 without any support just virus definitions or Upgrade to 2006 a better route since Firewall was a freebie included.

    The file problems came from Nero another program I used for years without any problems . Nero 6 kept hanging up So I upgraded to Nero 7 and still have the same problem so it was never the software just something really ******* up with my Computer.

    I can burn video DVD's and Data CD's however it Nero will not back up files

    Can anyone tell me how to uncripple my system just a tiny bit to back up a DVD full of tiny files. Once I get that done I am set to can my system and start over

    I also would like a suggestion of the order of installing hardware/software

    OEM Version of XP Pro My computer is custom built so I don't have a restore disc

    I use a Wireless DSL to hook up to the internet so I imagine that will be the second installation as I can't get any Windows updates which are numerous without getting it on line.

    Should I install Norton System Works before getting online or after I update Windows XP My version is downloaded that is backed up and has all the updates until a week ago. Though how it will work without Service pack 2 I am not sure.
     
    birdygal,
    #1
  2. 2005/12/11
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi birdygal,
    welcome to the Windows BBS ...... :) ...... !

    I would suggest buying a new hard disk and take the installation from square one. I would also suggest partitioning the new hard disk in two partitions, separating the system from the data. It makes situations like this so much easier to solve.

    When you are up and running on the new hard disk, connect the old one as slave and copy over your data. When satisfied, format the old hard disk and use it for backups.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  4. 2005/12/11
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    About order of installation, personally, I try to download as much as possible to delay installation of AntiVirus and FireWall as long as possible.

    Disconnect all external hardware, like scanner, printer, card readers, joystick and so on. The less to confuse XP and SP2 the better.

    If the XP version does not include SP2, download to the hard disk (if on a different computer, burn to CD) and install at least SP2 prior to going online.

    If you need updated drivers for the motherboard and graphics card, download in advance and install after SP2.

    Install the external hardware, one by one with a reboot in between.

    Install your applications (other than AV and FW) one by one with a reboot in between.

    Last installation, prior to going online for the first time is AV and FW.

    When online, first order of battle is to update the AV and FW, next to update XP and finally updating anything else.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #3
  5. 2005/12/11
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I forgot:

    Disable Windows Automatic Update until AV and FW have been updated. Next, go to Windows Update and get all the critical updates first and after that, any other update to Windows that you need (think twice, don't install anything unless you KNOW you need it).

    When finished, reenable WAU (I use the setting to notify but not download and install "until I say so ").

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #4
  6. 2005/12/11
    birdygal

    birdygal Inactive Thread Starter

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    That sounds good I should get a SATA drive as my motherboard has the capablilities for it. I have 3 external USB/Firewire enclosures to put my 3 older drives in. They are so slow on USB though. From what I have reading on this site. My computer is probably slowed considerably using the older drives in my computer anyway. I have an 800 Hyperthreading Motherboard though it is 2 yrs old so is probably ancient by now anyway. I have some external Software devices that I can't use because they conflict with each other hopefully I will find out which of them to try to install first when it is up and running again. One is a USB Security Dongle for Embroidery Digitizing software the other is a Dos based Quilting Machine that runs off the parallel port I can't get to set up with the Security Dongle even though it is on a USB port even after uninstalling the software and removing the dongle
     
    birdygal,
    #5
  7. 2005/12/11
    birdygal

    birdygal Inactive Thread Starter

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    I started doing some searching for available hardware updates I should be ashamed. My Intel 865Perl Motherboard has a bios update. Should I do this under my crippled system first before doing the system over or do it after I have Windows XP SP2 on the fresh system. Apparently doing some reading on the bios updates some of the problems are probably stemming from my Bios I did notice that Nero says my Motherboard speed is 200 Mz instead of the supposed to be 800 Mz speed which if is true would be the reason why my computer runs so slow compared to the way it used to run
     
    birdygal,
    #6
  8. 2005/12/11
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I understand that as an Asus P4P800 ...... :confused: ...... right? If so, there's still a future!

    Two years old means SATA-I (150 Mb/s) support. SATA-II (300 Mb/s) is available now and is backwards compatible but in either case, don't expect any dramatic performance increase over ATA100/133. (Personally, I would get an ATA133 IDE drive on a system that already runs IDE drives.)

    If you get a new SATA, you can put two old drives internally as master and slave on IDE channel 0 (assuming two opticals as master and slave on IDE channel 1). You will have to set the boot priority to SATA in BIOS.

    If you get a new ATA100/133, there is still room for an old drive as slave on IDE channel 0 and the other two can be in USB enclosures.

    I have no USB enclosure and don't know how they "should" perform. I assume a bit slower than connected to the motherboard but ...... :confused: ...... how much slower?

    PeteC or anyone else with USB enclosures ...... :cool: ...... what's the verdict?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  9. 2005/12/11
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    A BIOS upgrade has nothing to do with the operating system. The BIOS is there to make the operating system start and tell it a few things about the hardware.

    I recommend doing the BIOS update now but be careful. Read the instructions twice and if you think that you understand the procedure, read once more.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #8
  10. 2005/12/11
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Read Speeds

    FYI - From HDTach, read speeds on my drives ....

    SATA 2 250 Gb - Ave read 50.2 MB/sec - Burst 113.7 Mb/sec

    SATA 1 160 Gb - Ave read 49.3 MB/sec - Burst 120.4 Mb/sec

    WD PATA 120 GB - Ave read 45.2 MB/sec - Burst 77.8 Mb/sec

    Maxtor USB 2 OneTouch (external) 120 Gb - Ave read 29 MB/sec - Burst 30.1 Mb/sec

    Maxtor Firewire OneTouch (external) 200 Gb - Ave read 35.7 MB/sec - Burst 39.2 Mb/sec

    Verdict - USB/Firewire a bit slower :)
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2005/12/11
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Thanks Pete!

    I assume that the HDD's in the USB enclosures are PATA (ATA133) drives, right?

    Quite a significant difference when it comes to burst rate for the SATA's but they are still not making ATA133 obsolete (as an interface standard).

    The difference between the WD and the Maxtor's should be noticable but as long as the OS is not residing there, it doesn't have an impact on computer responsiveness (is that a word?).

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  12. 2005/12/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Right :)

    The OS is on SATA 2 - the Maxtor's are backup drives which are connected only when required.
    Absolutely correct :)
     
    PeteC,
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  13. 2005/12/12
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Pete,
    SATA 1, does that imply SATA-I (150 Mb/s) and SATA 2, does that imply SATA-II (300 Mb/s)?

    What models are they?

    Thanks,
    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #12
  14. 2005/12/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hi Christer

    SATA 1 and SATA 2 are my nomenclature (naming) - they are both SATA-1 and they are both Hitachi, from Everest ....

    Drive #2 - HDS72251 6VLSA80 SCSI Disk Device (153 GB)

    Drive #3 - HDS72252 5VLSA80 SCSI Disk Device (232 GB)
     
    PeteC,
    #13
  15. 2005/12/12
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi Pete!

    Over at StorageReview, they usually test the largest capacity available and a comparision between the 250 GB and 160 GB model was interesting.

    The 250 GB model is a three platter, six head design compared to the 160 GB model which is a two platter, four head design (slightly short stroked).

    My understanding of what I have read is that the higher capacity model should outperform the lower capacity model but in this case, the difference in average read is +2% for the 250 GB model whereas the difference in burst rate is +6% for the 160 GB model.

    birdygal,
    sorry for derailing your topic ...... :eek: ...... let's get it back on track!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #14
  16. 2005/12/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hi Christer

    I don't think we should take HDTach results as gospel :) No doubt more sophisticated software would give a different answer.
     
    PeteC,
    #15
  17. 2005/12/12
    birdygal

    birdygal Inactive Thread Starter

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    I did the bios update and now it is asking for a password that I don't know

    I never put a password in my bios
     
    birdygal,
    #16

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