Installing a clean version of WinXP?

WinXP, Home, SP2.

Presently, i'm running the Gateway version of WinXP on my system. Its
been in use for over a year without being re-installed and i have picked
up a lot of ash and trash during that time. I'm thinking that some of the
sluggish behavior may be the result of this ash and trash.
So, since i purchased WinXP (full version) on CD (not from Gateway), I'm
thinking that its time to do an install of the "real" WinXP, SP2.
Couple of questions tho -

If i do a format of the C: partition and install winXP to it, will the
partition size be changed?

If i do a format of the C: partition, leaving other partitions alone, and
then the install of WinXP, will my other partitions be effected? Other than
possibly having to do some re-installs, i mean.

My graphics, sound and modem are present on the MB but are disabled
in the BIOS, I am running from 3rd party plugin cards. Will the winXP
install try to turn the MB devices on or will it find the cards and configure
them instead (or do nothing and wait for me to load the drivers instead?)

During the install, does the Intel chipset configuration software
qualify as input for the "F6" ????

I have 4 external USB2 devices (2 harddrives, CD-ROM and printer),
is it better to have them turned on during the install or do them later?

I have card readers installed, using a slot in the tower, (they
are presently disabled via Device Manager). My monitor also has the
card readers built-in which i am using. Will this cause a problem with
the install since windows will find both sets of card readers???
I'll have to look and see if the tower card readers can be physically
removed (if so, this is a moot point)....

I'm sure there will be more questions but for now this is a start.

thanks,
savagcl

 

If you reformat C with your new XP disk, you will need to reinstall any programs installed on that partition. Your other partitions should be okay, and readable by the new OS. Your hardware should all be recognized at least enough to get you online for any necessary drivers. However, because things can and will go wrong, I recommend you do a full back up of your data files before going any further. This link has screencaps so you will know what to expect: Paul Thurrott

Johanna

 

Johanna,

I have a current full sys backup using Acronis. So, if anything goes wrong
i can always restore (as long as it will read a USB harddrive and a cd.

thanks,
savagcl

 

This is really getting complicated!

I have made so many changes and updates its starting to look like more
trouble than its worth.... I'll live with the ash and trash. Long as i can get
on-line and do what i have to do, i'll be OK.

Think i'll hold off until windows vista comes along by then, it will be time
for a new system anyway.

Thanks for the info,
savagcl

 

savacl--A PC running slower than you remember, could be due to reasons other than problems with Windows. Have you cleaned out your cache and other temporary files/folders? Have you pruned the number of programs starting at boot? (XP needs very few to start at boot--mainly antivirus, firewall, certain antispyware programs.) Do you run ScanDisk (error checking) and Defragmenter from time to time? Do you reboot at least once every few days if not more often?
Just some ideas. Post back if you need details.

 

Welshjim,

Yes, I'm setup pretty good with housekeeping programs.

AdAware, AVG, CCleaner, dclean, JV16, mrublaster, perfectdisk, regcleaner,
regsupreme, spyder, spybot, spywareblaster, starter and windows defender.

These all get run at least weekly or more often plus i make a sys backup
before doing anything large or critical.

How is scandisk run? Is it like this - scandisk C:? what are the flags i can
use?

thanks,
savagcl

 

Interesting!

A run of chkdsk c: /r did find an error in $SII of file 9 and had to correct
a couple index points in $SOH. Whatever that means, i dont know.

savagcl

 

savagcl--You found one way to run ScanDisk. I normally click My Computer|right click on the drive you want to check|Properties|Tools tab. That gives you access to Error Checking and Defragmenter.
I know nothing about the messages you got. Here is what Google has to say
http://www.google.com/search?source...ls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-31,GGLD:en&q=$SII+of+file+9
But I suspect there is nothing more for you to do.

Have you cleaned your cache, etc. and checked your startup folder?
To clean my cache, I use Security System Suite
http://www.igorshpak.net/
It is very configurable. I check Temporary in both My Computer and Internet columns.
There also is My Computer|right click on the drive you want to check|Properties|DiskCleanUp. There will be a little scanning. Be sure you want to delete all the items it may offer to delete.
Personally, I am a little concerned about programs like RegCleaner, Dclean, etc. unless you know what it is that you are deleting.
How to check what is starting at boot? Start|Run|type msconfig|OK. See what is checked in the left hand column. Then in the Command column, do you really need that program to start at boot? (Just because it is not checked, there is no block to have you it start when you want it to.) Here is a site to help you decide.
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Is the old PC acting anymore sprightly?

 

Welshjim,

Apparently, changing that index didnt do anything bad, There was only 1.

To my knowledge, the cleanups i run, have never caused me a problem.
They do keep the system fairly clean, no complaints there.

The jv16 (i only run the registry cleaner) does a good job and it has a
small pop-up that shows the number of errors found and weather they
are high, medium, low severe (according to it, i have zero errors, now).
First run it found over 100 errors. There is a fully functional 15 trial version.

The "Starter" program shows all programs in the startup config and will
let you turn them off without re-starting windows, pretty neat.

dclean will only clean certain files but seems to do it well.

The system is doing reasonably well considering all the stuff that it has
been through. Guess its just getting old, like me.

I forgot to mention "ERUNT" which i run every week even if nothing
has changed. I use the GrandFather, Father and Son concept that
means i always have 3 backups of the reg onhand, just in case.

Thanks for the interest and the links,
savagcl