Need Advice on Doing a Fresh Install

I have a two year old computer that has been operating erraticaly - a program take 4 minutes to load, computer crashes when inserting a CD, a program won't load because of a runtime error. While I've been able to remedy these issues (with the exception of 4 minute load time for a particular program), I believe that the time has come to do a clean install of my Windows XP Home operating system. I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information available on the net. What's the best guide for doing the clean install?

Please note that one of the issues that I had was a few bad sectors on my C drive. These were fixed with Scan Disk. Would it be advisable to replace my C Drive with a new one? And if I do, what would be the best way to install the new drive and operating system in my computer? My computer specs are provided below.

Thanks for the guidance!

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Speed : 3.00GHz
L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous ATC

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI USB FireWire/1394
MP Support : 1 CPU(s)
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 1016.001
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P4C800-E
Chipset : ASUSTeK Computer Inc Unknown (2578)
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 1023MB

Video System
Monitor/Panel : NEC MultiSync 70
Monitor/Panel : NEC MultiSync 70
Adapter : RADEON 9600 SERIES
Adapter : RADEON 9600 SERIES - Secondary

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : Maxtor 6Y120L0 (114.5GB)
Hard Disk : ST3200822A (186.3GB)
Hard Disk : ST3300831AS (279.5GB)
Hard Disk : Promise 1+0 Stripe/RAID0 SCSI Disk Device (233.8GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : TSSTcorp CD/DVDW SH-S182D (CD 48X Rd, 48X Wr) (DVD 6X Rd, 6X Wr)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (ASmile : N/A
Hard Disk (CSmile : 114.5GB (40.8GB, 36% Free) (NTFS)
Disk4_vol1 (DSmile : 233.8GB (95.9GB, 41% Free) (NTFS)
Disk2_vol1 (ESmile : 186.3GB (134.1GB, 72% Free) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (FSmile : N/A
New volume (GSmile : 279.5GB (212.5GB, 76% Free) (NTFS)

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 3 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D2
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D4
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D7
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 24DD
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24DE
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse (IntelliPoint)
Human Interface : HID-compliant device
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Communication Device(s)
Device : Intel(R) 536EP V.92 Modem

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Home Version 5.01.2600 Service Pack 2

Network Adapter(s)
Network Drivers Enabled : Yes
Adapter : Intel(R) PRO/1000 CT Network Connection

 

jrak, it would be better if you can change the hard disk as it could be developing new bad sectors. chkdsk can catch & repair (block) bad sectors, but it can't do anything about marginal sectors.

The best way would be to reinstall Windows & your programs in the new hard disk. After the install is complete, you can hook up your old hard disk in the computer & directly copy the data you need. After you have copied all the data, you can run manufacturer's utility on the hard disk to see its condition. If there are only a few bad sectors, you can use the old hard disk to store your temp files,page files and/or data that is not very important otherwise just throw it.

 

RSINFO, That is sound advice and I will follow it.