Time to have a clean install of Windows?

[Cyborg]

Hi Guys.

I do do a posting recently in respect of problems I have been having with my PC. Whether I am just collecting too much files in my registry that are not required or whether somthing more sinister is going on I don't know.

To be honest I do not know that much about PC's. Last night after loading a demo for Armed and Dangerous 2 from FilePlanet in gamespy something strange has happened. As with all games it would seem that some files are loaded into my C:\Drive the home of Windows XP but I always browse and pyt the game data into my D:\ Drive which is on the same hard drive as Windows but in an 80gb partition.

For what ever reason all my system restore files have gone and I am getting a message telling me that "Since installation the hardware on my PC has changed and that I have to Re-Activate Windows, and I have 3 days left to do so. I have not got a clue what has gone wrong so now would seem as good a time as any to format my hard drives and start from a clean install. I am of course dreading this as I have never taken onboard such a task before.

I obviously have to backup anything I need to preserve onto CD or DVD but in the past when I have done this the files are read only. In respect of creating a partition I have not got a clue what to do. Likewise do I install Windows then proceed with the motherboard drivers firstly, then reboot and so on with each hardware driver, Graphics, Sound etc?

Is there a link whereby I can see in simple terms how to do a clean installation of Windows. I am going to look into CMOS and make a note of all my settings in there for starters i.e. write everything down. The procedure by all accounts is simple if I take my time plan it and once I have done it the next time around should be pretty staight forwards. Why would I want to do this again. Windows has been installed since January this year and my problems started recently. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[snowbound]

Hi Cyborg

Here is a link for XP clean install

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPHome/installxphome1.htm

I would wait for further suggestions. U may not have to go as far as reinstalling XP.





snowbound

[Cyborg]

That link snowbound is great. It seemingly has most of the answers in respect of my partition.

One question hoever, I have 2 120gb Hard Drives, the first one is partitioned 40GB (with XP on) and 80GB with my games and stuff. I have a second hard drive that I use for film editing and stuff which again is a 120GB drive.

Would I be better off backing everything up on both drives then formatting them or when you install Windows XP does it format the hard drives as part of the process. My problems I believe orginate from my recent installation of the new nForce2 Drivers. They caused me loads of problems with my ATI drivers and Creative Drivers and now nothing seems the same, despite me reinstalling the drivers that were lost.

The first thing I am going to do is install the nForce2 Drivers after XP before I install any Graphic or Sound Drivers that is for sure. Has anybody got a clue how long such a clean install actually takes, and how long to format a 120gb hard drive?

[snowbound]

Hi Cyborg :)

Here are two more links to check out for formatting from XP CD.

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/columns/honeycutt/02october07.asp

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313348

When i posted yesterday about formatting Pieter posted back these very informative links.

These should answer most of your questions.




snowbound

[snowbound]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Cyborg link=board=27;threadid=17857;start=0#msg110282 date=1071425151]
Has anybody got a clue how long such a clean install actually takes, and how long to format a 120gb hard drive?
" }-

I have never done it myself but from what i got from information off the net it can take anywhere from 5 minutes to a couple of hours. :-\

I know there are different ways to format so maybe length of time has something to do with that.

Hope this helps


snowbound

[Cyborg]

snowbound thanx for taking the time out. Great links and good advise.

I will let you know how it goes after I get the guts to perform the task. Incidently I have Norton 2003 Antivirus running and according to the latest reviews in February's Computer Shopper it is as good as useless at picking up Trojans and harmful scripts.

The magazine recommends F-Secure2004 and Kaspersky Lab Anti-Virus Personal as the best. Wonder why how the Trojans I collected prior to me installing SpyWare Blaster managed to get through. Anyone out there agree with what Computer Shopper has to say? They say about Norton Antivirus 2004 "One of the least effective products at detecting our test Trojans we've seen," whereas for the other products F-Secure "Excellent at detecting and stopping viruses, scripts and Trojans. For Kaspersky Lab they say. "Joint number one at detecting Trojans and harmful scripts."

Just a thought because if I have to start over I want to ensure that this time around I am "fully protected" if that is possible. I currently have ZoneAlarm Pro (with Firewall), Norton Anti-Virus 2003, SpyBot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware. SpyWareBlaster and TDS-3. I do not know if my current problems have any issues to any known conflicts with these programmes that has caused my Windows to inform me that I need to re-activate it. I still believe it is down to loading far too many Game Demos from GameSpy and also the recent nForce2 Driver update. Time will tell. Looks like I will not be renewing my subsciption with Norton.

[snowbound]

Hi Cyborg :)

I use nod32v2 as my AV now but i used to have nortons internet security2002.

Nortons did a good job for me but i just didn't like that it was so much bloatware.

As far as trojans go, i use a seperate app., Boclean.
I see that u use TDS3. Another excellent AT app.

As far as F-Secure and Kaspersky, i know they are both great AV apps.

I actually trialed them both but unfortunately they conflicted with something on my system so i couldn't use them.

I also use ZA, mine is the Plus version. Iam very happy with it so far.

From your list i can see that u are well protected. Have u ever looked at Spywareguard? It is another fantastic Javacool product.

It goes great along side Spywareblaster.

It has realtime scanning to monitor your system for malware.

I think u should have no problems when u formatt and reinstall XP.

I will look for your post on how it went. ;D


Glad i was able to help.

Good luck and Merry christmas to u and your family Cyborg!




snowbound