clean install

[Guest]

Hi, bought my laptop from reputable dealer,didn't get the winxp installation
cd, it was preinstalled, only got the recovery & system cds. need to clean
install to erase everything, got the key # on back of laptop for xp, but no
xp cd. what do I need to do to format & reinstall win xp without the cd, I am
a newbie, need help. thanks for any help I can get.

 

[Alias]

Hi, bought my laptop from reputable dealer,didn't get the winxp installation
cd, it was preinstalled, only got the recovery & system cds. need to clean
install to erase everything, got the key # on back of laptop for xp, but no
xp cd. what do I need to do to format & reinstall win xp without the cd, I am
a newbie, need help. thanks for any help I can get.

Use the recovery and systems CDs. Be sure and back up any data you want
to keep as it will erase *everything*. If you don't want all the crap
that comes bundled with the recovery CD, you'll have to buy a copy of XP.

Alias

 

[Guest]

I have accomplished a clean install 6-8 times over the years without a hitch
so don't worry just go slow.

This is MOST important...Be sure to save any data you want to reinstall
later such as "my documents", "my pictures", "my downloads, etc, programs
you have added, etc on an external device (CD, ZIP, external harddrive, etc).
You do this from "Windows explorer". More complicated is saving your email
addresses and email if needed.

After saving all your needs externally then go to start>programs>system
tools>system restore. Then follow the procedures.

Again take your time. I spent two days being sure I found every program I
wanted even the drivers for several printers that were no longer easily
available from the vendor. The more often I've done this the easier but
every time I have lost something because I forgot is was in my system.

Good luck

Gene

 

[Daave]

Hi, bought my laptop from reputable dealer,didn't get the winxp
installation cd, it was preinstalled, only got the recovery & system
cds. need to clean install to erase everything, got the key # on back
of laptop for xp, but no xp cd. what do I need to do to format &
reinstall win xp without the cd, I am a newbie, need help. thanks for
any help I can get.

Why do you think you need to do a clean install? What are you trying to
"erase"?

 

[Guest]

OOPS. I didn't mean to write "system restore" but rather "System recovery".
Don't know exactly what is wrong but maybe an "Application Recovery" might
fix your issue as well.

 

[Rock]

Hi, bought my laptop from reputable dealer,didn't get the winxp
installation
cd, it was preinstalled, only got the recovery & system cds. need to clean
install to erase everything, got the key # on back of laptop for xp, but
no
xp cd. what do I need to do to format & reinstall win xp without the cd, I
am
a newbie, need help. thanks for any help I can get.

Follow the documentation that came with the computer or contact the computer
dealer or if the computer is from a major OEM like Dell or HP contact their
tech support for info on how to do a reinstall. With the recovery CD you
probably won't have to enter a product key

 

[Guest]

I have done everything for it to speed up like it used to be, took it to the
store where I bought it, that didn't even help it any. Only thing left to do
is clean out everything & reinstall.

 

[Daave]

I have done everything for it to speed up like it used to be, took it
to the
store where I bought it, that didn't even help it any. Only thing left
to do
is clean out everything & reinstall.

You didn't indicate what you did specifically. It's possible you skipped
something important!

A clean install is usually not necessary. And it can take a bit of time.
Before you decide to go ahead with it, I suggest you thoroughly do all
the housecleaning instructions at www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

 

[Guest]

I uninstalled programs I didn't use, defraged, spware,adware scan, nortan
antivirus scan, cleaned out all history. Any other suggestions? I think I
named everything I have done that might help speed it up like it used to be,
but it is so slow I don't even want to use it, if you can help me do
something so I wouldn't have to do a clean install, it would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Daave]

I uninstalled programs I didn't use, defraged, spware,adware scan,
nortan
antivirus scan, cleaned out all history. Any other suggestions? I
think I
named everything I have done that might help speed it up like it used
to be,
but it is so slow I don't even want to use it, if you can help me do
something so I wouldn't have to do a clean install, it would be
greatly
appreciated. Thanks.

First of all, why don't you give us the specs of your PC? What kind of
CPU? How large is your hard drive? And how much free space does it have?
(A filled up hard drive is a no-no!) How much RAM is installed? If your
memory is on the low side, then memory-hungry apps like Norton will
surely slow you down.

It's good that you use AdAware. But it's not enough; try Spybot Search &
Destroy, too:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Defragging isn't good unless you delete all your temp files *first*.
Since you only mentioned "history," I will assume you still have tons of
temp files. Running Disk Cleanup is necessary before defragging:

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disc Cleanup.

I would check only "Temporary Internet Files," "Temporary Files," and
"Recycle Bin."

(And I would be curious to know how many MB of junk you will have
removed!)

Defrag *now*.

Also, trim your apps and processes that run in the background. To do
this, refer to Step #13 at http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm .
(Actually, that site has a wealth of information you will benefit from.)

I would also consider ditching Norton and using something lighter like
AVG.

Good luck!