Re-installing windows XP questions

[AAaron123]

I'm going to do a clean re-install windows XP.
I won't be able to ask for help once I destroy the present installation so
I'm trying to learn what I can now.

I have two DVD drives D and E

I have two hard drives.

The too small one (34g) is presently C and is my system disk.
It has a couple of partitions from dell. One for the system and one for
diagnostics.

The other presently (500g) is presently has partitions H,I,J


I'd like to make the big one the system disk and would like it to be called
C.

Best if I could make two partitions C (300g) and any letter (200G)

Then what to do about the diagnostic partition on the smaller disk?

How do I accomplish the above?


Does the XP CD have partitioning capability?

Should I do something to the big disk now to prepare it for being the
system?

Does XP let me partition and format disk?

What do I have to do to make a partition bootable?

How do I change the drive letters and when?

How do I redefine the drive that gets the C letter?

======

I have two installation CDs

One from Dell: Reinstallation CD with SP1 and a key (I think) on the back of
the envelope.

One from school that contains a general key for the whole class. I don't
know if it contains sp1. Both are PRO versions.

Which should I use?

I also have a color monitor CD

and a V.92 modem cd

And finally a Dell Tools software cd that has antivirus, support,multimedia
and internet software.


If I use the dell cd I'd sure like to avoid installing AOL and whatever
other junk can with the machine - I forget now what else came with it.

One problem I see is downloading avast or avg since it means I need to
connect to the internet without and antivirus running. Unless I install the
Norton (I think that was the one) that is on the cd I mentioned above. I
hate to do that because Norton fills the registry with entries that don't go
away on uninstall.
Will windows firewall protect me until I download antivirus software?

Would you recommend a antivirus software other than I mentioned above?


I'd appreciate answers to any of the above.


Or any other helpful suggestions.



Thanks

 

[Terry R.]

On 11/18/2009 3:06 PM On a whim, AAaron123 pounded out on the keyboard

I'm going to do a clean re-install windows XP.
I won't be able to ask for help once I destroy the present installation so
I'm trying to learn what I can now.

I have two DVD drives D and E

I have two hard drives.

The too small one (34g) is presently C and is my system disk.
It has a couple of partitions from dell. One for the system and one for
diagnostics.

Hi Aaron,

First, after you have VERIFIED you have a complete backup, make sure you
have access to all your drivers. Going to the manufacturers site and
getting all of them and putting them on a flash drive works well. Or if
you have the original drivers CD, that will insure you have the correct
ones and don't download a driver that isn't on your system (Dell offers
multiple drivers for a same model. If you pick the wrong one, it won't
work).


I'd remove the smaller drive, unless you just want to install ONLY the
OS on it and direct your programs and data to the larger drive, which
would work fine. I have 5 OS's on this workstation and the average
partition size for an OS is 7 gig. But I install all programs on another
drive and data on yet another drive.

The other presently (500g) is presently has partitions H,I,J

That could easily hold your programs and data.

I'd like to make the big one the system disk and would like it to be called
C.

Then I'd replace the larger drive to the cable the smaller one is
connected to.

Best if I could make two partitions C (300g) and any letter (200G)

You can do that when installing XP by choosing the partition size.

Then what to do about the diagnostic partition on the smaller disk?

You can delete it if you want prior to installing XP (if you install XP
on that drive) and use the extra space.

How do I accomplish the above?

Should have described that below each question.

Does the XP CD have partitioning capability?

Yes, for creating a smaller partition for XP. Any other partitions will
need to be created after XP is installed, which can be done in Disk
Management (diskmgmt.msc).

Should I do something to the big disk now to prepare it for being the
system?

Make sure you have it backed up. Otherwise no.

Does XP let me partition and format disk?
Yes.


What do I have to do to make a partition bootable?

How do I change the drive letters and when?

The install will take care of it depending on your choices above.

How do I redefine the drive that gets the C letter?

======

I have two installation CDs

One from Dell: Reinstallation CD with SP1 and a key (I think) on the back of
the envelope.

One from school that contains a general key for the whole class. I don't
know if it contains sp1. Both are PRO versions.

Which should I use?

Do you have permission for the one from the school? That may answer
your question.

I also have a color monitor CD

and a V.92 modem cd

And finally a Dell Tools software cd that has antivirus, support,multimedia
and internet software.

All outdated. You should also have a drivers disc like I mentioned
above, or download them from the Dell site. Open Device Manager and note
the manufacturer name of each device so you know what you have when you
go online.

If I use the dell cd I'd sure like to avoid installing AOL and whatever
other junk can with the machine - I forget now what else came with it.

You will have to uninstall the junk after XP has completed.

One problem I see is downloading avast or avg since it means I need to
connect to the internet without and antivirus running. Unless I install the
Norton (I think that was the one) that is on the cd I mentioned above. I
hate to do that because Norton fills the registry with entries that don't go
away on uninstall.
Will windows firewall protect me until I download antivirus software?

Would you recommend a antivirus software other than I mentioned above?

Download the AV software of your choice to the USB drive that has your
drivers that I suggested above before doing all this. Antivir is a good
one. But don't spend hours reading everyone's suggestions, it will just
make you crazy. Your Norton copy is outdated too unless you purchased
it in the last year. The new Norton is much better than prior years.
Just don't use anything prior to 2009.

I'd appreciate answers to any of the above.


Or any other helpful suggestions.



Thanks

Terry R.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Do nothing whatsoever to the "diagnostic drive" (whatever that is) and
forget about making "one big system disk."

Use your Dell CD to reinstall WinXP SP1 then...

1. Enable the Windows Firewall.

2. Uninstall the Norton free-trialware & run the Norton Removal Tool (cf.
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039)

3. You won't be able to install a replacement anti-virus application until
you get the computer fully-patched per
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

4. Now that you've got SP3 et al. installed, install the anti-virus
application of your choice then manually & repeatedly update it until you
get a "no more updates" prompt.

5. Now download/install Windows Defender (if you didn't install Microsoft
Security Essentials):
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx

6. Make sure Automatic Updates is enabled; cf.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

Yes, you'll be "working without a net" until you've finished #4 above, so
don't do anything else online (e.g., surfing; checking email; chatting;
downloading other stuff) until then.

Also: Don't insert any USB key that isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly
formatted until you've manually installed
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029 (which will NOT be offered by Windows
Update for some unfathomable reason).

 

[Terry R.]

On 11/18/2009 3:06 PM On a whim, AAaron123 pounded out on the keyboard

I'm going to do a clean re-install windows XP.
I won't be able to ask for help once I destroy the present installation so
I'm trying to learn what I can now.

Also forgot to mention, Install SP3 BEFORE you let Windows Updates throw
IE8 at you (by going to the Windows Update site rather than letting WU
automatically update). Then if you don't like IE8, you can uninstall it
easily. If IE8 gets installed before SP3, you have to remove SP3 before
removing IE8. That's a pain.



Terry R.

 

[dadiOH]

I'd like to make the big one the system disk and would like it to be
called C.

The first (master drive) on the primary channel becomes C:

--

dadiOH
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