Strip the restoration disk?

[Guest]

I have an eMachine and when I first got it, it asked me to make a restoration
cd. Is there a way to get the the extra programs off of my disk and make it
to where its just the Windows XP Home Edition that came with the computer?

I would deeply appreciate it.

 

[thecreator]

Hi Nick,

The simplest way to go about this is to use a program, like Nero or
Ghost, where you can remove all programs from the Hard drive that you don't
want and, you can create a new Hard Drive Image burned onto CD-R Disks.

 

[Guest]

Ok, well, I have Nero Startsmart. and it has an option to make a bootable
disk with DVD or CD... what do I need to add to this? just the WINDOWS
folder? Im really confused. If you could let me invite you over with Remote
Assistance or something. Maybe you could show me how that works. But I don't
entirely know if you'll be able to see all the contents of my harddrive
because I've never used Remote Assistance before

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Ok, well, I have Nero Startsmart. and it has an option to make a bootable
disk with DVD or CD... what do I need to add to this?

It's not remotely the thing you're looking for. That will start the
machine - sort of - but it won't start Windows.

Also, Nero SmartStart is basically just a launcher for several Nero
applications.

What the other person referred to is an imaging program that builds a copy
of the contents of your drive at that moment, on a CD or DVD. When you
restore the image, what's on the drive at that time is completely replaced
by what's contained in the image. The drive will be bootable - the system
will start right up, even if you've restored to a brand new drive.

Nero will do a type of backup but will not create a disk image. If you back
up your hard disk with Nero, you'll have the files. But you won't be able
to make a new, bootable hard disk with that backup. For that purpose,
you need a true imaging program, like Acronis True Image, Drive Image, or
Ghost.

So, what he's suggesting you do is go through Add/Remove programs and remove
anything you can and feel you don't need, then make an image. It's
important to then restore that image to make sure it works!

Aside from going through Add/Remove programs, for most of the "restoration"
disks I've seen, it's just not possible to do a limited install. Those
disks are designed to take a system to the state it left the factory; the
whole point of that is to ease the task of the support staff. They will
know exactly how the system is configured. They really are not interested
in you setting up the machine any differently. If you want to, fine, you
can - but they don't want to hear about it. Support is expensive.

If you want to get to another point that Add/Remove won't take you to,
you'll probably have to get a retail copy of XP and do a clean install. You
might, if you have a qualifying Windows CD from an earlier version (like
WinME), be able to use an Upgrade version - these are cheaper. Your
restore CD will usually *not* work for this purpose. You will also have
to obtain all other applications you want to use, like an Office suite or CD
burning software.

just the WINDOWS
folder?

A basic Windows install is more than the Windows folder. It will also
include, at the very least, the "Documents and Settings" and "Program
Files" structures and several hidden folders, plus critical files in the
root directory. If you simply remove these other folders, your system will
be disabled.

Im really confused.

You should spend some time learning about how the Windows install works, and
define clearly what it is you want to do.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

ok, thanks!
--
-Nick

It's not remotely the thing you're looking for. That will start the
machine - sort of - but it won't start Windows.

Also, Nero SmartStart is basically just a launcher for several Nero
applications.

What the other person referred to is an imaging program that builds a copy
of the contents of your drive at that moment, on a CD or DVD. When you
restore the image, what's on the drive at that time is completely replaced
by what's contained in the image. The drive will be bootable - the system
will start right up, even if you've restored to a brand new drive.

Nero will do a type of backup but will not create a disk image. If you back
up your hard disk with Nero, you'll have the files. But you won't be able
to make a new, bootable hard disk with that backup. For that purpose,
you need a true imaging program, like Acronis True Image, Drive Image, or
Ghost.

So, what he's suggesting you do is go through Add/Remove programs and remove
anything you can and feel you don't need, then make an image. It's
important to then restore that image to make sure it works!

Aside from going through Add/Remove programs, for most of the "restoration"
disks I've seen, it's just not possible to do a limited install. Those
disks are designed to take a system to the state it left the factory; the
whole point of that is to ease the task of the support staff. They will
know exactly how the system is configured. They really are not interested
in you setting up the machine any differently. If you want to, fine, you
can - but they don't want to hear about it. Support is expensive.

If you want to get to another point that Add/Remove won't take you to,
you'll probably have to get a retail copy of XP and do a clean install. You
might, if you have a qualifying Windows CD from an earlier version (like
WinME), be able to use an Upgrade version - these are cheaper. Your
restore CD will usually *not* work for this purpose. You will also have
to obtain all other applications you want to use, like an Office suite or CD
burning software.


A basic Windows install is more than the Windows folder. It will also
include, at the very least, the "Documents and Settings" and "Program
Files" structures and several hidden folders, plus critical files in the
root directory. If you simply remove these other folders, your system will
be disabled.



You should spend some time learning about how the Windows install works, and
define clearly what it is you want to do.

HTH
-pk