wiping hared drive clean/restore using CD/restoring files

[hamiltoncruiser]

I have 4 users on my desktop computer.

I have an external HD much bigger then my computer's HD...I am
planning to save c:docs an settings to the external HD, wipe the
computer, restore using Compaq's CD, recreate all 4 users, then
restoring c:docs and settings.

All 3rd party programs can then be re-installed from CD's or
downloads. (Will MS Office be OK? Will it recognize that it's the
same computer?)

then reinstall peripherals

Would that be an OK plan to ensure not losing any data?

....Lisa

 

[DL]

To ensure no loss of data backup all data to two types of media, if you want
to be really picky using two different backup proccesses

 

[JS]

Any reason why you want to do this?

JS

 

[hamiltoncruiser]

To ensure no loss of data backup all data to two types of media, if you want
to be really picky using two different backup proccesses

Thanks DL!

 

[hamiltoncruiser]

I just want to clean the computer!!

It's running slow...even with running scans for spyware and viruses
regularly.

....Lisa

 

[hamiltoncruiser]

I just want to clean the computer!!

It's running slow...even with running scans for spyware and viruses
regularly.

....Lisa

 

[DL]

If there is any chance that your sys is infected restoring the entire Docs &
Settings tree might not be a good idea.
Restoring Data, e.g. Docs (Usually found under user/My Documents) & mail
should be OK but not necessarily the other files.

If you decide to clean install with the recovery disks, once done visit MS
update & install critical updates - do NOT install driver updates from MS,
source these from Compaq only

Before you go there, have you checked Event Viewer (Administrative Tools)
for any errors?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I just want to clean the computer!!

It's running slow...even with running scans for spyware and viruses
regularly.

Your choice of course, but my view is that most people who reinstall
Windows to fix such a problem, without ever finding out what caused
the problem, quickly repeat the behavior that caused the slowdown and
find themselves in the same situation, thereby accomplishing nothing
but expending a lot of effort to get where they started.

 

[Unknown]

If running slow, have you run 'disc clean' and a defrag?

 

[Lisa Hetherington]

Yes

....Lisa

If running slow, have you run 'disc clean' and a defrag?

 

[Unknown]

What is your memory size, disc size, and computer clock speed?

 

[Lisa Hetherington]

760 MB, 30 GB and 2.40 Ghz

....Lisa

What is your memory size, disc size, and computer clock speed?

 

[Unknown]

If you have run disc clean and a defrag the only thing remaining is a virus
scanning program running in the background and/or you're loading to many
programs when booting. You can change what you load by clicking
start---run--and type in msconfig. Select the startup tab and edit what you
don't need at startup.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Interesting theory Ken, I like it!

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If you have run disc clean and a defrag the only thing remaining is a virus
scanning program running in the background

The "only thing remaining"? Not at all true. Non-viral malware
(spyware and adware) are very often the cause of slowdowns.

Lisa said she runs spyware and virus scans regularly, but not all
anti-spyware programs are equal, and no single one is good enough. I
wouldn't rule out the possibility of spyware that quickly, if I were
in her shoes.

and/or you're loading to many
programs when booting.

Despite the frequency with which this statement is made, how *many*
background programs you run are not the issue. The issue is which ones
they are. Some autostarting background programs can have a big effect
on performance; others have no effect at all. They should not all be
painted with the same brush.

 

[Unknown]

I didn't say run, I said loading. Each one you try to load requires memory
space. And when memory is filled virtual memory operates. And it takes time
to load and unload programs. I.E. If you want to start a program and it is
not in memory you must load it first. Programs seldom used may be taking up
memory space. Don't load what is not needed and the system runs fast.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I didn't say run, I said loading. Each one you try to load requires memory
space. And when memory is filled virtual memory operates. And it takes time
to load and unload programs. I.E. If you want to start a program and it is
not in memory you must load it first. Programs seldom used may be taking up
memory space. Don't load what is not needed and the system runs fast.

No, this is inaccurate and is extremely misleading. For example, I
use a little background program called AllChars, which facilitates my
typing special characters like ñ. It loads from the startup folder.
However it's the kind of program that I use very seldom. So it very
quickly get paged out and sits in the page file until I need it. While
it's in the page file, it takes *no* real memory, and has *no* impact
on performance.

How many programs of this type you load doesn't matter. Except for the
tiny amount of time they take to get started, they have no effect on
performance. What impacts performance are background programs that
actively use real memory and/or CPU cycles. That's why it's important
to be sure you know *which* such programs you run, not "how many." You
should want to improve performance by stopping the autostarting of
programs that affect performance adversely, and don't have real value
for you.

 

[Unknown]

Supposing you have 250 megs of memory and at startup you attempt to load 750
megs of programs. Each one that doesn't fit has to be tagged as to its
location. Now if you want to run program x and it is not resident in
storage, space must be made by taking one out of memory tagging it and then
loading the one you wish to run. This is called virtual memory. All of that
takes time.

I didn't say run, I said loading. Each one you try to load requires memory
space. And when memory is filled virtual memory operates. And it takes
time
to load and unload programs. I.E. If you want to start a program and it is
not in memory you must load it first. Programs seldom used may be taking
up
memory space. Don't load what is not needed and the system runs fast.

No, this is inaccurate and is extremely misleading. For example, I
use a little background program called AllChars, which facilitates my
typing special characters like ñ. It loads from the startup folder.
However it's the kind of program that I use very seldom. So it very
quickly get paged out and sits in the page file until I need it. While
it's in the page file, it takes *no* real memory, and has *no* impact
on performance.

How many programs of this type you load doesn't matter. Except for the
tiny amount of time they take to get started, they have no effect on
performance. What impacts performance are background programs that
actively use real memory and/or CPU cycles. That's why it's important
to be sure you know *which* such programs you run, not "how many." You
should want to improve performance by stopping the autostarting of
programs that affect performance adversely, and don't have real value
for you.