"Fresh" installation dillema

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Guest

I have installed XP pro on a computer that had XP pro already
I did it as a NEW installation WITHOUT reformating partition (C disk, of course)
As installation program says it deletes XP, or at least, all the necessary system files fro
current XP installation and copies new files to disk, to the same directory. I suppose that
this whole procedure includes new, fresh, almost empty registry and everything that goes with it
Of course, I can't use many programs that were installed before (some can work, of course)

My dillema is: what is the functional difference between NEW installation with disk reformatting an
without reformatting? Does new installation inherit some hidden setting and features from old installatio
so maybe I have to do new installation WITH disk reformatting anyway?
 
When you format a disk it destroys all information on that disk...not just the
XP directory...you lose everything
When you reinstall into the same XP directory you refresh all XP files but keep
your settings as well as all those other programs that are on that Disk.
There actually is a repair function for this
peter
 
When you format a disk it destroys all information on that disk...not just th
XP directory...you lose everythin
When you reinstall into the same XP directory you refresh all XP files but kee
your settings as well as all those other programs that are on that Disk
There actually is a repair function for thi
Click to expand...

Peter, you are right on that point
But I am talking about situation when I'm doing *fresh* install and (the ONLY difference is) on setup screen where I can choose format partition or "leave filesystem intact" (or something like that), I choose second one. It is, anyway, fresh install. Or I'm misleaded by MS?
I didn't xeactly look at registry right after that installation but AFAIK the registry is "clean". I know that there are other files left on disk but that doesn't influence running Windows. Or we can say that some orphan dll not used by anyone influences Windows?
 
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