Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

[dnamertz]

I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will need
before trying it. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive, so I
need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know how
to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to backup
Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I should
backup that I'm probably not thinking about?

What other things should I know before attempting this?

 

[TaurArian]

Reliable site -
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
====================================
TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Australia
====================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
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Emails will not be acknowledged - please post to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
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|I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will need
| before trying it. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive, so I
| need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know how
| to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to backup
| Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I should
| backup that I'm probably not thinking about?
|
| What other things should I know before attempting this?

 

[pfermar]

all the emails sitting in your inbox?
your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your
internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails from another
computer, even a public computer, the only thing that you need is your
username and password

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Some folks move emails to local folders. They are not then on the providers
server.

 

[pfermar]

if that the case He can back up then more easy

Some folks move emails to local folders. They are not then on the providers
server.

 

[Daave]

I need to reinstall Windows XP

TaurArian already provided you a good link for how to perform a clean
install:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

If you wish to perform a repair install, which will preserve your data
(pictures, documents, music files, bookmarks, emails, etc., then you
should look at:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

But why do you think you need to reinstall Windows in the first place?

 

[dnamertz]

all the emails sitting in your inbox?
your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your
internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails from another
computer, even a public computer, the only thing that you need is your
username and password

What username and password? I don't have a usename and password for my
email, I just open up Outlook Express.

Sounds like you're telling me I would be able to open up Outlook from
another computer and somehow be able to access my email? Are you talking
about a yahoo email address?

 

[dnamertz]

TaurArian already provided you a good link for how to perform a clean
install:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

If you wish to perform a repair install, which will preserve your data
(pictures, documents, music files, bookmarks, emails, etc., then you
should look at:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

But why do you think you need to reinstall Windows in the first place?

Because I've been told on this message board, and others, that it is the
best solution for me. I had major problems installing SP2, I have not been
able to get a newer version of Flash Media to install on Internet Explorer
making IE unusable on many sites, and for the past year I can not install
most software including the software for new digital cameras and printers
I've bought. I've spent many, many hours in each case trying to get the
problem resolved and nothing has worked, and I usually end up getting told
"it sounds like you need to reinstall Windows".

Is a Repair Install the best solution for me? I think my problem is a bunch
of adware on my system, and/or problems with the registry.

 

[Daave]

What username and password? I don't have a usename and password for
my email, I just open up Outlook Express.

Sounds like you're telling me I would be able to open up Outlook from
another computer and somehow be able to access my email? Are you
talking about a yahoo email address?

If you're like me, you use Outlook Express to download your e-mail off
the server of your e-mail service provider. Who is your e-mail service
provider? *That* is who requires a user name and password! And your OE
is already configured to send this information automatically. The
information is in Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. If you choose, like me,
not to leave your e-mails on the server, then they will have all been
downloaded to your PC. If they are all in your inbox, you should really
create new folders in OE to move them to. Your Inbox and Sent folders
should never be allowed to get that large, or it may cause problems.

If you're interested in backing up your e-mails, look at:

http://www.insideoe.com/backup/

In the event that you have chosen to leave all your e-mails on the
server, then you would still be able to access them after you have
downloaded them -- either via an e-mail program on another PC or by the
Web interface of your e-mail service provider. Who do you use for your
e-mail service? Do you leave copies of your e-mails on the server? To
find out:

Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.
Advanced tab | Delivery

 

[Daave]

Because I've been told on this message board, and others, that it is
the best solution for me. I had major problems installing SP2, I
have not been able to get a newer version of Flash Media to install
on Internet Explorer making IE unusable on many sites, and for the
past year I can not install most software including the software for
new digital cameras and printers I've bought. I've spent many, many
hours in each case trying to get the problem resolved and nothing has
worked, and I usually end up getting told "it sounds like you need to
reinstall Windows".

Is a Repair Install the best solution for me? I think my problem is
a bunch of adware on my system, and/or problems with the registry.

Since you didn't provide much detail, I can't really say for sure. But
since you seem to have spent a lot of time trying to solve your problems
unsuccessfully, perhaps a clean install would be your best bet after
all.

What is the make and model of your PC? What method did the PC
manufacturer provide to reinstall or restore?

For future reference, I think you should visit these pages and print out
the very useful information provided:

"How did I get infected in the first place?":
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?autocom=custom&page=How_did_I

"Slow Computer":
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm


Here are links that will help you install SP2:

Follow the Service Pack Installation Checklist:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

SP2 links to OEMs:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx
http://aumha.net/index.php?c=16

Windows XP - Service Pack 2 - FAQs & Best Practices:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#sp2

Windows SP2 Information, Guidelines and Troubleshooting:
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#General


Installing IE7:
http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html


Note that a clean install requires not only backing up all your data,
bookmarks, etc., but also obtaining all the necessary drivers for your
PC. (And you need to have all the installation files/media for your
programs.) You can certainly try the repair install first, and if it
doesn't work to your satisfaction, then you can attempt the clean
install. But whatever you choose, it would be wise to back up *all* your
data.

If you feel malware is your problem, you may want to try posting a
HijackThis log to an appropriate forum. The following list is courtesy
of David H. Lipman:


Forums where you can get expert advice for HiJack This! (HJT) logs.

NOTE: Registration is REQUIRED in any of the below before posting a log


Suggested primary:
http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/index.php?board=3.0

Suggested secondary:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html

Suggested tertiary:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25
http://www.atribune.org/forums/index.php?showforum=9
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware-Removal-HijackThis-Logs-Go-Here-f37.html
http://gladiator-antivirus.com/forum/index.php?showforum=170
http://forum.networktechs.com/forumdisplay.php?f=130
http://forums.maddoktor2.com/index.php?showforum=17
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showforum=18
http://forums.techguy.org/f54-s.html
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?showforum=27
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7
http://www.5starsupport.com/ipboard/index.php?showforum=18
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=7
http://makephpbb.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=2
http://forums.techguy.org/54-security/
http://forums.security-central.us/forumdisplay.php?f=13

 

[pfermar]

you have to configure outlook with the server type, here you can pick your
POP3 to connect with email server, no matter if is yahoo, hotmail , etc, and
you have to provide your incoming and outcoming email,password and username,
and is your choice if you decide that once your email get to outlook delete
them from your email server provider, I have four account with hotmail,
yahoo, and two with verizon, all of them go to my outlook , but I decided no
to be deleted from my email server, in that way if I have problems with my
computer I can go to the library and read all my emails,
according with your post your email adress is (e-mail address removed)
I never heard such thing

 

[sgopus]

Then your are most likely getting loads of spam mail, as it's never a good
idea to post your real e-mail address on a public accessible area, always
munge your e-mail to cut down on spam and other idiots.

 

[dnamertz]

:

If you're like me, you use Outlook Express to download your e-mail off
the server of your e-mail service provider. Who is your e-mail service
provider? *That* is who requires a user name and password! And your OE
is already configured to send this information automatically. The
information is in Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. If you choose, like me,
not to leave your e-mails on the server, then they will have all been
downloaded to your PC. If they are all in your inbox, you should really
create new folders in OE to move them to. Your Inbox and Sent folders
should never be allowed to get that large, or it may cause problems.

If you're interested in backing up your e-mails, look at:

http://www.insideoe.com/backup/

In the event that you have chosen to leave all your e-mails on the
server, then you would still be able to access them after you have
downloaded them -- either via an e-mail program on another PC or by the
Web interface of your e-mail service provider. Who do you use for your
e-mail service? Do you leave copies of your e-mails on the server? To
find out:

Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.
Advanced tab | Delivery

My service provider is comcast, and I must have chosen a user name/password
for my email when I started with them 6 or 7 years ago but I don't recall and
never use it to access email.

I don't know if I leave my emails on the server or not. I leave them in my
inbox (the ones I want to keep anyway)...does this mean I am leaving them on
the server? If so, I will look into creating new folders and copying them
there.

 

[dnamertz]

you have to configure outlook with the server type, here you can pick your
POP3 to connect with email server, no matter if is yahoo, hotmail , etc, and
you have to provide your incoming and outcoming email,password and username,
and is your choice if you decide that once your email get to outlook delete
them from your email server provider,

Looking at properties in OE, I now see the POP3 and my user name and
password and all that stuff.

 

[dnamertz]

Since you didn't provide much detail, I can't really say for sure. But
since you seem to have spent a lot of time trying to solve your problems
unsuccessfully, perhaps a clean install would be your best bet after
all.

What is the make and model of your PC? What method did the PC
manufacturer provide to reinstall or restore?

For future reference, I think you should visit these pages and print out
the very useful information provided:

"How did I get infected in the first place?":
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?autocom=custom&page=How_did_I

"Slow Computer":
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm


Here are links that will help you install SP2:

Follow the Service Pack Installation Checklist:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

SP2 links to OEMs:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx
http://aumha.net/index.php?c=16

Windows XP - Service Pack 2 - FAQs & Best Practices:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#sp2

Windows SP2 Information, Guidelines and Troubleshooting:
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#General


Installing IE7:
http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html


Note that a clean install requires not only backing up all your data,
bookmarks, etc., but also obtaining all the necessary drivers for your
PC. (And you need to have all the installation files/media for your
programs.) You can certainly try the repair install first, and if it
doesn't work to your satisfaction, then you can attempt the clean
install. But whatever you choose, it would be wise to back up *all* your
data.

If you feel malware is your problem, you may want to try posting a
HijackThis log to an appropriate forum. The following list is courtesy
of David H. Lipman:


Forums where you can get expert advice for HiJack This! (HJT) logs.

NOTE: Registration is REQUIRED in any of the below before posting a log


Suggested primary:
http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/index.php?board=3.0

Suggested secondary:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html

Suggested tertiary:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25
http://www.atribune.org/forums/index.php?showforum=9
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware-Removal-HijackThis-Logs-Go-Here-f37.html
http://gladiator-antivirus.com/forum/index.php?showforum=170
http://forum.networktechs.com/forumdisplay.php?f=130
http://forums.maddoktor2.com/index.php?showforum=17
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showforum=18
http://forums.techguy.org/f54-s.html
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?showforum=27
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7
http://www.5starsupport.com/ipboard/index.php?showforum=18
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=7
http://makephpbb.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=2
http://forums.techguy.org/54-security/
http://forums.security-central.us/forumdisplay.php?f=13

Thanks for the info. I will try the repair install first. I'm going thru
now and trying to remove some of these programs that possibly created the
problem, and half of them I can't delete using Add/Remove Hardware because
they try to unistall using InstallShield...which is one of the problems I've
been having the last year, but usually when installing, not uninstalling
software. Is there another way to uninstall a piece of software and all it's
components?

Unfortunately I can't print any of the links you provided because my printer
won't work since the printer software won't install.

 

[Daave]

I don't know if I leave my emails on the server or not. I leave them
in my inbox (the ones I want to keep anyway)...does this mean I am
leaving them on the server? If so, I will look into creating new
folders and copying them there.

Once again, to find out:

Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.
Advanced tab | Delivery

Is the box next to "Leave a copy of messages on server" checked? If not,
then you are not leaving any of your e-mails on Comcast's server; they
have all been downloaded to your PC.

 

[dnamertz]

Once again, to find out:

Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.
Advanced tab | Delivery

Is the box next to "Leave a copy of messages on server" checked? If not,
then you are not leaving any of your e-mails on Comcast's server; they
have all been downloaded to your PC.

OK, the box was not checked. I just now put a check in the box, so does
this mean that everything currently sitting in my inbox (received before I
checked the box) is not backed up on the server? Or did checking the box
today back up everything that is currently in my inbox?

 

[Daave]

OK, the box was not checked. I just now put a check in the box, so
does this mean that everything currently sitting in my inbox
(received before I checked the box) is not backed up on the server?
Correct.

Or did checking the box today back up everything that is currently in
my inbox?

Nope.

What should happen now from this point forward, however, is that copies
of all future e-mails you download will remain on the server.
Personally, I wouldn't be interested in doing this; it's your call. The
advantage of this method is that if you ever lose your data and it is
not backed up, at least all future e-mails will be saved. If your
Comcast e-mail account has virtually unlimited storage, I suppose it's
not a bad idea. But I think backing up all your data (which you should
be doing anyway) is better.

Once more, if you're interested in backing up your e-mails, look at:

http://www.insideoe.com/backup/

To back up *all* your data or to make periodic images of your hard drive
(useful if your system gets totally borked), I would use an imaging
program such as Acronis True Image. This method is much better than
having to perform a clean install and then downloading and installing
all the Windows updates, reinstalling drivers and programs, customizing
all your settings, copying back all your data, etc.

 

[Daave]

Thanks for the info. I will try the repair install first. I'm going
thru now and trying to remove some of these programs that possibly
created the problem, and half of them I can't delete using Add/Remove
Hardware because they try to unistall using InstallShield...which is
one of the problems I've been having the last year, but usually when
installing, not uninstalling software. Is there another way to
uninstall a piece of software and all it's components?

I looked at one of the threads where you asked a similar question
involving InstallShield:

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...e_frm/thread/cc6b78a979d1d7b0/9bf31e015d3995b

There seem to be three useful replies (dated May 18, June 13, and June
14) that you didn't respond to. Perhaps you'd like to look at them
again.

Unfortunately I can't print any of the links you provided because my
printer won't work since the printer software won't install.

In that case, you should temporarily use another PC (work, friend,
relative, neighbor, library, etc.).