Okay, before I re-install XP I should...

[brassplyer]

I've concluded the least hassle way to fix some issues I have it do a
format and reinstall. I've copied the Outlook Express address
book .wab file, the various identities files to reinstall all the
saved e-mails and folder, the pop settings, copied passwords and
unlock codes from old emails just in case, made a summary list of what
apps are on there now that I'll want to re-install, copied the
"favorites" html file for Firefox.

Any other suggestions for things I should be salvaging from the
current install or things I should take note of to make resetting
later easy?

Thanks

 

[GlowingBlueMist]

I've concluded the least hassle way to fix some issues I have it do a
format and reinstall. I've copied the Outlook Express address
book .wab file, the various identities files to reinstall all the
saved e-mails and folder, the pop settings, copied passwords and
unlock codes from old emails just in case, made a summary list of what
apps are on there now that I'll want to re-install, copied the
"favorites" html file for Firefox.

Any other suggestions for things I should be salvaging from the
current install or things I should take note of to make resetting
later easy?

Thanks

Yes, run a program like SIW.EXE and print out the list of programs, secrets,
licenses, and so forth that it turns up.

I have found stuff in the licenses that I use but forgot they were
registered way back when the system was first setup.

 

[s|b]

copied the
"favorites" html file for Firefox.

You can copy the complete Fx Profile folder, so /all/ your settings
(bookmarks, add-ons, themes, ...) are saved. When you reinstall, simply
install with firefox.exe and replace the new Profile folder with the old
one.

<http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Profiles#Moving_your_profile_information_to_another_location>

If you used Mozilla Thunderbird, then the modus operandi would be the
same: simply copy the Profile. (It's not too late, if you install TB on
your current system, it will copy settings and e-mails from OE.)

Any other suggestions for things I should be salvaging from the
current install or things I should take note of to make resetting
later easy?

You could backup everything in

C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data

(This is also where your Fx Profile is saved.)

 

[Guest]

I've concluded the least hassle way to fix some issues I have it do a
format and reinstall. I've copied the Outlook Express address
book .wab file, the various identities files to reinstall all the
saved e-mails and folder, the pop settings, copied passwords and
unlock codes from old emails just in case, made a summary list of what
apps are on there now that I'll want to re-install, copied the
"favorites" html file for Firefox.

Any other suggestions for things I should be salvaging from the
current install or things I should take note of to make resetting
later easy?

Thanks

You didn't mention drivers. Especially on a format/reinstall it's
important to gather a set of working drivers and put them on a
CD, DVD or secondary hard disk. Depending on the age and
type of your hardware it might include chipset drivers for your
motherboard, hard disk controller drivers (especially SATA,
SCSI, RAID or other special controller flavors), and network
card drivers. Without this basic driver set you won't be able to
get back online to download anything.

It's also a good idea to make and print a configuration sheet for
your system and LAN if you're running one, which includes IP
and MAC addresses, DHCP and router configuration tables,
account/password info for your internet provider etc.

 

[Paul]

I've concluded the least hassle way to fix some issues I have it do a
format and reinstall. I've copied the Outlook Express address
book .wab file, the various identities files to reinstall all the
saved e-mails and folder, the pop settings, copied passwords and
unlock codes from old emails just in case, made a summary list of what
apps are on there now that I'll want to re-install, copied the
"favorites" html file for Firefox.

Any other suggestions for things I should be salvaging from the
current install or things I should take note of to make resetting
later easy?

Thanks

Based on your previous thread, my approach would not be to reinstall
right away. I'm a hardware guy, and before I'd waste time on a reinstall,
I'd test the hardware first. One way to do that, is with a Linux LiveCD.
Linux can now mount FAT32 and NTFS volumes, for read and write, so you
can do anything you need to do, to the disks. The LiveCD doesn't install
files on the hard drive. (Although, if you expect absolute stability,
you should really have a tiny swap partition on the hard drive.)

ftp://csociety-ftp.ecn.purdue.edu/pub/knoppix/

KNOPPIX_V6.0.1CD-2009-02-08-EN.iso 660,558 KB

(I use Nero to prepare ISO9660 CDs.)

There are also individual test programs of various sorts. Such as
memtest86+ for memory, Prime95 running under Linux for memory and CPU,
Seagate Seatools for DOS for a seagate branded hard drive, perhaps
K3B burning application under Linux, to test my burner. I'd want
to be thoroughly convinced I still had a "computer", before I'd
whip out the WinXP CD again.

If you're not passing one of the tests, then definitely hold
off on a reinstall until the machine is stable.

About the only thing I have trouble testing in Linux, is
stressing the video card under 3D. (I don't really know if
the default video drivers are doing a good job of harnessing
the power of the video card.)

Paul

 

[brassplyer]

Pick THIS ONE.
IMHO (Also a HW guy) a working system should not stop with a simple drive
cable change.

The cable change was prompted by intermittent misbehavior that
appeared to be cable related - i.e. jiggling the cable slighting
reproduced the problem. Wondering if something got borked by sudden
interruption of data flow.

There were actually some things about this install that I had some
issue with - it was installed on a machine I got off ebay and besides
that the previous owners name was all over things, they created a
number of "user" folders under documents and settings that sometimes
make things a pain to find.

I could spend hours and hours on a learning curve and screwing around
with attempts at diagnostics and fixes that may or may not work and
possibly still have the problem or I can spend probably less time and
have a working install to show for the time.

 

[relic]

The cable change was prompted by intermittent misbehavior that
appeared to be cable related - i.e. jiggling the cable slighting
reproduced the problem. Wondering if something got borked by sudden
interruption of data flow.

There were actually some things about this install that I had some
issue with - it was installed on a machine I got off ebay and besides
that the previous owners name was all over things, they created a
number of "user" folders under documents and settings that sometimes
make things a pain to find.

Should have asked... there's an automated script available from dougknox.com
to change that.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

I've concluded the least hassle way to fix some issues I have it do a
format and reinstall. I've copied the Outlook Express address
book .wab file, the various identities files to reinstall all the
saved e-mails and folder, the pop settings, copied passwords and
unlock codes from old emails just in case, made a summary list of what
apps are on there now that I'll want to re-install, copied the
"favorites" html file for Firefox.

Any other suggestions for things I should be salvaging from the
current install or things I should take note of to make resetting
later easy?

Your saved games?

 

[Roger Hunt]

I've concluded the least hassle way to fix some issues I have it do a
format and reinstall. I've copied the Outlook Express address
book .wab file, the various identities files to reinstall all the
saved e-mails and folder, the pop settings, copied passwords and
unlock codes from old emails just in case, made a summary list of what
apps are on there now that I'll want to re-install, copied the
"favorites" html file for Firefox.

Any other suggestions for things I should be salvaging from the
current install or things I should take note of to make resetting
later easy?

Start Menu? Or have you already included it? Not sure.
I always save a copy of my Start Menu folder to remind me of any useful
little apps I may have had before, but that I may not remember the name
of later on.

 

[relic]

I've concluded the least hassle way to fix some issues I have it do a
format and reinstall. I've copied the Outlook Express address
book .wab file, the various identities files to reinstall all the
saved e-mails and folder, the pop settings, copied passwords and
unlock codes from old emails just in case, made a summary list of what
apps are on there now that I'll want to re-install, copied the
"favorites" html file for Firefox.

Any other suggestions for things I should be salvaging from the
current install or things I should take note of to make resetting
later easy?

XP's "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard".