Overwrite xp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scudo
  • Start date Start date
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Scudo

Does this make sense?

My pC is over a period running slower and ocassional freezes of the screen.
I have tried various scans, emptyed dumps/caches etc. Defragmented.
It is still useable but getting frustrating now.

Is it worth inserting XP disc and installing over the current one?
Or would I be best for a clean install?

thanks
 
A reinstallation won't probably improve system responsiveness at all. Before performing a clean install try to think what piece of software may be causing that slowdowns: spyware? viruses? too many applications running in the background? Check that with antivirus and antispyware software and Msconfig.exe utility (Startup tab).

Computer Speed and Performance May Decrease
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310419/en-us
 
over what lenght of time are we talking here ? I'd always reccomend a
clean install over anyother type on install!

One thing I've noticed with XP is after 3or4 months (from a clean install)
I'll get this annoying behaviour where my desktop will "refreash" all icons
dissapear then reappear. This also happens with folders I browse and with
network shares I brows (the reappearing of the icons on network shares can
often take 4or5 seconds)

sorry the above doesn't solve your problem !!

so what lenght of time are we talkin?

gerryR
 
Scudo said:
Does this make sense?

My pC is over a period running slower and ocassional freezes of the
screen. I have tried various scans, emptyed dumps/caches etc.
Defragmented. It is still useable but getting frustrating now.

Is it worth inserting XP disc and installing over the current one?
Or would I be best for a clean install?
Click to expand...

A Repair Install will not help a badly infested/corrupted system. You
can certainly try it - it won't hurt - but have all your data backed up
in preparation for a Clean Install.

There is a section here on what you'll need to have on-hand to reinstall
Windows (scroll down):
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Backing_Up

And here are links with great instructions for the Repair and Clean
Installs:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm - Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

Malke
 
I am talking over a 2 year period (since it was installed). I have tried
various options for cleaning to no avail.
I have even posted a Hijack log and nothing in that.
I have already started a back up just in case.
I have also a laptop I can use in the short term.
 
After 2 years of use, if you can easily backup your data (to the laptop for
example) I'd strongly reccomend doing a cleaninstall of your machine. It
should work like new once you've done this.

Just make sure you have all the necessary drivers and the all important OS
cd of course ;)

good luck!
gerry
 
Does this make sense?

My pC is over a period running slower and ocassional freezes of the screen.
I have tried various scans, emptyed dumps/caches etc. Defragmented.
It is still useable but getting frustrating now.
Click to expand...

Since you haven't specified what sorts of scans you're
running, before I did an "over-install" or a
format/reinstall, I'd be sure you have Crap Cleaner
(CCleaner) running, AdAware Pro running, SpyBot Search and
Destroy 1.4 running

( ALL available from www.download.com and all FREE)

I have had the same issues you describe arise MANY times.
After I do a scan with AdAware Pro, with SpyBot Search n
Destroy, and Crap Cleaner, I have found my computer its old,
"zippy" self.

Also be sure you are doing a daily system restore point
"create", found in Start > All Programs > Accessories >
System Tools > System Restore.


As others have said, be sure you've backed up.

For my own preference, I have an 80 Gb external hdd in an
external hdd enclosure, attached via usb.

I LOVE it! It's TRULY "drag-n-drop". I've partitioned it
for E and F drives, and I have different things on each
partition.

I generally store 3 or 4 complete, dated backups of all my
data, and I copy stuff from C to E daily, and then once a
week or so, I burn from E onto CD.


Good luck!


Tallahassee
 
I am talking over a 2 year period (since it was installed). I have tried
various options for cleaning to no avail.
I have even posted a Hijack log and nothing in that.
I have already started a back up just in case.
I have also a laptop I can use in the short term.
Click to expand...

Oh! Since I don't know any system professionals who would
recommend going over 6 MONTHS between formats, you are WELL
past the time it is advisable to backup, and reinstall.

Again, as I indicated in an earlier post, be sure you have
AdAware Pro, SpyBot Search n Destroy 1.4, and Crap Cleaner
installed.

If you are careful, and if you have the above s/w installed

(all available BTW, from www.download.com FREE)

you'll have much less difficulty.

You can also get AVAST4 (AV), Kasperski (AV), and AVG (AV
from the same source. All free.

Good luck!


Tallahassee
 
Talahasee said:
Oh! Since I don't know any system professionals who would
recommend going over 6 MONTHS between formats, you are WELL
past the time it is advisable to backup, and reinstall.
Click to expand...

Bildgewater.

Steve N.
 
Oh! Since I don't know any system professionals who would
recommend going over 6 MONTHS between formats, you are WELL
past the time it is advisable to backup, and reinstall.
Click to expand...

Nonsense. Although I love the results of a clean install, my computer is
never EVER used the way some people use theirs - constantly downloading new
software to try out. If your assortment of software is pretty much stable,
so you're not doing the endless installs & uninstalls, ***AND*** the
machine's well protected (as you've correctly described), there's simply no
need to do a clean install every 6 months.
 
Talahasee said:
Oh! Since I don't know any system professionals who would
recommend going over 6 MONTHS between formats, you are WELL
past the time it is advisable to backup, and reinstall.
Click to expand...

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt! Wrong. I have had mine installed for over three
years and no reinstalls, my computer boots up in 53 seconds and runs
like silk.
Again, as I indicated in an earlier post, be sure you have
AdAware Pro, SpyBot Search n Destroy 1.4, and Crap Cleaner
installed.

If you are careful, and if you have the above s/w installed

(all available BTW, from www.download.com FREE)

you'll have much less difficulty.

You can also get AVAST4 (AV), Kasperski (AV), and AVG (AV
from the same source. All free.
Click to expand...

Um, Kaspersky is not free. Having three AVs on your machine at the same
time is stupid as they will conflict.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Luck has nothing to do with it.
Tallahassee
Click to expand...

Please find a chat room for psychological support and stop posting your
"advice" on this newsgroup.

Thanks.

Alias
 
Talahasee said:
Since you haven't specified what sorts of scans you're
running, before I did an "over-install" or a
format/reinstall, I'd be sure you have Crap Cleaner
(CCleaner) running, AdAware Pro running,
Click to expand...

Um, CCleaner and Adware do not "run" in the background. You're missing
Spywareblaster and Spywareguard.
SpyBot Search and
Destroy 1.4 running

( ALL available from www.download.com and all FREE)

I have had the same issues you describe arise MANY times.
Click to expand...

Why am I not surprised?
After I do a scan with AdAware Pro,
Click to expand...

Not free.
Good luck!


Tallahassee
Click to expand...

Amazing.

Alias
 
Talahasee said:
Oh! Since I don't know any system professionals who would
recommend going over 6 MONTHS between formats, you are WELL
past the time it is advisable to backup, and reinstall.
Click to expand...

This is incorrect. A properly maintained XP system does not need to be
reinstalled at any regular intervals. My own system has been running
just fine since XP came out in 2001 and the other XP boxen I own also
have been going for years. The operative phrase is "a properly
maintained XP system".

Malke
 
Absolutely correct & If the user takes images of their system then
the need to "Reformat/Reinstall/Reconfigure" is rarely if ever required.

Needless efforts at the "Clean/Fresh XP" have resulted in more than
a few cases of lost Documents, Mail & other personal data.

That includes OEM recovery that overwrites personal data.

Plus the time it takes to Configure/Setup & Personalize a fresh install.
 
Needless efforts at the "Clean/Fresh XP" have resulted in more than
a few cases of lost Documents, Mail & other personal data.
Click to expand...

There are quite a few ways of losing your work data. They have one thing in
common: Not doing backups with a pattern that reflects the value of that
data. If you never do them, it indicates that your data has zero value and
when you lose it (which you WILL), your plan was to not complain about it.
 
The ones who have been taught/instructed why & how to do it.
-or- the unfortunate ones who have already been through the
"What do you mean the drive is dead & all my data is gone."
 
R. McCarty said:
The ones who have been taught/instructed why & how to do it.
-or- the unfortunate ones who have already been through the
"What do you mean the drive is dead & all my data is gone."
Click to expand...

The government wastes time with anti-spam legislation that's hard to
enforce. Instead, they ought to make a law which requires some sort of cheap
insert with every new computer - a 4-page pamphlet that very generally
describes the need for backups, and provides the name of a dozen or two
vendors of hardware & software.
 
Doug said:
The government wastes time with anti-spam legislation that's hard to
enforce. Instead, they ought to make a law which requires some sort of cheap
insert with every new computer - a 4-page pamphlet that very generally
describes the need for backups, and provides the name of a dozen or two
vendors of hardware & software.
Click to expand...

You expect the government to be logical?

Alias
 
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