Parallell second windows XP : how ???

[Pivert]

Hi,

my XP Pro SP1a installation with many softwares and bundles ( office, NAV,
garphics, ...) progressively slows down, and sometimes errors occur.

SO I think it would be usefull to reinstall.

Questions are :

1 - Repair install :
a- usefull enough to try or almost useless ?
b- if usefull shoudl I repair-install XP SP1a or may I
repair-install with slipstreamed SP2 version ?

2 - If 1 useless or doesn't give expected results, I will have to reinstall

However I also work on that PC, and cannot loose time to reinstall
and not work with it.
So want to install new XP Pro SP2 in parallell to existing XP SP1a
installed one

Question : how then ?
a- on another drive that I can add to the system
* but then would that make problems when I ultimately
replace existing ( 'old' version on actual drive) with new one on
new drive as sole Win XP boot drive ?
* and that carries teh risk to displace drive letters (
although I would try to affect it the letters S, T and U which are free)

b- on same drive already having XP Pro-SP1a on it ( but that needs
partition resizing and creating a new partition on the drive,
and again risk to displace all other drive's letters ( or
am I wrong ?)
How the create second bootable partition on that drive ?

What would be best ?

What I want is beeing able at boot time to decide to boot to current system
( able to fulll work there), and when I have free time, reinstall new system
and proggies on new partition.

TIA !!!

 

[Mike Hall]

Why not learn how to keep your system clean?

Here is a start..

1.. Use Defragmenter now and again


2.. Clean out temporary internet files.. IE6 - TOOLS - INTERNET OPTIONS -
general tab.. look for the button.. it is there..


3.. Spyware/Adware/Scumware has become a major player in compromising
computers.. not only do they attempt to send out information about you, but
they also slow your computer down..

The worst of it is that you probably downloaded the spyware, albeit
inadvertently..

Some basic steps to removing Spyware/Adware..

First step is to run a one shot virus remover.. I have found that McAfee
Stinger works for people.. download and run it..

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

You will also need to download Spyware removal software.. Spybot and Adaware
are available at these websites.. both are free.. download and run them..
don't forget to check for updates after you have started them..

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Spybot has the ability to immunize a system, but there is better for this
function, so download and run Spyware Blaster too.. again, check for
updates..

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

If you have had your Internet browser hijacked, that is to say, you get
redirected through a search engine NOT of your choosing, you will need
different tools..

HijackThis is a popular and effective tool.. download it from here..

http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_hijackthis.html

CWShredder will eliminate CoolWebSearch and variants.. there is a free
download here..
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

For other tools in the fight against spyware, visit this website and
bookmark it..

http://www.pchell.com



4.. Install SP2.. but before you do, look at these websites, read, digest,
print hardcopies and then execute..

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/winxpsp2.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/features.mspx

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1724107,00.asp



5.. utilise a decent firewall and ant-virus program.. keep them updated.. EZ
Armor lite is good and free but for a limited period, so don't wait to act
if you need either type of program..

http://store.ca.com/dr/v2/ec_main.e...lient=ComputerAssociates&sid=35715&CID=179825

It would be easy enough to post a webpage that explains 'repair' installs,
but you state that your computer is a production machine, so learning how to
maintain 'on the fly' will be of more benefit to you in the long term..

Please return to this thread and provide feedback.. it is the only way that
helpers here can determine how effective the advice given has been..

Good luck..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[Rock]

Hi,

my XP Pro SP1a installation with many softwares and bundles ( office, NAV,
garphics, ...) progressively slows down, and sometimes errors occur.

SO I think it would be usefull to reinstall.

Questions are :

1 - Repair install :
a- usefull enough to try or almost useless ?
b- if usefull shoudl I repair-install XP SP1a or may I
repair-install with slipstreamed SP2 version ?

2 - If 1 useless or doesn't give expected results, I will have to reinstall

However I also work on that PC, and cannot loose time to reinstall
and not work with it.
So want to install new XP Pro SP2 in parallell to existing XP SP1a
installed one

Question : how then ?
a- on another drive that I can add to the system
* but then would that make problems when I ultimately
replace existing ( 'old' version on actual drive) with new one on
new drive as sole Win XP boot drive ?
* and that carries teh risk to displace drive letters (
although I would try to affect it the letters S, T and U which are free)

b- on same drive already having XP Pro-SP1a on it ( but that needs
partition resizing and creating a new partition on the drive,
and again risk to displace all other drive's letters ( or
am I wrong ?)
How the create second bootable partition on that drive ?

What would be best ?

What I want is beeing able at boot time to decide to boot to current system
( able to fulll work there), and when I have free time, reinstall new system
and proggies on new partition.

TIA !!!

A properly maintained system shouldn't be slowing down like that or
developing errors. That said, what about an imaging program?

 

[Pivert]

Why not consider even doing this system can slow down ?
System sinc every beginning firewalled, NAV, antispyware, antitrojan, etc.
Detection of spys, malware, viruses, ... in background and full scans every
week.
Defragmentation every week or sooner if much file movement / creation.
Scandisked regularly.
Updates played on.

I do "on the fly" maintenance everyday ( temp files, IE temps, etc ..)
But I think Windows accumulates waste material ( leftover dlls, registry
entries no more needed, etc : since WIndows exists, programmers still
haven't learned how to well manage that problems ( delete their onw entries
in regsitry on uninstall, not pur their dlls in system folders, delete them
when uninstalling etc)

Windows doesn't need "bad users" to slow-down !

 

[Pivert]

Have it.
And use it.
But some errors persists although well maintained ! Too easy to allways
consider bad maintenance as only cause of Windows bad behaviour !
Hardware fully checked as well ( DDR replaced for example)

Will look elsewhere for answers to my questions instead of lessons : I use
PCs since 20 years now, work with them, build them, program myself, create
databases etc.
But ....
Please don't tell XP is fully bug free and maintenance is all that is needed
! That's not true ( and probably never will be)

 

[Mike Hall]

Pivert

The questions in your original post do not reflect a person that claims to
be as computer literate as you seem to think you are.. had you informed us
in the original post that you 'know it all' already, I would not have taken
the time to answer you, and I doubt that the other guy would either..

However, I wish you well in your quest for an answer that you consider
befits your status and ability, claimed or otherwise..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[Rock]

Have it.
And use it.
But some errors persists although well maintained ! Too easy to allways
consider bad maintenance as only cause of Windows bad behaviour !
Hardware fully checked as well ( DDR replaced for example)

Will look elsewhere for answers to my questions instead of lessons : I use
PCs since 20 years now, work with them, build them, program myself, create
databases etc.
But ....
Please don't tell XP is fully bug free and maintenance is all that is needed
! That's not true ( and probably never will be)



( or

Sorry you don't like the answer. I would hazard a guess that quite a
few people would disagree that slowdowns and errors must occur as a
natural result of operation over time. Properly maintained with an
image backup and things hum along smoothly. Yes hardware errors do crop
up as do software issues and that's what system restore and image
backups are for.

Good luck. Once you get it all sorted out maybe you can come back and
share your wisdom with the rest.

 

[melvin cotterill]

Privet;
Pardon my ignorance, but what on earth are proggries?
Multum in parvo!
Melvin

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Proggies -- shortcut or "slang" for Programs.

Privet;
Pardon my ignorance, but what on earth are proggries?
Multum in parvo!
Melvin