Question re: clean XP install

[Pflueger]

I have XP SP1, with quite a few workable documents and a LOT of programs. I
would like to do a clean reinstall to speed things up, upgrade to SP2, and
IE7.

Would it be best to copy my programs and files to my external HD then
clean-reinstall XP, and then the SP2 CD, then IE7 -- then copy the Programs
directory and C:/Documents and Settings back from the external HDD? Should
I/could I export the registry to the external HDD and import it back after
the clean-reinstall?

Or would it be better to reinstall XP SP2 IE7 on a newly created additional
partition and use a dual pertition setup?

Thanks, pflu

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Would it be best to copy my programs and files to my external HD then
clean-reinstall XP, and then the SP2 CD, then IE7 -- then copy the Programs
directory and C:/Documents and Settings back from the external HDD? Should
I/could I export the registry to the external HDD and import it back after
the clean-reinstall?

You're obviously clueless.

It would be counter-productive to try to tell you what to do in this
situation.

 

[Augustus]

Would it be best to copy my programs and files to my external HD then

clean-reinstall XP, and then the SP2 CD, then IE7 -- then copy the
Programs
directory and C:/Documents and Settings back from the external HDD? Should
I/could I export the registry to the external HDD and import it back
after
the clean-reinstall?

Neither of the above. You'll wind up with a non-functional system with the
first option. The second is not advisable either. Like the other guy says,
you don't sound overly knowlegeable in this area. If you must do it, back up
your document data files, not program files or registry entries, format the
drive and do a complete reinstall from there. Although I strongly suspect
you're going to regret you ever did...

 

[DL]

If you clean install you will need to install any/all apps from installation
media, you cannot simply copy the apps
You would also need to install your hw drivers from manu.sites
You can backup data & reinstall that.

**What you propose will result in a none functioning sys.**

 

[Ken Blake]

I have XP SP1, with quite a few workable documents and a LOT of programs. I
would like to do a clean reinstall to speed things up, upgrade to SP2, and
IE7.

It's your choice of course, but clean installing for the purpose of
installing SP2 and IE7 is entirely unnecessary, is way overkill, and will
make a very great deal of work for yourself.

Would it be best to copy my programs and files to my external HD then
clean-reinstall XP, and then the SP2 CD, then IE7 -- then copy the
Programs
directory and C:/Documents and Settings back from the external HDD?

It is not only not "best," it is completely impossible. Programs are not the
self-conatined entities you think they are. They have compoenets in many
places on your drive, and lots of regerences to themselves in the registry
(and elsewhere). When you clean injstall, you lose all of this. Clean
reinstallation always means you also have to reinstall all your programs.