rose said:
I have a Dell Pc (3 yrs old) with Windows XP. C drive is currently 88.8 gb
full with 22.8 gb free. I am also on AOL. My computer has consistently
become slower and slower. I have emptied Waste Bin, defragmented, performed
disk cleanup dumped unnecessary files yet it is still getting slower.
I was told that I should wipe the pc disk clean and start again - HOW DO I
DO THIS PLEASE??? I have all the original disks so could do it if I knew how.
For info: I have free version of Zonelab firewall (never caused a problem).
Free AVG anti-virus.
Windows-based PCs will degrade themselves by just running. Constant
changes, updates, and modifications to the OS's registry just slow
things down. Virus scanning, spyware scanning, in general: malware
scanning will never bring back the performance that the malware software
has taken away.
As a recommended practice: every year for Windows 9x systems (95, 98,
Me), every 2-3 years for Windows NT systems (NTv4, 2000, XP...)
Here's how. Find the software disks that came with the computer. Won't
get anywhere without them.
Backup your data to either:
1) another hard drive (USB external is fine)
2) DVD/CDs
3) Another PC on the network (no walkthrough on this article)
Once you're sure you got everything (I wait a week after backing up. if
I miss something after a week, it wasn't important or can be recreated
as needed), load the first factory CD into the drive. For Dell PCs, I
would start with the OS reinstallation CD. Let it boot, let it install.
It's a standard windows installation (nothing special about it).
After Windows is installed, a second disk of drivers and accessories can
be installed. I install drivers, then software.
Then I get online and do updates. Then I install my "own" programs
(I.E: Firefox, Thunderbird, AVG AntiMalware, etc)
The entire process will take about a full day, running nonstop at the
machine. In a relaxed environment where time isn't a matter -- it may
take a week.
Recover your backup files. If you partitioned your drive (instead of
one partition for the entire first hard disk, 2 partitions like a
67%/33% ratio), you will have room to backup data that's away from the
drive that needs to be formatted next time you need to do this.
As a side note: ALWAYS!!! when I do a system reinstallation, I make
sure I have my modem and/or Ethernet/NIC/Network drivers so I can
download the rest of my drivers and whatnot after I get a clean system.
You will perfect your own system if you do it as much as I do.
If you mess something up -- don't worry -- you have your backup
elsewhere and can restart from the first CD again if you need to.
Some people install AV software first. I install updates first because
if the AV software requires a recent update (say, the MSI Installer
update) -- you will be going in circles until you get the update anyway.
Relax, take your time. Things will happen, just be patient.
