Re-installing Windows XP

[Water Cooler v2]

Sorry if this question sounds dumb.

I want to reinstall my Windows XP afresh. My hard disk has three
logical partitions:

C: 20 GB
D: 20 GB
E: 40 GB

The system is in C:

1) I've put all my data in D and E drives. If I reinstall my OS, will I
loose my data from D and E?

2) What will happen to the space occupied by the current system files
in C:? Will they be deleted and new files be copied in C: afresh? Will
be formatted when the reinstall begins? I want the current contents of
C: to be deleted so that the space is not wasted.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Sorry if this question sounds dumb.

I want to reinstall my Windows XP afresh. My hard disk has three
logical partitions:

C: 20 GB
D: 20 GB
E: 40 GB

The system is in C:

1) I've put all my data in D and E drives. If I reinstall my OS, will
I loose my data from D and E?

No, not if you don't want to. It's your choice whether to format the entire
physical drive or just the C: partition

2) What will happen to the space occupied by the current system files
in C:? Will they be deleted and new files be copied in C: afresh? Will
be formatted when the reinstall begins?

You are given that choice. It's up to you.

 

[Rich Barry]

When you format the C: partition that will allow you to start fresh.
You will not lose your data on D and E as long as
you, when asked ,during the clean install you select C: as your
partition of choice and decline formatting the other partitions. Choose New
Install>Advanced That will allow you to select the partition you want XP
to install .

 

[Leythos]

Sorry if this question sounds dumb.

I want to reinstall my Windows XP afresh. My hard disk has three
logical partitions:

C: 20 GB
D: 20 GB
E: 40 GB

The system is in C:

1) I've put all my data in D and E drives. If I reinstall my OS, will I
loose my data from D and E?

If the D and E partitions are not touched, meaning you don't delete them
or wipe them, they will not be touched during a normal Full OEM or
Retail XP installation.

If you have one of those vendor provided recovery CD's for reinstalling
your OS, all bets are off - some allow you to restore Windows files,
some are a wipe/reinstall like factory new.

2) What will happen to the space occupied by the current system files
in C:? Will they be deleted and new files be copied in C: afresh? Will
be formatted when the reinstall begins? I want the current contents of
C: to be deleted so that the space is not wasted.

If you wipe the C drive and reinstall, it's the same as a virgin drive -
nothing is wasted because there was nothing on the drive after you wiped
it.

If you install a second Windows XP copy on the C drive, well, you now
have two copies, so you waste some space.

If you do a repair, instead of a wipe/reinstall, then good files
overwrite the bad ones and you don't waste much if any space.

The key to all of this is the type of Windows XP CD that you have. If
it's a "Restore" CD then you are limited by the vendors options - which
may wipe your D / E partitions.

 

[JS]

1) No you will not lose you data on D & E, any applications installed there
will most likely no longer work.
2) You should reformat the C partition to start fresh. This will remove any
files leftover from the previous install.

You will also need to install SP2 if your Windows CD is an earlier version
and also a security updates.
If you want to keep your email, address book, etc let us know.

JS

 

[Water Cooler v2]

Thanks, everyone. I have SP2. I will reformat only C: before I
reinstall. That should solve my problem, from all your replies. Thanks
very much again.

 

[Ghostrider]

Thanks, everyone. I have SP2. I will reformat only C: before I
reinstall. That should solve my problem, from all your replies. Thanks
very much again.

OF course, take heed of Murphy's Law. Now is the perfect
opportunity to make a backup of the data, information, etc.
files in Drives D and E. Just in case...you know.

 

[Plato]

I want to reinstall my Windows XP afresh. My hard disk has three

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941