Reformat and relaod of Windows 2000 needed

[Beth Mitchell]

Due to major issues with HP scan software, which amy be
caused by a virus, HP recommended I reformat my hard drive
and reload my Windows 2000. Where do I find instructions
on what I need to do in order to accomplish this? I know
I need to make backups but what exactly do I need to do?
Please help.

Beth Mitchell
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Dave Patrick]

To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup
disks. The set of four install disks can be created from your Windows 2000
CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom and execute
makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the
prompts.

When you get to the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions
found. After you delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again
restart the pc booting the CD-Rom or setup disks to avoid unexpected drive
letter assignments with your new install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
Microsoft Certified Professional [Windows 2000]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| Due to major issues with HP scan software, which amy be
| caused by a virus, HP recommended I reformat my hard drive
| and reload my Windows 2000. Where do I find instructions
| on what I need to do in order to accomplish this? I know
| I need to make backups but what exactly do I need to do?
| Please help.
|
| Beth Mitchell
| (e-mail address removed)
|

 

[Sanford Aranoff]

To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup
disks. The set of four install disks can be created from your Windows 2000
CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom and execute
makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the
prompts.

When you get to the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions
found. After you delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again
restart the pc booting the CD-Rom or setup disks to avoid unexpected drive
letter assignments with your new install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
Microsoft Certified Professional [Windows 2000]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Due to major issues with HP scan software, which amy be
| caused by a virus, HP recommended I reformat my hard drive
| and reload my Windows 2000. Where do I find instructions
| on what I need to do in order to accomplish this? I know
| I need to make backups but what exactly do I need to do?
| Please help.
|
| Beth Mitchell
| (e-mail address removed)
|

Don't listen to customer support. This is terrible advice. It will take you
days to get things back to normal. Instead, try to find the problem. Maybe ask
people on this forum for advice.

 

[Josef Stalin]

Comrades,

Why is that the first words out any "customer service" mouth is
"reformat"? Are they all from India or (god forbid) from the Soviet Union
and they don't know any better? I'm wondering when they'll next say to buy
a new computer.

Welcome to the new world order: Customer tech-service at minimum wage or
Indian sub-minimum wage (whichever is less).

Uncle Joe

 

[Josef Stalin]

--
Take the "NiceGuy" out of name to respond.

Comrades,

Why is that the first words out any "customer service" mouth is
"reformat"? Are they all from India or (god forbid) from the Soviet Union
and they don't know any better? I'm wondering when they'll next say to buy
a new computer.

Welcome to the new world order: Customer tech-service at minimum wage or
Indian sub-minimum wage (whichever is less).

Uncle Joe

Speaking of which, I found this article in Salon.com
(http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2004/02/23/no_support/index1.html)

"Ted is someone I don't speak to. Ted is a formatter. Ted, and those like
him, have only one solution to their customers' problems. Erase everything
on the computer's hard drive and start over from scratch. While this can be
effective for solving all sorts of software troubles, it's like amputating
someone's leg to fix an ingrown toenail. The solution is usually worse than
the problem. Most times Ted doesn't actually follow through with his plan.
The entire strategy is just a bluff. Most people will balk at the
proposition of losing everything and decide they can live with whatever
problem they've called to complain about. At the very least they'll decide
to hang up, back up their data, and call back -- at which point they'll
become someone else's problem.

But some formatters are worse than Ted. They'll help customers get started
with the process without ever mentioning that all the data will be lost.
Then they'll ask the customer to call back when the operating system
finishes reinstalling, at which point the customer usually says something to
the effect of, "the last guy was helping me reinstall and the computer seems
to be running now, but I can't find my letter from my dead grandmother and
baby picture of little Johnnie." Punters and givers will waste your time.
Formatters can do much worse."

Uncle Joe

 

[L Arut]

Experienced mainframe and serious users will ask:
"Why is it that Windows always require re-installs everytime a little
problem hits it ?" You lose all your other drivers and takes ages to
get it back to working order. It is one reason why I do not bother
with these so-called certified guys on support ... they worked only
with toy OS'es like Windows.


I cannot believe it is really needed - you can try this first:

* check by running a virus checker and remove whatever virus there is.
* then try to reload Win2000 without removing your existing setup to
get drivers back
* re-install drivers/software that came with HP scan S/W

* if all else works then take snapshot of image [using P'Quest Drive
Image or Norton Ghost as you cannot bank on MS supplying an image
backup software - it is not in the same calibre as robust commercial
OS'es like VMS, MVS, AIX or HP-UX or even "legacy" OS like EXEC8, AOS
written decades before current Win OSes]
Use a CD writer with proper S/W to do this or imae it across the
ethernet.
I've had endless problems with friends getting corrupted NTFS
partitions due to viruses/spyware from Kazaa file sharing etc.
it is time for users to look up alternatives ... too many have looked
upon Windows as though it is the only solution ... I am in fact
exploring Linux and the Mac again with recent security problems ...

L A