Reformatting HD or uninstalling and defragging?

[Sam]

I brought an older computer home from the office to use. It had networking
and business software taking up space. Would it be better to install xp
service pack 3 from disc or uninstall software?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I brought an older computer home from the office to use. It had
networking and business software taking up space. Would it be
better to install xp service pack 3 from disc or uninstall software?

Is it now yours - or is it still the businesses?

 

[TompangBuddy.Com]

Hello,

I recommend reformatting the whole hard disk and installing a new copy of
XP. You will need the drivers and software that came with the system as you
will need to reinstall them back.

___
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[David B.]

Installing SP3 and uninstalling software are two completely unrelated
operations, without knowing your goal an answer can't be given. But as
mentioned, a format and reload is always a good idea on a used PC.

 

[smlunatick]

I brought an older computer home from the office to use.  It had networking
and business software taking up space.  Would it be better to install xp
service pack 3 from disc or uninstall software?

It depends on what "networking" settings. If the PC happens to have
networking settings for a Windows Server "domain" it would be faster
to reformat.

 

[Twayne]

I brought an older computer home from the office to use. It had
networking and business software taking up space. Would it be better
to install xp service pack 3 from disc or uninstall software?

If the machine now belongs to you, the best thing to do is too the XP
disk in the drive and start from scratch by deleting the partition,
recreate it and install XP. Then install any programs you need for it.
Because you had to ask, tells me, no offence meant, that you will have a
hell of a time if you don't start from scratch.

If it's still the company's machine, then perhaps the questions are best
asked of your IT department.

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I brought an older computer home from the office to use. It had networking
and business software taking up space. Would it be better to install xp
service pack 3 from disc or uninstall software?

There are important details you've left out, which are key to the decision.

If this is no longer a PC tied to your office, the best plan is to wipe the
drive and install fresh. As it is, you almost certainly have no definite
knowledge as to what modifications were made to the install, what policies
or restrictions were established, etc. The only way to be sure of what
you have is to start over. This of course means that you also have to
have all the install disks with valid install keys.

As to your precise question, installing SP3 and uninstalling software are
not related. If you need space and don't need the software, uninstall it.
Ultimately you will need SP3, so do install that; my preference for Service
Packs is always to install from the full, downloaded installer, which I save
to CD.

HTH
-pk