Saving Complete Program and its Contents for Reinstallation

[RoyRogers]

I need to do a complete reinstall of Windows XP. My laptop is running slow
and not always responding to commands. It seems that I have to do this about
once a year and doing so brings like new performance. HERE is the actual
question; for most programs I can just reinstall them from the original
supplied disk and continue to use them as always. But some programs also
contain my files, like photos, or as in my Paper Port program, information
files I don't want to loose. I would like these files or photos to go back
to the same headings and titles as before the reinstall so I can search them
as I can before removing them and reinstalling the OS program.

I have also used the non-distructive version of the OS program but haven't
had the same good results doing so. Completely wiping the hard drive clean
seems to be the best way. My laptop is a Toshiba M45 which has been great
for three or more years now. Thanks for your consideration in my quesion in
pointing me toward the answers I need.

Sorry this question was put to the incorrect section of Windows Newsgroups
the first time.

 

[Mark]

What you need to do is back up you pictures and such onto a separate media
like Cd, Dvd, or a different hard drive. Then reinstall OS and programs and
restore everything to your various programs from the separate media.

Mark

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I need to do a complete reinstall of Windows XP. My laptop is running slow
and not always responding to commands. It seems that I have to do this
about
once a year and doing so brings like new performance.

If you have to do this, you are probably not maintaining your system.
It's very easy to have an XP system run for years without having to
reinstall it.

HERE is the actual
question; for most programs I can just reinstall them from the original
supplied disk and continue to use them as always.

Yes, this is required for most applications.

But some programs also
contain my files, like photos, or as in my Paper Port program, information
files I don't want to loose.

The programs do not contain your files. They look at folders that contain
your data.

I would like these files or photos to go back
to the same headings and titles as before the reinstall so I can search
them
as I can before removing them and reinstalling the OS program.

You simply back them up. Some apps have an Export function, which will
usually maintain structures.

External hard disks are inexpensive and fast ways to do this.

But you will *still* have to reinstall the application itself. You can't
just copy the whole thing back in place and reasonably expect it to work.

In any case, talk to the application vendor about how to back up and restore
the data files. It will vary from app to app.

I have also used the non-distructive version of the OS program but haven't
had the same good results doing so. Completely wiping the hard drive
clean
seems to be the best way.

This is because repair installs leave the registry behind - this is why you
don't have to reinstall the apps - and consequently any problems that are
related to the registry are not addressed. Clean installs provide a
brand-new registry.


HTH
-pk