Strange problem

[Ronin4444]

I gave my old computer to my sister. I did a clean reinstall of XP home
edition and had some problems with some logon files not getting copied
(msgina.dll was one of them) XP wouldn't start. I did a repair from the CD
and cleared the problems up. I then couldn't activate the OS over then net.
Called Microsoft and got it to activate over the phone. Then it wouldn't do
any updates. Trying to get this solved I noticed that the Hard drive was 75%
full. This should be impossible since I just reformatted the drive during
the reinstall. No files show in My Documents, My Pictures, My Music or
anywhere else. Nothing shows up in program files either. BUT when I tried
a search for a file or program that I used to have before the reinstall
explorer finds it. Anyone know how this happened and how to correct it?

 

[Ron Badour]

You did not do a clean reinstall since that involves a format and if you
formatted the partition, you would not be able to see those files you
searched for.

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

 

[Twayne]

I gave my old computer to my sister. I did a clean reinstall of XP

home edition and had some problems with some logon files not getting
copied (msgina.dll was one of them) XP wouldn't start. I did a
repair from the CD and cleared the problems up. I then couldn't
activate the OS over then net. Called Microsoft and got it to
activate over the phone. Then it wouldn't do any updates. Trying to
get this solved I noticed that the Hard drive was 75% full. This
should be impossible since I just reformatted the drive during the
reinstall. No files show in My Documents, My Pictures, My Music or
anywhere else. Nothing shows up in program files either. BUT when I
tried a search for a file or program that I used to have before the
reinstall explorer finds it. Anyone know how this happened and how
to correct it?

Somehow, you didn't choose to do a format of the drive. Make sure you
computer will boot from teh CD drive, toss the CD in the drive, and
Restart. When it suggests booting from the CD, let it.
Then D to delete the partition, C? I think it is to recreate it, and
continue on, following the screen prompts.
That method insures a full, clean install. A good article on the
subject:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

HTH