TOTAL CLEANUP!!

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Guest

My pc is so clogged with programs, I need to clear everything off, reformat
my hard drives (I have 2), and reinstall Windows XP. My question is: how do
I best do this without making a total mess (I've never done this before but I
think I can get through it). I guess what I need is step by step
instructions. I have about 20 programs in addition to MS Office & IE that I
use daily and I am really in a quandry because the real reason I am
attempting this is my HELP files will not open - either Windows or my
programs.

SYSTEM INFO:
Dell 4550
256 MB RAM
Main hard drive(OEM): 30GB
Second hard drive: 80GB
CD-RW drive
DVD-RW drive

Thanks so much
 
If the OS is now installed to the system partition I wouldn't
delete/recreate the partition as this is going to cause drive letters to
shift and the system partition to move to the next available primary
partition.

To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the Setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. At this point choose to format only the system partition and continue
the install.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--

Regards,

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

:
| My pc is so clogged with programs, I need to clear everything off,
reformat
| my hard drives (I have 2), and reinstall Windows XP. My question is: how
do
| I best do this without making a total mess (I've never done this before
but I
| think I can get through it). I guess what I need is step by step
| instructions. I have about 20 programs in addition to MS Office & IE that
I
| use daily and I am really in a quandry because the real reason I am
| attempting this is my HELP files will not open - either Windows or my
| programs.
|
| SYSTEM INFO:
| Dell 4550
| 256 MB RAM
| Main hard drive(OEM): 30GB
| Second hard drive: 80GB
| CD-RW drive
| DVD-RW drive
|
| Thanks so much
| --
| Claudia
 
Thanks Dave. 2 more questions: 1.)Is there a KB article about how to do this
and 2) Is there any other way I can get my help hiles back? I have gone
through making sure my Help & Support service is started & on Automatic and
my Help files won't even open (acts like they will but don't). Thats the
only reason to go through all the mess with reinstallation. Is there any
other way I can restore (speaking of which, I tried System Restore too) my
Help files?
--
Claudia


Dave Patrick said:
If the OS is now installed to the system partition I wouldn't
delete/recreate the partition as this is going to cause drive letters to
shift and the system partition to move to the next available primary
partition.

To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the Setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. At this point choose to format only the system partition and continue
the install.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--

Regards,

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

:
| My pc is so clogged with programs, I need to clear everything off,
reformat
| my hard drives (I have 2), and reinstall Windows XP. My question is: how
do
| I best do this without making a total mess (I've never done this before
but I
| think I can get through it). I guess what I need is step by step
| instructions. I have about 20 programs in addition to MS Office & IE that
I
| use daily and I am really in a quandry because the real reason I am
| attempting this is my HELP files will not open - either Windows or my
| programs.
|
| SYSTEM INFO:
| Dell 4550
| 256 MB RAM
| Main hard drive(OEM): 30GB
| Second hard drive: 80GB
| CD-RW drive
| DVD-RW drive
|
| Thanks so much
| --
| Claudia
Click to expand...
 
1.) http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941

2.) Try asking them here. public.windowsxp.help_and_support
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...port&mid=5e2de769-7c64-4074-8b84-20c5bf14e84d

--

Regards,

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

:
| Thanks Dave. 2 more questions: 1.)Is there a KB article about how to do
this
| and 2) Is there any other way I can get my help hiles back? I have gone
| through making sure my Help & Support service is started & on Automatic
and
| my Help files won't even open (acts like they will but don't). Thats the
| only reason to go through all the mess with reinstallation. Is there any
| other way I can restore (speaking of which, I tried System Restore too) my
| Help files?
| --
| Claudia
 
My pc keeps losing shortcuts everytime I turn it on. The right-hand tray
losing icons as well. Will replacing my OS and reinstalling help that?
Also, thanks so much for the links!

Thanks for everything
 
:
| My pc keeps losing shortcuts everytime I turn it on.
* Some details may help.


The right-hand tray
| losing icons as well.
* System tray icons? Probably something (or some process) is causing the
shell to restart. This might help with that issue.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html


Will replacing my OS and reinstalling help that?
* Yes, that generaly cures all. (well at least temporarily)



--

Regards,

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