XP fresh re-instal

  • Thread starter Thread starter Keith Barnes
  • Start date Start date
K

Keith Barnes

Just looking for some friendly advice.

What should I back up before I reformat other then programs, drivers,
and updates/patches?

Such as address book, favorites, etc. I also have all my pictures and
music on a separate hard drive that will not be reformatted.

I just don't want to forget anything.

Thanks
 
Keith said:
Just looking for some friendly advice.

What should I back up before I reformat other then programs, drivers,
and updates/patches?

Such as address book, favorites, etc. I also have all my pictures and
music on a separate hard drive that will not be reformatted.

I just don't want to forget anything.
Click to expand...

1) Backing up programs means making sure you have the install media/files
stored elsewhere. Do not attempt (its usually a waste of your time/effort)
to backup the program files directory and restore it later. You MAY in some
cases (if you know the application well) be able to do that and/or at least
save your settings from some INI file - but usually it is just easier to
reinstall and set it back up the way you want it.

2) Download the latest and greatest drivers and get them elsewhere for each
component in your machine from each component manufacturer's web site.
Their drivers are better - yes.

3) Download as many of the updates and patches as you can either through the
WindowsUpdate catalog or through the individual KB articles. Write down the
currently installed set of KB articles in your ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS control
panel (ie: Windows XP Hotfix - KB######) and plug that ###### into this web
page :
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=######
And you can read about and usually download each of those patches to save
elsewhere.

4) Export your Outlook/Outlook Express Address Books/Email/Rules/etc. Do
this with any mail client you use, actually - just using the Microsoft ones
as an example.

5) Backup your "My Documents" folder and anything else you have saved
separately - your work essentially. This may include pictures (*.jpg,
*.gif, *.bmp, etc.) or documents (*.doc, *.wpd, *.xls, *.ppt, etc.) or a
whole host of other things.

One easier way to do this is to use the Windows XP Files and Settings
Transfer Wizard to export your stuff - it finds most of this for you. The
catch is that on your new machine you SHOULD have most of the applications
you have now already installed before again running the Files and Settings
Transfer Wizard to copy back the settings/files.

Also you could log in as another user (create one) and copy your
C:\documents and settings\username folder to the alternate location
manually - giving you the exact copy of the stuff within it.

Good luck in your endeavor! Be sure that machine is patched and/or the ICF
(firewall) is on before ever connecting it back to the Internet!
 
Hi

I would look at the User State Migration Tool. This will migrate most of your settings.
 
Just looking for some friendly advice.

What should I back up before I reformat other then programs, drivers,
and updates/patches?

Such as address book, favorites, etc. I also have all my pictures and
music on a separate hard drive that will not be reformatted.

I just don't want to forget anything.

Thanks
Click to expand...

1. Temporarily disconnect your second hard drive with the pictures
and music on it.

2. Run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and save the resulting
file to a CDRW drive if you have one. Otherwise save it to a folder
named C:\Transfer.

3. If you used the C:\Transfer folder for the FASTW data then
reconnect the second hard drive and copy the C:\Transfer folder to it.

4. Reformat the drive and reinstall XP. Then run FASTW again to
import the saved data and settings.

Note: If you run FASTW with the second hard drive connected then it
will include all of the data from it in the backup.

See former MVP Gary Woodruff's article on FASTW at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
Shenan Stanley said:
1) Backing up programs means making sure you have the install media/files
stored elsewhere. Do not attempt (its usually a waste of your time/effort)
to backup the program files directory and restore it later. You MAY in some
cases (if you know the application well) be able to do that and/or at least
save your settings from some INI file - but usually it is just easier to
reinstall and set it back up the way you want it.

2) Download the latest and greatest drivers and get them elsewhere for each
component in your machine from each component manufacturer's web site.
Their drivers are better - yes.

3) Download as many of the updates and patches as you can either through the
WindowsUpdate catalog or through the individual KB articles. Write down the
currently installed set of KB articles in your ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS control
panel (ie: Windows XP Hotfix - KB######) and plug that ###### into this web
page :
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=######
And you can read about and usually download each of those patches to save
elsewhere.

4) Export your Outlook/Outlook Express Address Books/Email/Rules/etc. Do
this with any mail client you use, actually - just using the Microsoft ones
as an example.

5) Backup your "My Documents" folder and anything else you have saved
separately - your work essentially. This may include pictures (*.jpg,
*.gif, *.bmp, etc.) or documents (*.doc, *.wpd, *.xls, *.ppt, etc.) or a
whole host of other things.

One easier way to do this is to use the Windows XP Files and Settings
Transfer Wizard to export your stuff - it finds most of this for you. The
catch is that on your new machine you SHOULD have most of the applications
you have now already installed before again running the Files and Settings
Transfer Wizard to copy back the settings/files.

Also you could log in as another user (create one) and copy your
C:\documents and settings\username folder to the alternate location
manually - giving you the exact copy of the stuff within it.

Good luck in your endeavor! Be sure that machine is patched and/or the ICF
(firewall) is on before ever connecting it back to the Internet!
Click to expand...


Thanks, good advice.

I have reformatted and re-installed at least three times in the past
with XP, and I always forget something.

I deffinately do not plan to back up my program files directory. I
didn't think about having my firewall up and running before getting
online. but it sure does make sense now that you say it.

I pretty much know about favorites, my documents, email, and common
things to back up "custom icons, etc. I am looking for advice on the
obscure. That way after I am done I don't slap myself for forgetting
something.

Also, I am using a WindowsXP "upgrade" CD. Not warez, it was store
bought with box, orriginal product key, etc. However, I can not find
my orriginal windows 98 cd to upgrade from. The dog probably ate it,
or my kid used it for an art project ore something. I have been
searching, and it is gone. I know it is going to ask me to insert the
win98 cd. Is there any way arround this? I can probably find someone
still living in the stone age that I can borrow it from, but it is
going to be a pain in the rear finding one.
I know I can re-instal windows XP by just inserting the cd without
formatting, but I want to reformat my C: drive.
 
Ron Martell said:
-snip--

1. Temporarily disconnect your second hard drive with the pictures
and music on it.

2. Run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and save the resulting
file to a CDRW drive if you have one. Otherwise save it to a folder
named C:\Transfer.

See former MVP Gary Woodruff's article on FASTW at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Good luck
Click to expand...
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
Click to expand...

What is included in the settings/file transfer wizard?

Will my OE mail rules/blocked senders and MS word autocorrect entries
be included as part of the transfer? I am in limbo now and cannot
access the "identities" in the registry in order to find and save the
Outlook Express rules.
It's not the end of the world bc I have saved my data and my mail
messages, but I can't get the registry, or open Word to get the
autocorrect entries.

thanks

PS. sorry for multiple posts on the misc group. Since OE is not
accessible to me, I'm posting on google, which does not show up there
for "3 to 9 hours"

Pls also respond via email: avantium at munich dot com

thanks
 
What is included in the settings/file transfer wizard?

Will my OE mail rules/blocked senders and MS word autocorrect entries
be included as part of the transfer? I am in limbo now and cannot
access the "identities" in the registry in order to find and save the
Outlook Express rules.
It's not the end of the world bc I have saved my data and my mail
messages, but I can't get the registry, or open Word to get the
autocorrect entries.

thanks

PS. sorry for multiple posts on the misc group. Since OE is not
accessible to me, I'm posting on google, which does not show up there
for "3 to 9 hours"

Pls also respond via email: avantium at munich dot com

thanks
Click to expand...

Yes to the OE rules & blocked senders.

Can't answer with respect to the MS word autocorrect items but I
suspect they would also come. See Gary's article that I referenced in
my previous post.

Good luck



Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
Ron Martell said:
Yes to the OE rules & blocked senders.

Can't answer with respect to the MS word autocorrect items but I
suspect they would also come. See Gary's article that I referenced in
my previous post.

Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
Click to expand...
 
Ron, thanks a lot. as someone once said, 2 out 3 ain't bad.
Click to expand...


And it could be 3 out of 3 - I just have no experience with the
specific Microsoft Word function your are concerned about.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
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