XP Reinstall Help

[Taylor]

My computer has slowed tremdously over the past couple
weeks, starting out at its usual processing speed but
dropping quickly to a crawl. I've run anti-virus and
spyware programs, defraged, and other such utilities. No
luck. At this point it seems a complete reinstall of the
OS is best.

I know I can back up my files but is there any way to
save the programs I have on my computer (since I don't
have the install discs available to reinstall)??? I
heard about something called cloning but couldn't find
good info on it.

Thanks.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

The simple answer is No! if you don't have the program install discs to
reinstall them then you will loose them.

Cloning is by far the best way using third party software such as Powerquest
Drive Copy or Symantec Ghost (powerquest is now owned by Symantec) This
software creates an 'exact' copy of your hard drive so if you have any
problems you just install the 'cloned' copy and everything is back to
normal.

Unfortunately cloning is best done when your system is running at its best,
i.e., after a clean install of xp and you have reinstalled your programs. As
your machine is running slowly now, should you clone the drive and then
reclone it back to your hard drive the situation would not have imporved,
i.e., your system will still be slow.

 

[Mario]

Hi Taylor,

Yes, complete reinstall (also called clean install) is the best way to solve
such troubles.
Besides, you will get alot of free disk space (for junk that stays after
uninstalling), and it would run faster.

No, I'm afraid I know of no method to reinstall programs without the setup
disks.
Cloning or disk images would not help now since you didn't made them after a
clean install.
If you can create a disk image (into CDs or DVDs) now, the mess and problems
will be there!!!
And when restored the same problems come back. Dont bother!

That would be the perfect solution for your problem if you had made the disk
images some time ago, when the computer where running fine. As it is, they
are only usefull for the future.

After the manual reinstall of Windows and Programs use a disk image program
(such as Norton Ghost) to burn a disk of your hard disk. Then you will be
prepared. If you have another problem in the future, and decide to
reinstall, then it would be alot easier. Just boot the PC, insert disks, one
mouse click, 5 minutes, and that's it. Everything goes back exactly how it
was, windows, programs, documents, settings, even activated software will
remain activated.

Dont forget to backup all your documents, and files you want to keep, before
Windows reinstall.

You need the install disks for all programs you want to run after Windows
reinstall. Go get these disks before you start.
If you think you it's very hard to get these disks, and you really cant live
without the programs, then dont do the clean install. You have another
option, called Repair Install. It's not so powerful as clean install, and
may not solve the deeppest of the file corruption mess, but solves minor
issues. Only thing you need to make a Repair Install is Windows XP boot CD.
Boot your computer from the CD Rom and in the early setup options choose
Repair Install. If you dont even have Windows XP CD, forget it... there is
no hope for your problem :-(

Regards,
Mario

 

[madmax]

My computer has slowed tremdously over the past couple
weeks, starting out at its usual processing speed but
dropping quickly to a crawl. I've run anti-virus and
spyware programs, defraged, and other such utilities. No
luck. At this point it seems a complete reinstall of the
OS is best.

I know I can back up my files but is there any way to
save the programs I have on my computer (since I don't
have the install discs available to reinstall)??? I
heard about something called cloning but couldn't find
good info on it.

Thanks.

Taylor-
You need to do some major cleaning.
How many items do you have in "quick launch"?Reduce it to 3.
Are there many programs loading at
startup?Run/msconfig.after trying to disable them in each of
the programs options
Try some performance tweaks.
http://www.hexff.com/xp_tuneup.php
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1590
http://www.winguides.com/registry/
Backup the registry first before modifying anything.
Clean out all "temp"folders,recent documents.
Have you tried changing to "classic"windows?
What AV program are you using? Norton and McAfee are system
"hogs" in my opinion.
How much memory do you have? XP runs better with at least 512mb.
I hope that these ideas will help you avoid a reinstall.
-max


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