easiest way to reinstall windows + not lose data?

[sven]

i was to reintall windows xp, without losting my programs and users... should i just install it t a seperate windows directory and boot from it? or i could delete and reinstall it, or any other ideas... i dont want to lose all my programs and doccuments. i could also back up to the other drive, but i dont want to reinstall every single program (i must have 50)

thanks

[snooker]

I think most would want to know as to why you want to reinstall Windows ?? Also have you thought about doing a repair installment ??

[Ge0ph]

Do a repair install.

It will see a previous install and ask if you want to repair (Press R) or do a compete install (Press Enter).

[horsecharles]

edit: guys, he's got considerable problems(another thread)-- i don't think repair or over-install would help.

Problem is if something's corrupted or you have malware-- don't have a satisfactory answer for your current predicament.

Only thing i know is for avoiding that predicament again:

make several partitions, windows in one by itself(nothing else, do not allow any other apps or any of their folders to be placed there), with every single possible folder migrated out of there:

all data, documents, download, my xxx, history, cookies, favorites, Temporary Internet Files, desktop(& its subfolders), start, Start menu, send to, windows updates, ....

Program Files too-- they and all other programs should be in their own separate parttion-- in case they pick up a bug...

all the other data, documents, patches, & settings folders should be on their own-- these are less likely to either have a parasite or have a damaged file causing problems-- & you don't want to be losing them when having to reinstall(& maybe format) programs.

This way, you'd just backup registry, format windows partition, reinstall, replace registry, & you'd be all set. Even then, this is no sure thing if the problem lies in the Registry, or in a folder outside windows, like Common Files, etc.

& since you've gone this far<g>, besides a backup partition, two more: one for all temp, tmp, TIF, cache folders, another one for the pagefile all by itelf, nothing else with it-- your system will be much faster as a result(even better if you'd spread out on multiple hard disks).

Again, so sorry not to have a proper answer for your current situation, hope you get a prompt solution.

[gamehead200]

i was to reintall windows xp, without losting my programs and users... should i just install it t a seperate windows directory and boot from it?  or i could delete and reinstall it, or any other ideas... i dont want to lose all my programs and doccuments.  i could also back up to the other drive, but i dont want to reinstall every single program (i must have 50)

thanks

I told you to reformat!

Listen, reformatting is the best way to go! You have a 160GB drive. USE IT!! Put all your installation files and reinstall all your programs... Its the hard way, but trust me, it works A LOT better than doing anything else.

This is what I did. I did not run into any problems!

[BombaTwist]

use a external hard drive ^^.

[^_^]

better yet, learn how to make an unattended CD or DVD that installs your programs unattened along with windows.

you could risk overwriting your existing windows, it might or might not get you out of a jam.

Just remember not to use your same login name as you are using now, as then you risk losing your mydocuments stuff.

But seriously, consider backing up your data and formatting.

You can save your emails, address book, favorites, email settings, etc quite easily so they can be restored on the fresh install to look just like it does now, except without the problems.

[sven]

its jsut all my programs... i gotta get all the keys again plus the installers.. i only have part of them... ok, ill try to get all my other installers.

can i copy the doccument and setting folder to my other drive and replace my new one with the old one?

[SiMoNsAyS]

what i do is to mantain d: partition updated with my programs and stuff i'll like to preserve and format c: everytime i got problems B)

[firefoxthebomb]

good habit to get into is to make at least two partitions. On the first partition C: put all you installations. And on the D: partitions put all you data. Then whey you have problems you do not have to worry about loosing data, you would just format C:. Also about the 50 programs, I am sure there are updates to those programs anyway and If you found the keygens before, I am sure you can find them again.

Format works best. B)

[sven]

ok, ill backup everything.... and the format it. good think i got my new hd and ill make the 3rd partition for my programs and everything. how big should the windows one be?

[horsecharles]

It's up to you: it can be as small as a couple gigabytes IF you are planning on migrating everything possible out of it-- which will also speed up your computer's performance.

I'm also real interested on others' thoughts on this.

This is what i'd do on a 2 disk setup(not exactly what i do, since i use 3/4 disks per system):

Disk1:

C: Winxp(2½-4½ GB) D: Program Files E: Image & Backup of Disk2 F: Miscellaneous/Hidden/Other OS/Extra for future, etc.)

Disk2:

G: Pagefile(4½ GB min size 1gb - no max or max 4½)

H: Data ( log, document, setting, data, my xxx<pictures, music, etc>. folders(& their subfolders) from windows & all programs). Faves, Desktop, Start/Start Up, Send to...ps if you like to keep history(research?) cookies(auto logons?) they go here-- but if you frequently clear them, then they go in:

I: Temp/Download(all temp, tmp, cache, TIF, folders from windows & all other programs, browsers, etc. and all download folders)

J: Backup/Recovery/Restore/Install(Recovery Console, image of winxp cd, all backup<& various spellings of it> files/folders for all programs, backup of windows registry, image of Disk1

K: Miscellaneous

Reasons/Theories:

1. Better to err on the side of extra partitions.

2. One disk or partition goes, you're up and running in no time, you can format any partition anytime you need w/o losing hardly anything, reinstall at will...

3. Pagefile must be the first partition(& by itself) of a separate & seldom-used hard disk to realize the full performance benefits: I myself have 4 disks on most systems-- pagefile & backup on one-- and prefer, also for performace considerations, to have OS, Programs, Data, Temp partitions each in separate disks. FYI windows will want to have its own a small pagefile on its own partition for its own use, in addition to the migrated one-- let it do this-- you can set min/max for it: say 4½ MB to 48 MB. (Another factor re the size & settings for the page partition is that windows likes to create all sorts of extra tmp/dwnld/bckup/updte folders in other partitions that have plenty of empty space.)

There's one app that's crucial & mandatory for migrating: COA-- it scans/edits all .ini, .lnk, .reg necessary changes everywhere. I've used TweakUI(& other apps), then run this app & usually find it catches missed stuff(accept to save the log file each time, but give it a distinctive name so it doesn't overwrite-- you may want it for documentation, reversing, etc.)

Do you need to do all that? I do a lot of database & neural network work.... But if you're heavily into games, music & videos, it would help squeeze extra performance out of your system.....

Good Luck.

[sven]

woah... ill stick with my old setup... just keep all my installers and kets in a file this time. im to lazy to do that, and i havent had any problems with this machine until now (also, i got a load of spyware in teh last couple of weeks, so its about time). preparing for my first format and reinstallation B)

maybe ill make a windows unnattended cd... make my job even easier

[prathapml]

what i do is to mantain d: partition updated with my programs and stuff i'll like to preserve and format c: everytime i got problems B)

Right. And you install from a CD ? And this CD has older versions which are fine for others but not for you. So what do you do - leave out the frequent updating apps, or install the latest apps later?

Don't ! Make it fully unattended anyway - give your uA CD a plugin into your HD install.

[SiMoNsAyS]

And this CD has older versions which are fine for others but not for you. So what do you do - leave out the frequent updating apps, or install the latest apps later?

@pra, no

i've got on my D: drive a permanent copy of my xp cd. D:\BUXPCD (back up xp cd ) is the folder with my unattended. everyday when a new app. is out i just update my setup; when i'm having problems i download the latest nlite and shrink in order to fit on a 700mb cd, burn and reformat. i think this is the easier method.

about what you posted yes, i've included a batch that "if exist" another batch file on my C: drive it will launch it. i think that is the idea of "uA CD plugin" lol