Re: re-formatting....arrrggghhh

LilMustang wrote:

Hi there! I'm a newbie to the group and I'm in the middle of
re-formatting so you might hear a lot from me in the next couple of
days. I hope you're okay with that. I'll just state my problems and
questions and you let me know if I've totally confused you....lol

First of all, I have a Gateway 505GR with XP. I recently had a bunch
of viruses and malware/grayware/all the wares. I've been advised to
reformat my XP


Advised by whom? Although it's sometimes the best course of action, it
rarely is. People like techs at Gateway often tell you do this. Their
solution to almost any problem they don't quickly know the answer to is
"reformat and reinstall." That's the perfect solution for them. It gets you
off the phone quickly, it almost always works, and it doesn't require them
to do any real troubleshooting (a skill that most of them obviously don't
possess in any great degree).

But it leaves you with all the work and all the problems. You have to
restore all your data backups, you have to reinstall all your programs, you
have to reinstall all the Windows and application updates,you have to locate
and install all the needed drivers for your system, you have to recustomize
Windows and all your apps to work the way you're comfortable with.

Besides all those things being time-consuming and troublesome, you may have
trouble with some of them: can you find all your application CDs? Can you
find all the needed installation codes? Do you have data backups to restore?
Do you even remember all the customizations and tweaks you may have
installed to make everything work the way you like? Occasionally there are
problems that are so difficult to solve that Windows should be reinstalled
cleanly. But they are few and far between; reinstallation should not be a
substitute for troubleshooting; it should be a last resort, to be done only
after all other attempts at troubleshooting by a qualified person have
failed.

If you have problems, post them here; it's likely that someone can help you
and a reinstallation won't be required.


and I need a little help with some things. btw, I'm
saving files to USB flash drive (512MB).

My first question is: Will I lose all of my emails and email program
settings when I reformat? And will I lose all of the folders inside my
email program?


Yes and yes. You will lose *everything*. By definition, refomatting wipes
the disk clean of *everything* on it. It's a draconian measure that should
be used only when there are no other choices.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Reformat and install XP
    ... > You can't format the Windows drive from within Windows, ... > people at many of the larger OEMs. ... > troubleshooting (a skill that most of them obviously don't possess in any ... > restore all your data backups, you have to reinstall all your programs, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: formatting?
    ... I have tried doing a clean install, deleting all partitions, but it won't ... >> me to format cuz windows is open ... > necessary to reinstall Windows. ... > troubleshooting; it should be a last resort, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Help Reinstalling Windows XP
    ... Didn’t have a reinstall as already cost a lot for Power Unit and Motherboard ... never be necessary to reinstall Windows. ... do any real troubleshooting (a skill that most of them obviously don't ... about 15-20 minutes if you install it ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: BIOS - COULD THERE A PROBLEM WITH MY PCS BIOS?
    ... and one about formatting PC and installing Windows XP Home but still have ... What are the simptoms of a sick BIOS? ... and it doesn't require them to do any real troubleshooting (a ... you have to reinstall all your ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: My Windows folder contains 8.3GB, help!
    ... With only a modicum of care, it should never be necessary to reinstall ... Windows. ... do any real troubleshooting (a skill that most of them obviously don't ... updates,you have to locate and install all the needed drivers for your ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
Loading