Re: I'm thinking I should reinstall XP

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

<schck@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1d3bf090-c95f-423b-9ec0-e2020132a96f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
While I was away at school, my sister was using my computer daily
downloading tor files and creating a virus-infected community as she
was doing it. Now I have my computer back but the thing drags and
often freezes after clicking START. And some programs don't even open
at all. To top that, browser windows telling me to scan my hard drive
keep popping up. I've tried to clean up the hard drive but even some
programs won't uninstall. There are now over 200 programs installed on
the 250 gig hard drive. Before I left, I relocated the My-Documents
path to a folder located inside a WD 500 gig external drive. But that
incurred I/O errors last month though I was lucky enough to copy all
the data off before losing it completely. At this point I'm thinking
just to reformat the HD and start over with a new slate. Sort of a
self-inflicted crash (before the inevitable one anyway). What the
best way to go about this?

I would agree that this is the easiest, fastest and most reliable way to get
past this.

The only real question is how to back up your data, but if you can get a new
hard disk and have OS install media, you don't have to worry about that.
Just remove the old drive, install to the new one, and later reattach the
old drive and carefully copy off what you need.

If you can't get a new drive or don't have install media, you need to find a
place to copy your data off to before beginning the reinstall.

Aside from that, the important point is having the motherboard and hardware
drivers available for use right after you finish the basic XP install. Use
these to turn on the basic chipset and hardware support so that you can then
go and get the Windows updates.

HTH
-pk


.

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