Re: Going about a fresh reinstall

From: rmarko (rmarko012_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 09/02/04 

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 13:36:26 +0200

So here's what I normally do.

1. Backing up your important data

First thing you do, is create a temporary directory, say c:\Data.

- I usually don't have any important email letters I want to save, but if I
do, I save them as .html files and save them to \Data. If you need to back
up your ENTIRE database of messages, go into \Documents and Settings\your
user\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{some long
directory}\Microsoft and check to see that the Outlook Express folders
contains a list of large .dbx files. Copy this folder to c:\Data\Outlook
Express. I usually don't do this; fresh reinstall comes with the privilege
of a clean slate, email-wise.

- As for list of contacts, I go into Outlook Express, hit the Addresses
button, Address Book opens, I do File, Export, Address Book (WAB) and save
it.

- Next on the agenda, specific programs' settings. I'm using GetRight, for
example, and I've manually changed one of the settings there (the monitor
list), so whenever I do a reinstall of windows, I save the montiro list as a
getright-monitor.txt file so that I'll be able to restore my settings after
the install. I'm guessing you're not using GetRight, but maybe you're using
a different program that requires special settings. If it's not an actual
textarea box, then I write down the special settings that I changed (e.g.
which options I selected in eMule). If the settings cannot be saved as a
.txt file, try finding the program's settings in RegEdit. They usually
appear both in HKLM and in HKCU. Look at both places, and save what you
think you really need. You don't need to save settings of all programs, just
those you don't have a clue how you'll restore later.

- I go into \Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu and later to
\Doc...\my user\Start Menu and save the shortcuts into a zip. Reason: so
I'll know which applications I want to redownload and install. If I still
have the setups of those apps, to \Data\Installs they go.

- Save the favorites.

- Save my documents. My mp3's, avi's, docs...

- Save my desktop background.

- Save my desktop shortcuts in a zip.

- Save my \Windows\Fonts directory.

- If you're using Norton Antivirus, then go to
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/download.html and download the
latest virus definitions. Save in \Data.

At this point you should scan your hard drive, go through program files and
windows directory and what not, and see if you're missing anything. When
you're 90% sure you didn't forget anything (you can never be 100% sure),

2. You set the grounds for installation
Since I use FAT, what I do in this scenario is restart the computer in Win98
DOS mode, then I rename the \Windows directory to \Winold, \Progra~1 to
\Progold, \Docume~1 to \Docold and I'm good to do a new installation without
having to format the HD. My c:\Data folder remains untouched throughout the
whole process.

Since you're using NTFS, you can't log into DOS mode, and through WindowsXP
I'm not sure how you can rename these system-protected folders. What I'd do
is, for a measurement of safety, burn all the files I can from \Data onto a
CD or DVD - depending on how patient or paranoid you are you can select if
you want to back up the huge video files; and then restart with the
WindowsXP disc in the CD Drive and see what I can do to perserve the HD and
to do a fresh install, not a "repair" reinstall.

One way you can go is, to try to install a new install at \WinNT. The other
is to try \Windows - and I'm almost positive that Setup will ask you "do you
want to delete the \windows folder?" to which I'd reply "duh!"

As for Program Files and Documents and Settings - they probably won't be
cleared.

Next phase: Install Windows.

This takes about an hour, and you can't leave the computer throughout the
process. Setup may cause random problems, which I'm sure you'll find the way
to handle.

4. Running a new installation.

- First thing you do is you DO NOT CONNECT TO THE INTERNET. What you do is
you install your Antivirus software.

- If you're using Norton Antivirus, now's the time to run your downloaded
virus definitions file.

- If you're using something else, now's the time to install your modem and
connect to the internet in order to update your virus definitions. By the
time you're finished updating your virus definitions, your computer should
have been hacked and you probably have a couple of new keys in your
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and a couple of new virus
files in your \Windows and \Windows\System32 directories. Give your computer
a thorough antivirus scan, it will clear up your files and your
registries... ->

- Just make sure you ran your update sofware enough times to make sure you
have the latest of everything.

- Now come the rest of your hardware devices that are listed as question
marks in Device Manager. Deal with them.

- Then www.windowsupdate.com . Install all critical updates but not SP1, and
not SP2. Your computer will run much smoother with both SP's not installed.
But go for every other critical update.

- At this point, you're free to use the information in your C:\Data to
restore your previous settings.

5. Last notes

- If you have saved the entire Outlook Express folder with the *.dbx files
in it, you can import them into your client by File, Import, Messages,
Microsoft Outlook Express 6, Next, Import mail from an OE6 store directory,
OK, Browse.

- You may notice that your \Documents and Settings folder now contains
something like All Users, and then All Users.your-admin-username - and the
same deal for every other folder. You may delete all folders that DO NOT
have the .your-admin-username added to them at the end. They're from the
previous system.

- You should definitely save THIS message as an .html or something.

- If you don't have mm20's install exe (12mb) and have an ftp account where
I can upload it into, give me the details at rmarko012@hotmail.com .

Questions?