Re: Going about a fresh reinstall

dds329_at_discussions.microsoft.com
Date: 09/02/04 

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 04:38:48 -0700

WOW-- Thank you so much for the detail in directions.
Unfortunately, I contacted Dell and they directed me
through a software restoration process. I had backed up
everything I needed on CD before hand, but your
instructions are something I will keep around for future
use.

UPDATE: After reinstalling (actually reformatting my
HD), there was NO improvement. I still am able to
control the camcorder through Movie Maker (play, stop,
etc.) but still no video/audio feed. The camcorder was
immediately recognized by Win XP and said it was ready
for use.

Interestingly, when I switched the camcorder to "Auto"
record mode, I did get some video/audio feed, but it was
sporadic and unpredictable, as if there was a short in
the cord. Oh, but there wasn't! I was consistently able
to control the camcorder no matter if video/audion feed
was there, i.e. there was constant communication from the
PC to the camcorder. Again I unhooked the camcorder and
hooked it up to my IBM Laptop with PCMCIA Firewire card
and it worked perfectly - no signs of a short.

My next step is to call Dell for paid support - I am
concerned about their ability to support the issue.

ANY HELP Would be appreciated.

Chris
>-----Original Message-----
>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.ht
ml 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?
>
>
>
>.
>