Reinstalling Windows

[Howard Brazee]

I've had some problems with my main computer, and it has been
recommended that I back up everything and reinstall from scratch.

I'm a bit afraid of doing this, and decided that I should do a safer
step of doing this to my old back-up computer.

Both computers have Windows XP, but the old computer has more
partitions. I'll have to see if I can fit everything on one
partition to match my new computer.

Both computers are connected to a home network but have different
video cards, sound cards, and CPUs. I have a USB DVD writer.

I have software that I have purchased and upgraded on-line, some of
which have registration numbers, and some of which are not current (I
can't download the old installation program).

Any recommendations on how to go about making my best backup computer?

[R. McCarty]

It's not Always necessary to take the drastic measure of a full
re-install. Time consuming and prone to data loss. Either way
you should invest ~$50 in an imaging program. Actually, you
need two forms of backups - Images and readable CD/DVD
personal data backup.

To make it easier and convenient, I'd recommend you get a
program called True Image from Acronis.

You also need to download/use Belarc Advisor to get the keys
for your programs. PRINT out the scan results from the browser
window.

Almost all systems can be repaired/restored - Full reinstallations
are a measure of last resort. Having the ability to create/restore
system images will avoid the situation you're currently in.


"Howard Brazee" > wrote in message
...
> I've had some problems with my main computer, and it has been
> recommended that I back up everything and reinstall from scratch.
>
> I'm a bit afraid of doing this, and decided that I should do a safer
> step of doing this to my old back-up computer.
>
> Both computers have Windows XP, but the old computer has more
> partitions. I'll have to see if I can fit everything on one
> partition to match my new computer.
>
> Both computers are connected to a home network but have different
> video cards, sound cards, and CPUs. I have a USB DVD writer.
>
> I have software that I have purchased and upgraded on-line, some of
> which have registration numbers, and some of which are not current (I
> can't download the old installation program).
>
> Any recommendations on how to go about making my best backup computer?

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Howard Brazee wrote:

> I've had some problems with my main computer, and it has been
> recommended that I back up everything and reinstall from scratch.


What are the problems and who recommended this?

Although it sometimes *is* necessary, in my view, reinstalling from scratch
is usually a mistake.

It's my belief that this mistaken notion stems from the technical support
people at many of the larger OEMs. 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.

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

[Mr. Nobody]

I'm about to do the same thing, (Reinstall Windows)as I have a problem that
I have not been able to solve. Would one of you look at my post on April
27th concerning a problem with Windows Explorer and see if you have a answer
for me?

Thanks in advance
Mr Nobody

[Howard Brazee]

On Wed, 24 May 2006 17:01:21 -0400, "R. McCarty"
> wrote:

>It's not Always necessary to take the drastic measure of a full
>re-install. Time consuming and prone to data loss. Either way
>you should invest ~$50 in an imaging program. Actually, you
>need two forms of backups - Images and readable CD/DVD
>personal data backup.

Actually, I have two of these. Since they copy everything, they
can copy problems that didn't get repaired by a Windows Fix reinstall.

>To make it easier and convenient, I'd recommend you get a
>program called True Image from Acronis.
>
>You also need to download/use Belarc Advisor to get the keys
>for your programs. PRINT out the scan results from the browser
>window.
>
>Almost all systems can be repaired/restored - Full reinstallations
>are a measure of last resort. Having the ability to create/restore
>system images will avoid the situation you're currently in.

I'm researching for this last resort option at the recommendation of
my PC shop.

[Howard Brazee]

On Wed, 24 May 2006 14:23:42 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
> wrote:

>Howard Brazee wrote:
>
>> I've had some problems with my main computer, and it has been
>> recommended that I back up everything and reinstall from scratch.
>What are the problems and who recommended this?
>

Lockups and hard crashes that the PC shop's diagnostics couldn't get
to duplicate. Over time, they have replaced the power supply, the
hard drive, and the video card. This time, they did a free replace
of the video card with another company's, and suggested this solution.
I said "not now", and decided to clone my current computer onto my old
computer to make sure I caught everything. After living with my old
computer for a while, I would try migrating back.


>Although it sometimes *is* necessary, in my view, reinstalling from scratch
>is usually a mistake.

Which is why I want to test everything first.

>It's my belief that this mistaken notion stems from the technical support
>people at many of the larger OEMs. 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.

It could be. Still, having a backup and notes on how what is on
everything isn't a bad thing to have.

[Malke]

Howard Brazee wrote:

> On Wed, 24 May 2006 14:23:42 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
> > wrote:
>
>>Howard Brazee wrote:
>>
>>> I've had some problems with my main computer, and it has been
>>> recommended that I back up everything and reinstall from scratch.
>>What are the problems and who recommended this?
>>
>
> Lockups and hard crashes that the PC shop's diagnostics couldn't get
> to duplicate. Over time, they have replaced the power supply, the
> hard drive, and the video card. This time, they did a free replace
> of the video card with another company's, and suggested this solution.
> I said "not now", and decided to clone my current computer onto my old
> computer to make sure I caught everything. After living with my old
> computer for a while, I would try migrating back.

What about the RAM? I would have started by testing the RAM. However, if
the shop couldn't get it to crash, look at your home situation. Where
is the pc connected? Ex. (drawn from actual situations at clients of
mine) - do you have it on a power strip that is connected to an
extension cord that is connected to an three-prong adapter going into a
two-prong old electrical outlet?

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Mr. Nobody wrote:

> I'm about to do the same thing, (Reinstall Windows)as I have a
> problem that I have not been able to solve. Would one of you look at
> my post on April 27th concerning a problem with Windows Explorer and
> see if you have a answer for me?


Once I read a post, it's gone here. Anything as old as April 27th is long
gone, and expecting people to do a search for your message isn't realistic.
Just repost your message.

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