Great post Ken!!!

Here's what I say about it on my business Web site (http:// [Remove this
and spaces] www. gtscomputerservice. com)
(I don't ususally post in HTML, but am making a rare exception here.)
The advice to reinstall Windows to fix a problem with your computer is, in
our opinion, completely wrong 95% of the time and questionable in some of
the remaining 5%. Even worse is the advice to "reformat your hard disk and
reinstall Windows." That should be criminally prosecutable. It is never
necessary unless there is a serious hard disk problem.

Users are usually advised to reinstall Windows for one of the following
reasons:

1.. It's a quick way to get you off the phone. Many computer and software
help desks measure support staff performance by the number of calls they
answer, and not how well they solve your problem.

b.. A support technician does not know how to fix a problem. Some Windows
problems can be highly complex to diagnose and resolve, but even many simple
problems are answered with this brush off. Many support people learn to
handle common tasks by rote, not by substantive technical knowledge. GTS
has a background in system programming that facilitates deep analysis and
complex problem solving.
In rare cases, a system may be so damaged by years of poor maintenance,
virus attacks, or other problems that repair might be prohibitively time
consuming and costly. This is, however, the exception not the rule. Even
then, a non-destructive repair installation may be possible, without the
need to lose all of your customizations and. the need to reinstall all other
software.
--

"Ken Blake" wrote in message
...
In ,
Happy typed:

I notice often the solution recommended, in order to fix a problem, is to
"install the original XP disk".


Although you often see that recommendation, in the great majority of
cases, it's a *terrible* recommendation.