Clean install or just reinstall?

Question: How do I know if the process was a clean install vs reinstall.

Situation: Older computer with WinXP upgrade. Poor performance so wanted to
do a clean install. The first couple of times I tried it the process asked
for the Win98 CD but I threw it out weeks ago (I know that was a mistake -
now) but do have the product key page and boot disk that came with the
computer. Last night, I as able to delete the two partitions (8 MB and 24 GB
- didn't mean to keep two when I did the intial upgrade), and formated the
unpartitioned area (about 30+ minutes) and then the install process completed
(about 30+ minutes).

So was it a clean install?

BTW, the programs on the drive prior to the process are no longer there.
About 50% when the computer is restarted, I get a "operating system not
found" and have to reboot - then it starts OK. Related to the install?
Thanks,
Joe

A clean install would be if you deleted and created new partitions and/or
formatted the drive, then installed xp.
An upgrade install is if you do not format the drive before installing xp.

The os not found error, could be a bad drive or bad cables, or your boot
order isn't right, or you have a floppy or cd in the drive on boot up, and
probably some other stuff too.

"jtl" wrote in message

Question: How do I know if the process was a clean install vs
reinstall.

Situation: Older computer with WinXP upgrade. Poor performance so
wanted to do a clean install. The first couple of times I tried it
the process asked for the Win98 CD but I threw it out weeks ago (I
know that was a mistake - now) but do have the product key page and
boot disk that came with the computer. Last night, I as able to
delete the two partitions (8 MB and 24 GB - didn't mean to keep two
when I did the intial upgrade), and formated the unpartitioned area
(about 30+ minutes) and then the install process completed (about 30+
minutes).

So was it a clean install?

BTW, the programs on the drive prior to the process are no longer
there. About 50% when the computer is restarted, I get a "operating
system not found" and have to reboot - then it starts OK. Related
to the install? Thanks,
Joe

Quick look at various subdirectory time stamps would show up as
different times for an "upgrade" vs same times for a "clean install"

jtl wrote:

Question: How do I know if the process was a clean install vs reinstall.

Situation: Older computer with WinXP upgrade. Poor performance so wanted to
do a clean install. The first couple of times I tried it the process asked
for the Win98 CD but I threw it out weeks ago (I know that was a mistake -
now) but do have the product key page and boot disk that came with the
computer. Last night, I as able to delete the two partitions (8 MB and 24 GB
- didn't mean to keep two when I did the intial upgrade), and formated the
unpartitioned area (about 30+ minutes) and then the install process completed
(about 30+ minutes).

So was it a clean install?

BTW, the programs on the drive prior to the process are no longer there.
About 50% when the computer is restarted, I get a "operating system not
found" and have to reboot - then it starts OK. Related to the install?
Thanks,
Joe

Bob,
Thanks. How do I look for these times? Windows Explorer?
Joe

"Bob I" wrote:

Quick look at various subdirectory time stamps would show up as
different times for an "upgrade" vs same times for a "clean install"

jtl wrote:

Question: How do I know if the process was a clean install vs reinstall.

Situation: Older computer with WinXP upgrade. Poor performance so wanted to
do a clean install. The first couple of times I tried it the process asked
for the Win98 CD but I threw it out weeks ago (I know that was a mistake -
now) but do have the product key page and boot disk that came with the
computer. Last night, I as able to delete the two partitions (8 MB and 24 GB
- didn't mean to keep two when I did the intial upgrade), and formated the
unpartitioned area (about 30+ minutes) and then the install process completed
(about 30+ minutes).

So was it a clean install?

BTW, the programs on the drive prior to the process are no longer there.
About 50% when the computer is restarted, I get a "operating system not
found" and have to reboot - then it starts OK. Related to the install?
Thanks,
Joe

Yes if you select Details view.

jtl wrote:

Bob,
Thanks. How do I look for these times? Windows Explorer?
Joe

"Bob I" wrote:


Quick look at various subdirectory time stamps would show up as
different times for an "upgrade" vs same times for a "clean install"

jtl wrote:


Question: How do I know if the process was a clean install vs reinstall.

Situation: Older computer with WinXP upgrade. Poor performance so wanted to
do a clean install. The first couple of times I tried it the process asked
for the Win98 CD but I threw it out weeks ago (I know that was a mistake -
now) but do have the product key page and boot disk that came with the
computer. Last night, I as able to delete the two partitions (8 MB and 24 GB
- didn't mean to keep two when I did the intial upgrade), and formated the
unpartitioned area (about 30+ minutes) and then the install process completed
(about 30+ minutes).

So was it a clean install?

BTW, the programs on the drive prior to the process are no longer there.
About 50% when the computer is restarted, I get a "operating system not
found" and have to reboot - then it starts OK. Related to the install?
Thanks,
Joe