Re-Installing XP Home OEM version

I have re-installed my Windows XP HOme once, and it cleared my whole hard
drive.

Now, to avoid that from happening, I have decided to vitrually partition my
drive, having windows on C: and other stuff on D:. If I re-install windows
again, will it onyl clear the C: poirtion, which is what I'd want, or the
whole hard drive again? Even through it'd be clearing D:, will it wipe my
drive clean again:?

Hi The_PC_Gamer,

That depends on the Recovery CD that you are using (I am assuming that the
CD was provided by the computer manufacturer).......some allow for a
"non-destructive" recovery (will reinstall Windows without formatting first)
and others do not allow for this. Check for this information at the computer
manufacturer's website or in the manual that came with the computer.



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote in message
...
I have re-installed my Windows XP HOme once, and it cleared my whole hard
drive.

Now, to avoid that from happening, I have decided to vitrually partition
my
drive, having windows on C: and other stuff on D:. If I re-install windows
again, will it onyl clear the C: poirtion, which is what I'd want, or the
whole hard drive again? Even through it'd be clearing D:, will it wipe my
drive clean again:?

The recovery CD will only "see" the C drive because it is an
image of the C: as installed at the factory. I have the
same thing on my old HP W98se machine, the HP recovery CD
only sees C:, I've done a wipe and reinstall several times
and my other partitions have always remained the same.

You should consider moving My Documents folders and OE/IE
store folders off C:, XP can do this (for each user) with a
simple right click on My Documents then properties.

To move IE / OE use maintenance tab.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


"The_PC_Gamer"
wrote in message
...
|I have re-installed my Windows XP HOme once, and it cleared
my whole hard
| drive.
|
| Now, to avoid that from happening, I have decided to
vitrually partition my
| drive, having windows on C: and other stuff on D:. If I
re-install windows
| again, will it onyl clear the C: poirtion, which is what
I'd want, or the
| whole hard drive again? Even through it'd be clearing D:,
will it wipe my
| drive clean again:?

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote...
I have re-installed my Windows XP HOme once, and it cleared my whole hard
drive.

Now, to avoid that from happening, I have decided to vitrually partition my
drive, having windows on C: and other stuff on D:. If I re-install windows
again, will it onyl clear the C: poirtion, which is what I'd want, or the
whole hard drive again? Even through it'd be clearing D:, will it wipe my
drive clean again:?

Depends on the OEM CD setup.

My old Gateway had no options. it did a full HD reformat. My newer (3 yr old)
HP laptop has a specific option for reformatting C: only. My data on D: and
backups on E: were intact after I re-installed using that option.

Run the CD and see what options come up.

I've called my PC maker, and they said I have one of the few Recovery CDs
that do not give you the regular options at their startup. So I have to get a
new CD, and it should let me select what to do at re-installation.

Also, Its good to know that windows will not wipe any other parts of the HD
if it's virtually divided.

Thanks.

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote:

I have re-installed my Windows XP HOme once, and it cleared my whole hard
drive.

Now, to avoid that from happening, I have decided to vitrually partition my
drive, having windows on C: and other stuff on D:. If I re-install windows
again, will it onyl clear the C: poirtion, which is what I'd want, or the
whole hard drive again? Even through it'd be clearing D:, will it wipe my
drive clean again:?

You're welcome :-)

Since your operating system came pre-installed, I highly suggest that you
read the following before attempting to perform a "repair" install with the
new CD:

You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or
Upgrading Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=312369

Warning!! If the Repair Option is not Available (provided courtesy of
Michael Stevens)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XP...l.htm#warning2



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote in message
...
I've called my PC maker, and they said I have one of the few Recovery CDs
that do not give you the regular options at their startup. So I have to
get a
new CD, and it should let me select what to do at re-installation.

Also, Its good to know that windows will not wipe any other parts of the
HD
if it's virtually divided.

Thanks.

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote:

I have re-installed my Windows XP HOme once, and it cleared my whole
hard
drive.

Now, to avoid that from happening, I have decided to vitrually partition
my
drive, having windows on C: and other stuff on D:. If I re-install
windows
again, will it onyl clear the C: poirtion, which is what I'd want, or
the
whole hard drive again? Even through it'd be clearing D:, will it wipe
my
drive clean again:?

Well, thanks for the warning, but IT SHOULDN'T clear my data on the D:
virtual drive still, right?

"Patti MacLeod" wrote:

You're welcome :-)

Since your operating system came pre-installed, I highly suggest that you
read the following before attempting to perform a "repair" install with the
new CD:

You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or
Upgrading Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=312369

Warning!! If the Repair Option is not Available (provided courtesy of
Michael Stevens)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XP...l.htm#warning2



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote in message
...
I've called my PC maker, and they said I have one of the few Recovery CDs
that do not give you the regular options at their startup. So I have to
get a
new CD, and it should let me select what to do at re-installation.

Also, Its good to know that windows will not wipe any other parts of the
HD
if it's virtually divided.

Thanks.

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote:

I have re-installed my Windows XP HOme once, and it cleared my whole
hard
drive.

Now, to avoid that from happening, I have decided to vitrually partition
my
drive, having windows on C: and other stuff on D:. If I re-install
windows
again, will it onyl clear the C: poirtion, which is what I'd want, or
the
whole hard drive again? Even through it'd be clearing D:, will it wipe
my
drive clean again:?

You're welcome for the warning, and no, it shouldn't clear the data on your
D drive.



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote in message
...
Well, thanks for the warning, but IT SHOULDN'T clear my data on the D:
virtual drive still, right?

"Patti MacLeod" wrote:

You're welcome :-)

Since your operating system came pre-installed, I highly suggest that
you
read the following before attempting to perform a "repair" install with
the
new CD:

You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or
Upgrading Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=312369

Warning!! If the Repair Option is not Available (provided courtesy of
Michael Stevens)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XP...l.htm#warning2



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote in message
...
I've called my PC maker, and they said I have one of the few Recovery
CDs
that do not give you the regular options at their startup. So I have
to
get a
new CD, and it should let me select what to do at re-installation.

Also, Its good to know that windows will not wipe any other parts of
the
HD
if it's virtually divided.

Thanks.

"The_PC_Gamer" wrote:

I have re-installed my Windows XP HOme once, and it cleared my whole
hard
drive.

Now, to avoid that from happening, I have decided to vitrually
partition
my
drive, having windows on C: and other stuff on D:. If I re-install
windows
again, will it onyl clear the C: poirtion, which is what I'd want,
or
the
whole hard drive again? Even through it'd be clearing D:, will it
wipe
my
drive clean again:?