Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

March 16, 2008

I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will need

before trying it. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive, so I

need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know how

to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to backup

Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I should

backup that I'm probably not thinking about?

What other things should I know before attempting this?

March 16, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

Reliable site -

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--

====================================

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Australia

====================================

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

http://taurarian.mvps.org/index.htm

Emails will not be acknowledged - please post to the newsgroup so all may benefit.

Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco

"dnamertz" <dnamertz@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:938D2755-D621-4002-910D-0429DB77598A@microsoft.com...

|I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will need

| before trying it. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive, so I

| need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know how

| to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to backup

| Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I should

| backup that I'm probably not thinking about?

|

| What other things should I know before attempting this?

March 16, 2008

RE: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

all the emails sitting in your inbox?

your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your

internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails from another

computer, even a public computer, the only thing that you need is your

username and password

"dnamertz" wrote:

> I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will need

> before trying it. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive, so I

> need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know how

> to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to backup

> Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I should

> backup that I'm probably not thinking about?

>

> What other things should I know before attempting this?

March 16, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

Some folks move emails to local folders. They are not then on the providers

server.

"pfermar" <pfermar@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:38569D39-201D-44E0-ABB7-8E8B357AE185@microsoft.com...

> all the emails sitting in your inbox?

> your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your

> internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails from

> another

> computer, even a public computer, the only thing that you need is your

> username and password

>

> "dnamertz" wrote:

>

>> I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will

>> need

>> before trying it. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive,

>> so I

>> need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know

>> how

>> to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to

>> backup

>> Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I

>> should

>> backup that I'm probably not thinking about?

>>

>> What other things should I know before attempting this?

March 16, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

if that the case He can back up then more easy

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> Some folks move emails to local folders. They are not then on the providers

> server.

>

> "pfermar" <pfermar@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:38569D39-201D-44E0-ABB7-8E8B357AE185@microsoft.com...

> > all the emails sitting in your inbox?

> > your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your

> > internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails from

> > another

> > computer, even a public computer, the only thing that you need is your

> > username and password

> >

> > "dnamertz" wrote:

> >

> >> I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will

> >> need

> >> before trying it. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive,

> >> so I

> >> need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know

> >> how

> >> to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to

> >> backup

> >> Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I

> >> should

> >> backup that I'm probably not thinking about?

> >>

> >> What other things should I know before attempting this?

>

March 16, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

dnamertz wrote:

> I need to reinstall Windows XP

TaurArian already provided you a good link for how to perform a clean

install:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

If you wish to perform a repair install, which will preserve your data

(pictures, documents, music files, bookmarks, emails, etc., then you

should look at:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

But why do you think you need to reinstall Windows in the first place?

March 16, 2008

RE: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

"pfermar" wrote:

> all the emails sitting in your inbox?

> your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your

> internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails from another

> computer, even a public computer, the only thing that you need is your

> username and password

>

What username and password? I don't have a usename and password for my

email, I just open up Outlook Express.

Sounds like you're telling me I would be able to open up Outlook from

another computer and somehow be able to access my email? Are you talking

about a yahoo email address?

March 16, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

"Daave" wrote:

>

> TaurArian already provided you a good link for how to perform a clean

> install:

>

> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

>

> If you wish to perform a repair install, which will preserve your data

> (pictures, documents, music files, bookmarks, emails, etc., then you

> should look at:

>

> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

>

> But why do you think you need to reinstall Windows in the first place?

>

Because I've been told on this message board, and others, that it is the

best solution for me. I had major problems installing SP2, I have not been

able to get a newer version of Flash Media to install on Internet Explorer

making IE unusable on many sites, and for the past year I can not install

most software including the software for new digital cameras and printers

I've bought. I've spent many, many hours in each case trying to get the

problem resolved and nothing has worked, and I usually end up getting told

"it sounds like you need to reinstall Windows".

Is a Repair Install the best solution for me? I think my problem is a bunch

of adware on my system, and/or problems with the registry.

March 16, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

dnamertz wrote:

> "pfermar" wrote:

>

>> all the emails sitting in your inbox?

>> your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your

>> internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails

>> from another computer, even a public computer, the only thing that

>> you need is your username and password

> What username and password? I don't have a usename and password for

> my email, I just open up Outlook Express.

>

> Sounds like you're telling me I would be able to open up Outlook from

> another computer and somehow be able to access my email? Are you

> talking about a yahoo email address?

If you're like me, you use Outlook Express to download your e-mail off

the server of your e-mail service provider. Who is your e-mail service

provider? *That* is who requires a user name and password! And your OE

is already configured to send this information automatically. The

information is in Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. If you choose, like me,

not to leave your e-mails on the server, then they will have all been

downloaded to your PC. If they are all in your inbox, you should really

create new folders in OE to move them to. Your Inbox and Sent folders

should never be allowed to get that large, or it may cause problems.

If you're interested in backing up your e-mails, look at:

http://www.insideoe.com/backup/

In the event that you have chosen to leave all your e-mails on the

server, then you would still be able to access them after you have

downloaded them -- either via an e-mail program on another PC or by the

Web interface of your e-mail service provider. Who do you use for your

e-mail service? Do you leave copies of your e-mails on the server? To

find out:

Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.

Advanced tab | Delivery

March 16, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

dnamertz wrote:

> "Daave" wrote:

>

>>

>> TaurArian already provided you a good link for how to perform a clean

>> install:

>>

>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

>>

>> If you wish to perform a repair install, which will preserve your

>> data (pictures, documents, music files, bookmarks, emails, etc.,

>> then you should look at:

>>

>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

>>

>> But why do you think you need to reinstall Windows in the first

>> place?

>>

>

> Because I've been told on this message board, and others, that it is

> the best solution for me. I had major problems installing SP2, I

> have not been able to get a newer version of Flash Media to install

> on Internet Explorer making IE unusable on many sites, and for the

> past year I can not install most software including the software for

> new digital cameras and printers I've bought. I've spent many, many

> hours in each case trying to get the problem resolved and nothing has

> worked, and I usually end up getting told "it sounds like you need to

> reinstall Windows".

>

> Is a Repair Install the best solution for me? I think my problem is

> a bunch of adware on my system, and/or problems with the registry.

Since you didn't provide much detail, I can't really say for sure. But

since you seem to have spent a lot of time trying to solve your problems

unsuccessfully, perhaps a clean install would be your best bet after

all.

What is the make and model of your PC? What method did the PC

manufacturer provide to reinstall or restore?

For future reference, I think you should visit these pages and print out

the very useful information provided:

"How did I get infected in the first place?":

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?autocom=custom&page=How_did_I

"Slow Computer":

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

Here are links that will help you install SP2:

Follow the Service Pack Installation Checklist:

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

SP2 links to OEMs:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx

http://aumha.net/index.php?c=16

Windows XP - Service Pack 2 - FAQs & Best Practices:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#sp2

Windows SP2 Information, Guidelines and Troubleshooting:

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#General

Installing IE7:

http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html

Note that a clean install requires not only backing up all your data,

bookmarks, etc., but also obtaining all the necessary drivers for your

PC. (And you need to have all the installation files/media for your

programs.) You can certainly try the repair install first, and if it

doesn't work to your satisfaction, then you can attempt the clean

install. But whatever you choose, it would be wise to back up *all* your

data.

If you feel malware is your problem, you may want to try posting a

HijackThis log to an appropriate forum. The following list is courtesy

of David H. Lipman:

Forums where you can get expert advice for HiJack This! (HJT) logs.

NOTE: Registration is REQUIRED in any of the below before posting a log

Suggested primary:

http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/index.php?board=3.0

Suggested secondary:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html

http://castlecops.com/forum67.html

Suggested tertiary:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup

http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25

http://www.atribune.org/forums/index.php?showforum=9

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware-Removal-HijackThis-Logs-Go-Here-f37.html

http://gladiator-antivirus.com/forum/index.php?showforum=170

http://forum.networktechs.com/forumdisplay.php?f=130

http://forums.maddoktor2.com/index.php?showforum=17

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showforum=18

http://forums.techguy.org/f54-s.html

http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?showforum=27

http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7

http://www.5starsupport.com/ipboard/index.php?showforum=18

http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=7

http://makephpbb.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=2

http://forums.techguy.org/54-security/

http://forums.security-central.us/forumdisplay.php?f=13

---------------------------------------------------------

Try the suggested primary link first and scroll down to "Using Hijack

This."

March 16, 2008

RE: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

you have to configure outlook with the server type, here you can pick your

POP3 to connect with email server, no matter if is yahoo, hotmail , etc, and

you have to provide your incoming and outcoming email,password and username,

and is your choice if you decide that once your email get to outlook delete

them from your email server provider, I have four account with hotmail,

yahoo, and two with verizon, all of them go to my outlook , but I decided no

to be deleted from my email server, in that way if I have problems with my

computer I can go to the library and read all my emails,

according with your post your email adress is yourname@outlook.com

I never heard such thing

"dnamertz" wrote:

>

> "pfermar" wrote:

>

> > all the emails sitting in your inbox?

> > your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your

> > internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails from another

> > computer, even a public computer, the only thing that you need is your

> > username and password

> >

>

> What username and password? I don't have a usename and password for my

> email, I just open up Outlook Express.

>

> Sounds like you're telling me I would be able to open up Outlook from

> another computer and somehow be able to access my email? Are you talking

> about a yahoo email address?

March 16, 2008

RE: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

Then your are most likely getting loads of spam mail, as it's never a good

idea to post your real e-mail address on a public accessible area, always

munge your e-mail to cut down on spam and other idiots.

> according with your post your email adress is yourname@outlook.com

> I never heard such thing

>

> "dnamertz" wrote:

>

> >

> > "pfermar" wrote:

> >

> > > all the emails sitting in your inbox?

> > > your emails has nothing to do with your windows, they sitting in your

> > > internet provider server, did you ever tried to read your emails from another

> > > computer, even a public computer, the only thing that you need is your

> > > username and password

> > >

> >

> > What username and password? I don't have a usename and password for my

> > email, I just open up Outlook Express.

> >

> > Sounds like you're telling me I would be able to open up Outlook from

> > another computer and somehow be able to access my email? Are you talking

> > about a yahoo email address?

March 17, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

"Daave" wrote:

>

> If you're like me, you use Outlook Express to download your e-mail off

> the server of your e-mail service provider. Who is your e-mail service

> provider? *That* is who requires a user name and password! And your OE

> is already configured to send this information automatically. The

> information is in Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. If you choose, like me,

> not to leave your e-mails on the server, then they will have all been

> downloaded to your PC. If they are all in your inbox, you should really

> create new folders in OE to move them to. Your Inbox and Sent folders

> should never be allowed to get that large, or it may cause problems.

>

> If you're interested in backing up your e-mails, look at:

>

> http://www.insideoe.com/backup/

>

> In the event that you have chosen to leave all your e-mails on the

> server, then you would still be able to access them after you have

> downloaded them -- either via an e-mail program on another PC or by the

> Web interface of your e-mail service provider. Who do you use for your

> e-mail service? Do you leave copies of your e-mails on the server? To

> find out:

>

> Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.

> Advanced tab | Delivery

>

My service provider is comcast, and I must have chosen a user name/password

for my email when I started with them 6 or 7 years ago but I don't recall and

never use it to access email.

I don't know if I leave my emails on the server or not. I leave them in my

inbox (the ones I want to keep anyway)...does this mean I am leaving them on

the server? If so, I will look into creating new folders and copying them

there.

March 17, 2008

RE: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

"pfermar" wrote:

> you have to configure outlook with the server type, here you can pick your

> POP3 to connect with email server, no matter if is yahoo, hotmail , etc, and

> you have to provide your incoming and outcoming email,password and username,

> and is your choice if you decide that once your email get to outlook delete

> them from your email server provider,

Looking at properties in OE, I now see the POP3 and my user name and

password and all that stuff.

March 17, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

"Daave" wrote:

> Since you didn't provide much detail, I can't really say for sure. But

> since you seem to have spent a lot of time trying to solve your problems

> unsuccessfully, perhaps a clean install would be your best bet after

> all.

>

> What is the make and model of your PC? What method did the PC

> manufacturer provide to reinstall or restore?

>

> For future reference, I think you should visit these pages and print out

> the very useful information provided:

>

> "How did I get infected in the first place?":

> http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?autocom=custom&page=How_did_I

>

> "Slow Computer":

> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

>

> Here are links that will help you install SP2:

>

> Follow the Service Pack Installation Checklist:

> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

>

> SP2 links to OEMs:

> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx

> http://aumha.net/index.php?c=16

>

> Windows XP - Service Pack 2 - FAQs & Best Practices:

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#sp2

>

> Windows SP2 Information, Guidelines and Troubleshooting:

> http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#General

>

> Installing IE7:

> http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html

>

> Note that a clean install requires not only backing up all your data,

> bookmarks, etc., but also obtaining all the necessary drivers for your

> PC. (And you need to have all the installation files/media for your

> programs.) You can certainly try the repair install first, and if it

> doesn't work to your satisfaction, then you can attempt the clean

> install. But whatever you choose, it would be wise to back up *all* your

> data.

>

> If you feel malware is your problem, you may want to try posting a

> HijackThis log to an appropriate forum. The following list is courtesy

> of David H. Lipman:

>

> Forums where you can get expert advice for HiJack This! (HJT) logs.

>

> NOTE: Registration is REQUIRED in any of the below before posting a log

>

> Suggested primary:

> http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/index.php?board=3.0

>

> Suggested secondary:

> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html

> http://castlecops.com/forum67.html

>

> Suggested tertiary:

> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup

> http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25

> http://www.atribune.org/forums/index.php?showforum=9

> http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware-Removal-HijackThis-Logs-Go-Here-f37.html

> http://gladiator-antivirus.com/forum/index.php?showforum=170

> http://forum.networktechs.com/forumdisplay.php?f=130

> http://forums.maddoktor2.com/index.php?showforum=17

> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5

> http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showforum=18

> http://forums.techguy.org/f54-s.html

> http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?showforum=27

> http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7

> http://www.5starsupport.com/ipboard/index.php?showforum=18

> http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=7

> http://makephpbb.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=2

> http://forums.techguy.org/54-security/

> http://forums.security-central.us/forumdisplay.php?f=13

>

> ---------------------------------------------------------

>

Thanks for the info. I will try the repair install first. I'm going thru

now and trying to remove some of these programs that possibly created the

problem, and half of them I can't delete using Add/Remove Hardware because

they try to unistall using InstallShield...which is one of the problems I've

been having the last year, but usually when installing, not uninstalling

software. Is there another way to uninstall a piece of software and all it's

components?

Unfortunately I can't print any of the links you provided because my printer

won't work since the printer software won't install.

March 17, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

dnamertz wrote:

> "Daave" wrote:

>> Do you leave copies of your e-mails on the server? To find out:

>>

>> Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.

>> Advanced tab | Delivery

> I don't know if I leave my emails on the server or not. I leave them

> in my inbox (the ones I want to keep anyway)...does this mean I am

> leaving them on the server? If so, I will look into creating new

> folders and copying them there.

Once again, to find out:

Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.

Advanced tab | Delivery

Is the box next to "Leave a copy of messages on server" checked? If not,

then you are not leaving any of your e-mails on Comcast's server; they

have all been downloaded to your PC.

March 18, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

"Daave" wrote:

>

> Once again, to find out:

>

> Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.

> Advanced tab | Delivery

>

> Is the box next to "Leave a copy of messages on server" checked? If not,

> then you are not leaving any of your e-mails on Comcast's server; they

> have all been downloaded to your PC.

>

OK, the box was not checked. I just now put a check in the box, so does

this mean that everything currently sitting in my inbox (received before I

checked the box) is not backed up on the server? Or did checking the box

today back up everything that is currently in my inbox?

March 18, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

dnamertz wrote:

> "Daave" wrote:

>>

>> Once again, to find out:

>>

>> Tools | Accounts | Mail tab. Double-click on e-mail account.

>> Advanced tab | Delivery

>>

>> Is the box next to "Leave a copy of messages on server" checked? If

>> not, then you are not leaving any of your e-mails on Comcast's

>> server; they have all been downloaded to your PC.

>>

>

> OK, the box was not checked. I just now put a check in the box, so

> does this mean that everything currently sitting in my inbox

> (received before I checked the box) is not backed up on the server?

Correct.

> Or did checking the box today back up everything that is currently in

> my inbox?

Nope.

What should happen now from this point forward, however, is that copies

of all future e-mails you download will remain on the server.

Personally, I wouldn't be interested in doing this; it's your call. The

advantage of this method is that if you ever lose your data and it is

not backed up, at least all future e-mails will be saved. If your

Comcast e-mail account has virtually unlimited storage, I suppose it's

not a bad idea. But I think backing up all your data (which you should

be doing anyway) is better.

Once more, if you're interested in backing up your e-mails, look at:

http://www.insideoe.com/backup/

To back up *all* your data or to make periodic images of your hard drive

(useful if your system gets totally borked), I would use an imaging

program such as Acronis True Image. This method is much better than

having to perform a clean install and then downloading and installing

all the Windows updates, reinstalling drivers and programs, customizing

all your settings, copying back all your data, etc.

March 18, 2008

Re: Need Help Reinstalling Windows XP

dnamertz wrote:

> Thanks for the info. I will try the repair install first. I'm going

> thru now and trying to remove some of these programs that possibly

> created the problem, and half of them I can't delete using Add/Remove

> Hardware because they try to unistall using InstallShield...which is

> one of the problems I've been having the last year, but usually when

> installing, not uninstalling software. Is there another way to

> uninstall a piece of software and all it's components?

I looked at one of the threads where you asked a similar question

involving InstallShield:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_frm/thread/cc6b78a979d1d7b0/9bf31e015d3995b

There seem to be three useful replies (dated May 18, June 13, and June

14) that you didn't respond to. Perhaps you'd like to look at them

again.

> Unfortunately I can't print any of the links you provided because my

> printer won't work since the printer software won't install.

In that case, you should temporarily use another PC (work, friend,

relative, neighbor, library, etc.).

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