slow computer and reinstalling windows!!

sam1970

my 2 years old desktop (windows xp Home) is becoming painfully slow as a result of accumulation of software and internet surfing so i have decided to do clean reinstall of windows ( from the manufacturer recovery disk) but i have been told by a friend that i have to reformat the hard disk first or otherwise i would not notice any improvement!! is that true? and can any one give a link to tutorial on how to do that........thanks

CHR15

Using the recovery disk will return the PC to exactly the same way is was the day you bought it.

The Recovery process will reformat the drive first. You will lose everything, pictures, documents etc.

You will need to back everything up onto disks. All your documents, pictures, music, emails, email settings, Internet favorites etc before starting.

There isnt really a tutorial for your restore. It depends on where you bought the PC (is your restore disk a red floppy disc or a CD?)

mar<

2nd'd - you don't need to format if you restore using a recovery disc.

A 'clean install' would suggest you are doing a complete vanilla windows install, not a 'recovery'. which would require a format.

Sometimes restore programs back up your files for you. best to be safe tho' and do it manually too i'd say.

albertross_2

alternatively, run https://www.ccleaner.com and go through control panel, add remove programs, uninstall all the crud you no longer want, then defrag c:

sam1970

thank you guys...the computer actually is medion which i bought from aldi..when i inserted the CD which came with it ,one of the options included was to install windows xp(sp2)..so will this be a recovery cd or full windows cd?and also what should i do baout the drivers for sound card,tv tuner..etc?excuse my questions please as i have never done this before and iam a bit nervous.

CHR15

If its the recovery disk which came with the PC, all the drivers will be there on the disk.

It will be exactly the same as the first time you switched it on after purchasing it.

If you are concerned about drivers. Download Driver Genius

http://www.shareup.com/Driver_Genius_Professional-download-10845.html

This will enable you to back up all your currently installed drivers. This can be helpful if you have installed anything (printer, webcam etc) since buying the PC.

JonnyThunder

Easiest way I find, is to scan through the hardware you have on your PC and download in advance all the stuff you'll need. I usually dump it on a datastick or CD.

Better still, if you're REALLY brave - install another harddisk and dump all your data onto it. Then you can reinstall the primary disk and your data will never be touched. I use this with dual 400gb Raided disks for my data storage. It's great because Microsoft products ALWAYS become slow after a while.

(Gates himself recommended with 98 / 2000 a reinstall every 3 months! Pfft)

mar<

I would say it wouldn't contain all the drivers that you'd need Sam, so I'd follow the very good advice above.

Donnie

CHR15 wrote: »

If its the recovery disk which came with the PC, all the drivers will be there on the disk.

It will be exactly the same as the first time you switched it on after purchasing it.

If you are concerned about drivers. Download Driver Genius

http://www.shareup.com/Driver_Genius_Professional-download-10845.html

This will enable you to back up all your currently installed drivers. This can be helpful if you have installed anything (printer, webcam etc) since buying the PC.

Even if one were to use it, it would probably be better to use the latest version; http://www.driver-soft.com/

Jzpop

All the Medions that I have seen restore Windows from a hidden partition on the hard drive, which also includes drivers and factory-preinstalled software. Occasionally some 'extra' software is included on the supplied CDs.

Of course, the hidden partition can not contain drivers for hardware that you have added yourself, so dig out the original CDs for those pieces of hardware, or be prepared to download them again once XP is reinstalled. Also be prepared for a very long session with Windows update - probably a few hours, even on broadband.

The CD is used to start the reboot to the hidden partition, and restoration to factory-supplied condition is automatic from that point onwards.

As others have said, you will lose all emails, documents, passwords, pictures etc that you have created / stored on your PC. It is essential to back them up first.