PC advice please - reformat whole thing ??

jema_2

PC, approx 4-5 years old, running xp, linked to broadband via set top box (ntl )
had several minor problems in last year, from running very slow, to jumpy mouse,
now I cant get at my e-mails, ntl have checked their side (ok), PC is slowly grinding to a halt, its less that 25 % full, have been running, adaware + spbot + avg, all the time, but Ntl think there might be some other resident bug in it
we also get a message that some link is missing every time we start it up now

?SHOULD I CLEAN & "STRIP" EVERY THING OFF THE COMPUTER & START FROM SCRATCH ? ( if so how do I do that ...please???)

I have back ups of all data, apart from emails, I have the original set up discs
,this would mean i could also "dump" any programs that have been acumulated over the years & not needed

advice please??? , I'm away over the weekend (therefore not able to respond til v late sun), but on monday really need to get this machine running to be able to work on it- what (+ how ) would you do?
many thanks J.

skr80ab

jema wrote:

PC, approx 4-5 years old, running xp, linked to broadband via set top box (ntl )
had several minor problems in last year, from running very slow, to jumpy mouse,
now I cant get at my e-mails, ntl have checked their side (ok), PC is slowly grinding to a halt, its less that 25 % full, have been running, adaware + spbot + avg, all the time, but Ntl think there might be some other resident bug in it
we also get a message that some link is missing every time we start it up now

?SHOULD I CLEAN & "STRIP" EVERY THING OFF THE COMPUTER & START FROM SCRATCH ? ( if so how do I do that ...please???)

I have back ups of all data, apart from emails, I have the original set up discs
,this would mean i could also "dump" any programs that have been acumulated over the years & not needed

advice please??? , I'm away over the weekend (therefore not able to respond til v late sun), but on monday really need to get this machine running to be able to work on it- what (+ how ) would you do?
many thanks J.

personally I would formate your drive and re-install everything - as long as you have all the disks and keep a note of your internet and e-mail settings / passwords (pop3 / smtp account stuff) It would be quicker than messing around trying to sort it out!

ka7e

MY PC has performed much better since I installed the Avast anti-virus software mentioned in this thread . It didn't seem to find anything, but we're no longer crashing!
Remeber to uninstall you other spyware/antivirus software first.
Also PCPitstop is a useful tool for locating potential problem areas.
Formatting a harddrive is quite cathartic - clean slate, and all that! Just check and double-check you have all the disks and drivers, passwords, codes and contact numbers you need beforehand. It's also very helpful to have access to a laptop to use to get on the net, in case you need get downloads to complete the process!

Wombat

As you're running Windows XP, you can use its Files And Settings Transfer Wizard to transfer emails, settings and any other files you need.

To open the Files and Settings, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Files and Settings.

You will need to have some sort of media to store these on (CD, floppy, USB pen drive etc.) while you format your hard drive. Floppy disks are a bit of a last resort as you'll need quite a few!!!

What I do to reformat a drive is to start the PC with a start-up floppy in the floppy drive (the BIOS setting needs to be set to read this as a boot device before your hard drive). Any start up disk will do. Then type format C: at the DOS prompt. When it's finished formatting, take the floppy out, put your Win XP CD in the drive and restart your PC. It should then load WinXP as a fresh copy.

You can then use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to load back in your saved files and settings.

T4i

Wombat wrote:

What I do to reformat a drive is to start the PC with a start-up floppy in the floppy drive (the BIOS setting needs to be set to read this as a boot device before your hard drive). Any start up disk will do. Then type format C: at the DOS prompt. When it's finished formatting, take the floppy out, put your Win XP CD in the drive and restart your PC. It should then load WinXP as a fresh copy.

Your not actualy formatting then? Your just re-loading XP?

Does the XP CD give a option to format C:? I've always used a dragon2k disc to boot to DOS, then run format cmd or fdisk then format if its in NTFS.

T4i

I always forget to export my favourites.

This can be done through the export wizard in IE6. Files And Settings Transfer Wizard may also do this for you, not too sure.

culpepper

I would agree with skr80ab and format. First save all your website favourites ,drivers for hardware,emails etc to disc.Also its a good idea to print out any instructions you might want for reinstalling .You might want to save your AVG installer prog if you still have it and the updates folder so you dont have to go online and get it before you reconnect to the internet.I usually write down the programs we will be wanting reinstalled and collect up all the installation discs too.Then I can tick them off as I go (we have several pcs and I usually end up being the reinstaller so have learned from my mistakes)
If I remember rightly,you can format and reinstall by booting from the XP disc which guides you through it.

bbb_uk

Wombat wrote:

...What I do to reformat a drive is to start the PC with a start-up floppy in the floppy drive (the BIOS setting needs to be set to read this as a boot device before your hard drive). Any start up disk will do. Then type format C: at the DOS prompt. When it's finished formatting, take the floppy out, put your Win XP CD in the drive and restart your PC. It should then load WinXP as a fresh copy....

You can't format drive C: from a start-up (DOS) disc unless the existing partition is in FAT(32). If it's in NTFS already (which most are now) then you would have to delete the partition and create a new DOS partition using FDISK, then format drive C: and proceed with installing WinXP (and selecting to use NTFS if you wanted).

nm63uk

Get a new hard disk. Install XP fresh on that. Leave your old disk in intact. Windows will be so fast you'll sweat.
You can then move all the files (My docs/pics/music etc and any other files you might need) you need off your old one if and when you need them. If you get on ok after a month or two, format the old one and either leave it empty or if your not desperate for space, install XP on that one too then disconnect it, then if you need to do it again you'll have a nice clean install of xp ready to go.

Hard disks are very cheap at the moment too.

Good luck

Cheers NM

LongDongDave

nm63uk wrote:

Get a new hard disk. Install XP fresh on that. Leave you old disk in intact. Windows will be so fast you'll sweat.
You can then move all the files (My docs/pics/music etc and any other files you might need) you need off your old one if and when you need them. If you get on ok after a month or two, format the old one and either leave it empty or if your not desperate for space, install XP on that one too then disconnect it, then if you need to do it again you'll have a nice clean install of xp ready to go.

Hard disks are very cheap at the moment too.

Good luck

Cheers NM

Excellent advice. I'm allways messing around with new progs and format my HD every 4 to 6 months. Formating and new install is around an hour. I allways partition my HD with a 5GB sector just for my best progs which i move over to C and i'm up and running.

Wombat

bbb-uk - yes, sorry. In fact when you reboot from the XP installation disk it gives you an option to format the hard drive in FAT or NTFS, so no need to format from DOS.

So I'd boot to DOS, fdisk the hard drive, then reboot with the XP installation disk, choose the option to format in NTFS and reinstal WinXP.

Then transfer back in your stuff via the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.