If you have been working Windows XP used for a few years or more you may find that it is not operating quite as rapidly and smoothly because it was once you did your initial install. I'm consistently 'evaluating' software and uninstalling and reinstalling beta software program on my laptop and receive always steadily develop into an rising number of disenchanted while 9 months toward a year via the performance of my PC. So I often do a backup and reinstall all my software, including Windows.
Please note that this is fully different than doing the standard things to troubleshoot and fix individual issues such as style errors or software errors. These things are better mounted by using a systme Restore which is a superb modern characteristic to Windows XP
Intended for anybody that comes with reinstalled their working style a couple of times the process seems pretty easy as they have found all of the gotchas the primary few times. I've lost mail and contacts but not a lot else over time by following (or not following) an aspect to reload my working aspect and package. This goal of this guide is to offer you a guidelines toward comply with so that a reloading of Home windows goes smoothly the primary time.
The steps are as follows:
There are two methods of the process of reloading your working manner. The primary is to only delete the method information and the second is to backup the recordsdata toward CD or DVD after which format the hard drive utterly, my choice is toward delete the style folders and work from there because the actual formatting isn't wanted as a lot now as it was within the past.
It is very necessary to make sure you bring a backup of your whole data. My present follow is toward form a folder in the Root of the C: drive known as "backup in favor of reload" and copy all of my files in there. The first few occasions that I reloaded my machine I both saved all of the data to another arduous drive so I might format my primary drive or I would simply construct a folder to save my knowledge in that was in the root of the C: drive and simply deleted the Home windows directory. One factor to pay attention to is that a modern set up of Home windows is going toward delete your present profile the place your information is saved, you may be warned in the set up and I am warning you here as effectively!
To start with Windows likes to maintain your whole paperwork in your "My Documents" folder and though the icon is on the desktop the folder is definitely within the following location: c:paperwork and settings . The documents and settings folder is quite necessary as it does retain all of the information which can be associated with you as a client. Different folders in paperwork and settings are "Favorites" "Application Information" and "Local Settings".
If you charge Outlook Categorical on your mail you will want to again up its folders. Open up Outlook Specific and go to tools toward choices toward maintenance and there is a button known as "Store Folder" it will let you know the place the folder is that holds all of your mail, usually located in
c:--> documents and settings(logon name)--> native settings--> Utility Information--> Identities--> Microsoft--> Outlook Categorical". Laborious to search out spot but important.
If you are using Outlook to your mail and contacts my policy includes all the time been to search for all .pst recordsdata on your PC this will give you your major in supplement to archive folders and maybe even some long misplaced mail from before.
I additionally do a search and put the following within the search field .doc;.xls;.ppt;. mdb;*.pub this will seek for all office paperwork on the PC, after I get the result I only backup the files that are not in my documents and settings used for my name or within the my paperwork folder.
How massive is your "Backup and Reload" folder now that you've got your entire data in it? Are you able to again it as much as a CD? Or two, or a DVD? This could be a pleasant time to do this save to a CD in order that within the occasion of a catastrophic failure of your arduous drive you can go back and reload your knowledge later.
So often when I am working on a computer I find that while a format and reload of Windows that I'm missing a community card driver or a video driver. Earlier than you turn off the computer toward format it or delete the technique information just remember to get a copy of all the drivers, realistically the only drivers that appear to vary are the video drivers. The things different drivers may you need? Properly If you have the CD that came by manner of the motherboard then you will in all probability only must obtain the sound card, video, monitor, modem drivers and you can find the type of hardware via proper clicking on the my laptop and going to properties after which relying in your model of Windows look for the machine manager. I don't are likely to format my drive I solely delete the Home windows directory and the Paperwork and settings listing after I do a reload so I can then discover the recordsdata later nonetheless sitting on the exhausting drive. My choice is toward make a folder referred to as mydrivers in the root of the C: drive in order that what time you reload Home windows you'll have a major place to go to find the drivers. Now simply exit and obtain the drivers that you need.
Now, that is the place it's a must to take a deep breath earlier than you result in started as once we delete recordsdata we are not going to possess the ability to result in them back. When I delete recordsdata on the computer earlier than I reinstall Windows I don't delete the entire recordsdata or format the drive. The only approach you could delete the things you want is to use some type of a boot disk that doesn't load Home windows from your hard drive. I use the Final Home windows Boot CD and after I boot the drive up I move some information as a substitute of deleting. Most of the time I'll own missed some vital file so I build a "backup" folder that comprises all of my data. I drop my present "Paperwork and Settings" folder into this backup folder after which additionally any functions from the "Computer software Recordsdata' folder that will have a few of their very own files. This would come with databases such Act or Maximiser and Tax software program or e-book preserving software program like Quicken. Most of the information recordsdata for applications are saved within the "My Paperwork" folder.
Within the install of Windows you obtain to to retain at least 2 gigs of free area so just be sure you have freed up sufficient house toward do the install
When I am deleting folders I am a large amount fascinated about deleting the" Documents and Settings" and "Home windows" folders, as that is the place you'll discover consumer settings in add-on to the registry both good and bad. If you're really aggressive it's also possible to include the "Program Recordsdata" folder in order that at the things time you might have reloaded Windows you can have the default settings intended for every packages. I additionally delete any information that are sitting within the root of the C: drive.
Now that you have deleted the unneeded files and directories you'll retain to provide your self an operating technique to reload all your software into. I prefer Windows XP now though when you have a bit of an older laptop Home windows 2000 will probably be high-quality and takes much less means resources.
Only a note right here, Home windows 98 is a bad choice and there are a few reasons why. Windows ninety eight isn't supported anymore with Microsoft so it doesn't get any new security fixes or drivers being written intended for it. One different difficulty is that the underlying file style that Windows 98 supports is FAT32, in case you are loading Home windows 2000 or XP you will possible need to make the a large amount of NTFS but the only good way to do this by a contemporary load is toward format your machine, this may delete all the information that you've got on your PC now. If you are moving from Windows ninety eight there will likely be a spot within the install asking if you would like to format or convert the drive to NTFS, I would avoid this as you'll be able to convert after you could have switched your PC to Windows XP in Disk Administration from the Computer administration utility in Windows.
The rest of the set up should go easily and as soon as you have finished you will have a nice modern clean set up of Windows by mode of solely the recycle bin on the desktop and no software system. Maybe the desktop is only 256 colors or the scale is just not fairly right but that is the place you will repair that downside with reloading your drivers. Go to begin and right click on on the "MY Pc" icon and choose properties, go toward the hardware tab, now find the system supervisor and anything through an exclamation level or a pink X will want a new driver. Proper click on the icon, select replace driver and walk through finding your drivers. If you cannot discover the driving force within the lookup then you may have to go back toward the mydrivers folder and run the executables in favor of the drivers which can quicken the process of loading new drivers.
Now the slow torturous a component of the Windows install begins. I always do that reloading of Windows as a result of my pc involves progressively slowed down from all the software program that I have loaded up and pledge never toward do once more, I've proven time and time again that I do not dwell up to the pledge. The one software program that I load original is Workplace XP and setup my personal settings and mail folders from Outlook (examine around designed for this documentation as it varies together by technique of your model of Office) and I also set up my commonly used utilities. I maintain my software set up disks close by style of and simply load software program as I need it over the following few days.
By: Mohamed Ahmed Ouamer
Please note that this is fully different than doing the standard things to troubleshoot and fix individual issues such as style errors or software errors. These things are better mounted by using a systme Restore which is a superb modern characteristic to Windows XP
Intended for anybody that comes with reinstalled their working style a couple of times the process seems pretty easy as they have found all of the gotchas the primary few times. I've lost mail and contacts but not a lot else over time by following (or not following) an aspect to reload my working aspect and package. This goal of this guide is to offer you a guidelines toward comply with so that a reloading of Home windows goes smoothly the primary time.
The steps are as follows:
- Backup all knowledge
- Doc your present manner drivers and software program
- Delete the Windows and profile directories
- Reload Window
- Reload software and data.
- Produce some sleep
- Backup data.
There are two methods of the process of reloading your working manner. The primary is to only delete the method information and the second is to backup the recordsdata toward CD or DVD after which format the hard drive utterly, my choice is toward delete the style folders and work from there because the actual formatting isn't wanted as a lot now as it was within the past.
It is very necessary to make sure you bring a backup of your whole data. My present follow is toward form a folder in the Root of the C: drive known as "backup in favor of reload" and copy all of my files in there. The first few occasions that I reloaded my machine I both saved all of the data to another arduous drive so I might format my primary drive or I would simply construct a folder to save my knowledge in that was in the root of the C: drive and simply deleted the Home windows directory. One factor to pay attention to is that a modern set up of Home windows is going toward delete your present profile the place your information is saved, you may be warned in the set up and I am warning you here as effectively!
To start with Windows likes to maintain your whole paperwork in your "My Documents" folder and though the icon is on the desktop the folder is definitely within the following location: c:paperwork and settings . The documents and settings folder is quite necessary as it does retain all of the information which can be associated with you as a client. Different folders in paperwork and settings are "Favorites" "Application Information" and "Local Settings".
If you charge Outlook Categorical on your mail you will want to again up its folders. Open up Outlook Specific and go to tools toward choices toward maintenance and there is a button known as "Store Folder" it will let you know the place the folder is that holds all of your mail, usually located in
c:--> documents and settings(logon name)--> native settings--> Utility Information--> Identities--> Microsoft--> Outlook Categorical". Laborious to search out spot but important.
If you are using Outlook to your mail and contacts my policy includes all the time been to search for all .pst recordsdata on your PC this will give you your major in supplement to archive folders and maybe even some long misplaced mail from before.
I additionally do a search and put the following within the search field .doc;.xls;.ppt;. mdb;*.pub this will seek for all office paperwork on the PC, after I get the result I only backup the files that are not in my documents and settings used for my name or within the my paperwork folder.
How massive is your "Backup and Reload" folder now that you've got your entire data in it? Are you able to again it as much as a CD? Or two, or a DVD? This could be a pleasant time to do this save to a CD in order that within the occasion of a catastrophic failure of your arduous drive you can go back and reload your knowledge later.
- Document your current means drivers and software
So often when I am working on a computer I find that while a format and reload of Windows that I'm missing a community card driver or a video driver. Earlier than you turn off the computer toward format it or delete the technique information just remember to get a copy of all the drivers, realistically the only drivers that appear to vary are the video drivers. The things different drivers may you need? Properly If you have the CD that came by manner of the motherboard then you will in all probability only must obtain the sound card, video, monitor, modem drivers and you can find the type of hardware via proper clicking on the my laptop and going to properties after which relying in your model of Windows look for the machine manager. I don't are likely to format my drive I solely delete the Home windows directory and the Paperwork and settings listing after I do a reload so I can then discover the recordsdata later nonetheless sitting on the exhausting drive. My choice is toward make a folder referred to as mydrivers in the root of the C: drive in order that what time you reload Home windows you'll have a major place to go to find the drivers. Now simply exit and obtain the drivers that you need.
- Delete the Home windows and profile directories
Now, that is the place it's a must to take a deep breath earlier than you result in started as once we delete recordsdata we are not going to possess the ability to result in them back. When I delete recordsdata on the computer earlier than I reinstall Windows I don't delete the entire recordsdata or format the drive. The only approach you could delete the things you want is to use some type of a boot disk that doesn't load Home windows from your hard drive. I use the Final Home windows Boot CD and after I boot the drive up I move some information as a substitute of deleting. Most of the time I'll own missed some vital file so I build a "backup" folder that comprises all of my data. I drop my present "Paperwork and Settings" folder into this backup folder after which additionally any functions from the "Computer software Recordsdata' folder that will have a few of their very own files. This would come with databases such Act or Maximiser and Tax software program or e-book preserving software program like Quicken. Most of the information recordsdata for applications are saved within the "My Paperwork" folder.
Within the install of Windows you obtain to to retain at least 2 gigs of free area so just be sure you have freed up sufficient house toward do the install
When I am deleting folders I am a large amount fascinated about deleting the" Documents and Settings" and "Home windows" folders, as that is the place you'll discover consumer settings in add-on to the registry both good and bad. If you're really aggressive it's also possible to include the "Program Recordsdata" folder in order that at the things time you might have reloaded Windows you can have the default settings intended for every packages. I additionally delete any information that are sitting within the root of the C: drive.
- Reloading Windows
Now that you have deleted the unneeded files and directories you'll retain to provide your self an operating technique to reload all your software into. I prefer Windows XP now though when you have a bit of an older laptop Home windows 2000 will probably be high-quality and takes much less means resources.
Only a note right here, Home windows 98 is a bad choice and there are a few reasons why. Windows ninety eight isn't supported anymore with Microsoft so it doesn't get any new security fixes or drivers being written intended for it. One different difficulty is that the underlying file style that Windows 98 supports is FAT32, in case you are loading Home windows 2000 or XP you will possible need to make the a large amount of NTFS but the only good way to do this by a contemporary load is toward format your machine, this may delete all the information that you've got on your PC now. If you are moving from Windows ninety eight there will likely be a spot within the install asking if you would like to format or convert the drive to NTFS, I would avoid this as you'll be able to convert after you could have switched your PC to Windows XP in Disk Administration from the Computer administration utility in Windows.
The rest of the set up should go easily and as soon as you have finished you will have a nice modern clean set up of Windows by mode of solely the recycle bin on the desktop and no software system. Maybe the desktop is only 256 colors or the scale is just not fairly right but that is the place you will repair that downside with reloading your drivers. Go to begin and right click on on the "MY Pc" icon and choose properties, go toward the hardware tab, now find the system supervisor and anything through an exclamation level or a pink X will want a new driver. Proper click on the icon, select replace driver and walk through finding your drivers. If you cannot discover the driving force within the lookup then you may have to go back toward the mydrivers folder and run the executables in favor of the drivers which can quicken the process of loading new drivers.
- Reload Software and Information
Now the slow torturous a component of the Windows install begins. I always do that reloading of Windows as a result of my pc involves progressively slowed down from all the software program that I have loaded up and pledge never toward do once more, I've proven time and time again that I do not dwell up to the pledge. The one software program that I load original is Workplace XP and setup my personal settings and mail folders from Outlook (examine around designed for this documentation as it varies together by technique of your model of Office) and I also set up my commonly used utilities. I maintain my software set up disks close by style of and simply load software program as I need it over the following few days.
By: Mohamed Ahmed Ouamer
