Scooby-Mark

Hi,

I have done this before several times but cna never remeber the first step

How do I get started to wipe my C: Drive and reinstall all my software ??

I have "My Documents" on a different segment of my Hard disk ( D: Drive ) so do I need to back these up before I start ??

Cheers
Mark

Scooby Dooby Blue

If your PC doesn't look for a boot disc before booting Windows from the hard drive, you will have to tell it to.
You can change the boot sequence in the BIOS or press one of the function keys (mobo specific)

Once you've got the PC booting from CD, the installation will start by copying the setup files across.
Next the instal will examine your hard drive.
You will be prompted to choose where you want to install/repair windows.

What you need to do is highlight the C partition and delete it (D, Ent, L)
now install Windows on the resultant raw, unpartitioned space (C will be the default)

jpor

iTrader: (1)

One thing to bare in mind. If your My Documents sit on a NTFS partition, then you may have issues accessing it when your new installation completes. As that partition will have permissions set-up for your old installation. so make sure you set up the same accounts you had before if using Windows 2000/XP.

Scooby-Mark

Thanks for jogging the memory

mike1210

http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/installxp/installXP1.htm

may be of use to ya

JPOR: surely the SSID would be different for the account on the new install and thus cause the same problem of access. However you can take ownership of the file which should sort the permissions out. On pro admins can access all accounts as standard but the reinstall may mess the permissions up a little

Foot_Tapper

Damn good idea having your "my docs" on a different partition.
They should be fine, unless you take the wrong drive option when designating which drive to wipe /reformat for ur xp install.
Thats the way i do any of my pc's, saves grief. (but u could do a backup for peace of mind)

something else i do, but each to their own. When the install is complete with all updates, drivers, apps...4 hours later lolol, you know the score...ghost the system drive, and place it on another partition...only takes 10 mins for a restore

Scooby-Mark

I also have a seperate partition for all my tempory internet files and where I download stuff too, find it keeps a lot of crap off your system C: Drive.

What do you mean by ghost the system drive ??

Foot_Tapper

Norton Ghost, to make an image of your system drive.
There used to be drive image from powerquest but I believe Norton have bought them out.
http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoff.../features.html

about £10 for the 2003 version now
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...004681-6699864

Scooby-Mark

Thanks