Reloading Windows XP
If you have been running Windows XP for a couple of years or more you may find that it is not running very as rapidly and smoothly as it was whenever you did your very first set up. I am continuously ‘evaluating’ software program and uninstalling and reinstalling beta software program on my personal computer and have always gradually turn out to be more and more disappointed after nine months to some year with the performance of my Pc. So I frequently do a backup and reinstall all my software, including Glass windows.
Please note that this is totally various than performing the standard points to troubleshoot and fix individual problems such as system mistakes or application errors. These things are much better fixed by utilizing a systme Restore which is an excellent new feature to Glass windows XP
For anybody that has reinstalled their operating system a couple of occasions the procedure appears pretty straightforward as they have found all of the gotchas the first few occasions. I’ve lost mail and contacts but not a lot else over the years by subsequent (or not following) a system to reload my running program and software program. This purpose of this guide is to give you a checklist to follow so that a reloading of Windows goes smoothly the very first time.
The steps are as follows:
1. Backup all information
2. Document your present system motorists and software program
3. Delete the Windows and profile directories
4. Reload Window
5. Reload software and data.
6. Get some sleep
1. Backup data.
There are two techniques of the process of reloading your running system. The first would be to just delete the system documents and the second is to backup the files to Cd or DVD and then format the hard generate totally, my preference is to delete the program folders and work from there since the actual formatting is not needed as much now as it was in the past.
It is really important to be sure to get a backup of all of your information. My current practice is to create a folder in the Root with the C: drive known as "backup for reload" and copy every one of my files in there. The first couple of times that i reloaded my machine I either saved all with the data to an additional hard generate so I could format my primary generate or I would just produce a folder to save my information in that was in the root with the C: drive and just deleted the Glass windows directory. 1 thing to be aware of is that a brand new install of Windows is heading to delete your current profile exactly where your data is kept, you will probably be warned within the install and I’m warning you right here as nicely!
First of all Windows likes to maintain all of your paperwork inside your "My Documents" folder and even though the icon is about the desktop the folder is actually within the following location: c:documents and settings . The paperwork and configurations folder is quite important since it does have all of the documents which are associated with you as a user. Other folders in paperwork and configurations are "Favorites" "Application Data" and "Local Settings".
Should you use Outlook Express for your mail you will wish to back again up its folders. Open up Outlook Express and head to tools to options to maintenance and there is a button called "Store Folder" this can tell you where the folder is the fact that holds every one of your mail, generally located in c:paperwork and settingslocal settings Application DataIdentitiesMicrosoftOutlook Express., difficult to discover but important.
If you’re using Outlook for the mail and contacts my policy has usually been to search for all .pst documents on your Computer this will give you your main as nicely as archive folders and maybe even some lengthy lost mail from prior to.
I also do a lookup and put the following in the search box *.doc;*.xls;*.ppt;*. mdb;*.pub this will lookup for all office documents about the Computer, when I get the result I only backup the documents which are not in my documents and configurations for my name or in the my documents folder.
How big is your “Backup and Reload” folder now which you have every one of your data in it? Can you back again it as much as a Compact disc? Or two, or perhaps a DVD? This would be a good time to do that conserve to a Cd to ensure that in the event of a catastrophic failure of your hard generate you are able to go back again and reload your data later.
2. Document your current program drivers and software program
So frequently when I am operating on a computer I find that following a format and reload of Glass windows which i am missing a network card driver or perhaps a video driver. Prior to you turn off the personal computer to format it or delete the system files make sure that you possess a copy of all with the drivers, realistically the only real motorists that seem to change are the video drivers. What other drivers might you need? Well For those who have the Compact disc that came using the motherboard then you will probably only need to download the sound card, video, monitor, modem drivers and you can discover the type of hardware by correct clicking about the my computer and heading to properties and then depending in your edition of Glass windows look for the device manager. I don’t tend to format my generate I only delete the Glass windows directory and also the Documents and settings directory when I do a reload so I can then find the documents later still sitting on the hard drive. My preference is to create a folder called mydrivers in the root with the C: generate so that following you reload Windows you will have a central location to head to find the motorists. Now just go out and download the motorists which you require.
three. Delete the Windows and profile directories
Now, this really is exactly where you have to take a deep breath prior to you get began as when we delete files we are not going to be capable to obtain them back again. When I delete documents about the computer before I reinstall Windows I don’t delete all with the files or format the generate. The only real way which you can delete what you want would be to use some type of the boot disk that does not load Glass windows from your difficult drive. I use the Ultimate Glass windows Boot Compact disc and following I boot the drive up I move some information instead of deleting. Much more often than not I will have missed some essential file so I create a “backup” folder that contains every one of my information. I drop my current “Documents and Settings” folder into this backup folder after which also any applications from the “Program Files’ folder that might have some of their own files. This would include databases like Act or Maximiser and Tax software program or book keeping software like Quicken. Most with the information documents for applications are kept within the “My Documents” folder.
Within the install of Windows you’ll need to have at least two gigs of free of charge room so make certain which you have freed up sufficient room to do the set up
When I am deleting folders I’m most interested in deleting the” Paperwork and Settings” and “Windows” folders, as this is where you’ll find user settings as well since the registry both good and bad. If you are really aggressive you are able to also consist of the “Program Files” folder to ensure that after you’ve reloaded Glass windows you are able to have the default configurations for each application. I also delete any files which are sitting in the root of the C: drive.
4. Reloading Glass windows
Now that you have deleted the unneeded documents and directories you will have to give yourself an running system to reload all of your software into. I choose Windows XP now even though if you have a bit of an older personal computer Windows 2000 will most likely be fine and takes much less program resources.
Just a note right here, Glass windows 98 is a poor choice and there are a couple of factors why. Glass windows 98 isn’t supported anymore by Microsoft so it does not have any new security fixes or drivers being written for it. 1 other issue is the fact that the underlying file system that Glass windows 98 supports is FAT32, if you are loading Glass windows 2000 or XP you’ll likely wish to take benefit of NTFS but the only good method to do this having a fresh load would be to format your machine, this can delete all with the information which you have in your Computer now. If you’re moving from Glass windows 98 there will be a spot within the install asking should you would like to format or convert the generate to NTFS, I would avoid this as you can convert after you’ve switched your Computer to Windows XP in Disk Management from the Personal computer management application in Windows.
The rest with the set up ought to go smoothly and after you’ve finished you’ll have a good new clean install of Glass windows with only the recycle bin about the desktop and no applications. Possibly the desktop is only 256 colors or the size is not quite correct but this is exactly where you will fix that problem by reloading your drivers. Head to begin and correct click on the “MY Computer” icon and select properties, head to the hardware tab, now find the device manager and anything with an exclamation point or perhaps a red X will need a new driver. Right click about the icon, choose update driver and walk via discovering your drivers. If you are able to not discover the driver within the lookup then you definitely may have to go back again towards the mydrivers folder and run the executables for that motorists which might quicken the process of loading new drivers.
5. Reload Software program and Information
Now the slow torturous part with the Windows set up begins. I always do this reloading of Windows simply because my computer has gradually slowed down from all of the software program that I’ve loaded up and pledge never to do again, I’ve proven time and time again which i don’t live up to the pledge. The only real software program that i load very first is Office XP and setup my personal settings and mail folders from Outlook (check around for this documentation since it varies with your edition of Office) and I also install my commonly utilized utilities. I maintain my software set up disks close by and just load software as I need it over the next couple of days.
6. Get Some Sleep
Congratulations. This process is very lengthy and occasionally we do lose information that was missed in the backup but after you’re done you have a personal computer that is a minimum of as good since the day you started using it. You will find fewer errors, less hiccups and the computer is quick and responsive. Although it takes a long time I am much more than willing to complete it as long as I cleared some time beforehand as the difference in operating using the personal computer for some time after is really a real treat.
With so many different video files available today, there is going to be an instance whenever you need to convert 1 format to an additional in order to enjoy the presentation. AVI has been around for some time, although WMW is newer and not too known. Here is some info you need to know.