Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: konvict on November 23, 2007, 08:46:32 AM
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hi all...
i'm having a lot of problems with my computer...i think i have to reinstall the OS...
This is the first time i'm doing it,and i have no dea how to back up my files.
I have a few games installed in E drive,and some essential softwares on F drive.
As i guess i have to format the C drive and restart the computer and then insert the boot disk when the computer laods up...Is it correct?
and my question is-will i be able to play games and use my softwares even after i reinstall the OS?'
Pls somebody help me with this
System specs-Win Xp pro,1gig Ram,Intel dual core,80gig Sata HDD.
Note-No internet on that comp.
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As i guess i have to format the C drive and restart the computer and then insert the boot disk when the computer laods up...Is it correct?
Correct. But the XP install disc can format the c partition for you so no need to format it beforehand.
and my question is-will i be able to play games and use my softwares even after i reinstall the OS?'
You wil most likely have to reinstall the majority of your software. But it depends on the software.
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Are these E drives and F drives actually different drives,or
partitions of the same drive?
How many hard drives are installed?
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I'm not sure.i have a c,d,e,f Each drive has a memory of 20gig each.
I suppose its a partition of one physical drive,coz i remember seeing only one hard drive when i purchased my comp...
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Its a partition of the same physical drive.Do i have to format all the drives in order to reinstall the OS? or just formatting the C drive will do? I'm not good at computers except for playing games,so pls bear with my questions.I really want to have my games and softwares to be on my computer,is there a way to ensure that they wont stop working after i reinstall OS? Pls help me regarding this...
Thanks and regards
immu
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What type of computer? Manufacturer and model number ect...
Did you get restore disks with it,or an option to make a
one time copy of original restore on CD's ?
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Its a custom made computer,i purchased each component and had a technician to assemble it for me.i didnt get any restore disks with the computer as it was custom made...
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Its a custom made computer,i purchased each component and had a technician to assemble it for me.i didnt get any restore disks with the computer as it was custom made...
You bought a copy of Windows XP Pro and the technician kept it?
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i dont know about the xp cd...all i have is the mobo cd with me...i'm not much familiar wit comps,except playng few games and using auto cad software,so can you guide me pls?
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Wow! Have you tried a restore point?
---->SystemRestore (http://www.simplehelp.net/2006/07/23/using-system-restore-in-windows-xp/)
Also,try downloading and running CCleaner to remove all the junk.
----->CCleaner-->Here (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4191.html)
OFF TOPIC_Wonder what 'Willy My Man' is doing today? Always gives
me and Peckerwood a good laugh....... ;D
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restore point wont work becoz i didnt create one ???
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i dont know about the xp cd...
You know you don't have it, right? :)
And WinXP Pro was installed by that technician... or is that incorrect?
Therefore, the tech must have kept it.
You paid for it, right? If it were me, I'd be going back to that tech and asking for what I'd paid for.
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i dont know about the xp cd...
You know you don't have it, right? :)
And WinXP Pro was installed by that technician... or is that incorrect?
Therefore, the tech must have kept it.
You paid for it, right? If it were me, I'd be going back to that tech and asking for what I'd paid for.
Sounds like a solid plan... ;)
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i dont know about the xp cd...
You know you don't have it, right? :)
And WinXP Pro was installed by that technician... or is that incorrect?
Therefore, the tech must have kept it.
You paid for it, right? If it were me, I'd be going back to that tech and asking for what I'd paid for.
I was kinda scratching my head on that one too...
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I'll tell you wat happened,there is a place called richy's street,where you get all the computer components.one fine day my friend and i went there,found a store and bought the components for a computer and at the place there was a comp tech,we hired him,gave all the bits and pieces of the comp and software and the next day he gave us the monitor,the tower and the mouse and keyboard and gave us instructions about which cable goes where.we took it home and connected every thing,and eureka!!!!! it worked !
that was 6 months ago,and the chance of finding that tech are very slim...I'm going crazy with this thing,i knew nothing about computers at that time :'( i didnt even know to ask for the cd for win xp,how stupid of me ???
now when i started learning about it,its giving me these problems...i'm very helpless...
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Are you in the US?
If you paid for the CD and he kept it, it's theft.
If you didn't pay for the CD and he installed Windows, it's piracy.
One way or another, sounds like someone did something illegal and I'd check into it if I were you.
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I'll tell you wat happened,there is a place called richy's street,where you get all the computer components.one fine day my friend and i went there,found a store and bought the components for a computer
...
Fair enough.
Maybe this is what is causing some confusion:
...and bought the components for a computer...
A legit copy of WinXP would be a component.
Either you bought it legit, or you didn't. So either you have in your computer a legit copy of WinXP, or you don't.
I thought WinXP required that you buy a legit copy, else after 30 days it crippled itself. Somebody else will have to jump in here and comment on that though.
Nobody is going to shoot you if you have an illegal copy in your machine. :)
But these fine folks here need to know, because it will affect the advice they give you.
If you have an illegal copy, just say so.
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i'm in india,its impossible to get pirated things here...
i remember purchasing the win Xp pack,the tech told me everything was installed and all i had to do was connect the cables as he adviced me.I didnt get the win xp pack from him.do you think he might be using it? i really donno wat i've done.i was so excited about gettin the computer that iforgot every thing else.was i supposed to get the cd pack? pls guide me
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is there a way to get information if my win xp is pirated or original?
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I thought WinXP required that you buy a legit copy, else after 30 days it crippled itself. Somebody else will have to jump in here and comment on that though.
I won't elaborate, and I'm telling anyone who is thinking of asking... don't... I won't reply to you.
All I will say is... yes, normally XP would cease to function properly. There's a way into, out of, around, over, under, and through anything and everything software... Windows XP is no exception and neither is Vista. That's all I'll say on that.
Konvict, try updating. If your WinXP is a fake, the update will let you know. Fair warning... it will likely limit or even cripple Windows if Windows Updater finds your copy is pirated.
And... it sounds like you're planning to reinstall your OS... if you don't have the XP CD, what were you planning on using?
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i dont know wat to do? I'm asking for your suggestions,i have no idea wat to do to reinstall,all i know is to format c drive and restart and then insert boot disk and start the computer ??? ???
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as i posted earlier,i dont have internet connection on that computer.is there a software which i can download from a net cafe and run on my system and know if my winXP is pirated.
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Alright, here's what you need to do.
1. Get a Windows CD, be it XP or Vista, your choice. If you go with Vista, make sure you have the specs to support it.
2. Set BIOS to boot from CD first and put the CD in
3. Restart. When the CD drive is checked, it will see the Windows CD and boot from that, starting the install program.
From the Windows setup, there will be an option to create partitions and format your drive. The setup is pretty much automated from there.
A floppy boot disk will not be needed unless your BIOS does not support booting from a CD.
as i posted earlier,i dont have internet connection on that computer.is there a software which i can download from a net cafe and run on my system and know if my winXP is pirated.
Not to my knowledge.
It's after 2am, I'm going to bed and will check back in the morning.
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i'm in india,its impossible to get pirated things here...
Impossible.. ?
i remember purchasing the win Xp pack,
Ah.
Good.
the tech told me everything was installed and all i had to do was connect the cables as he adviced me.I didnt get the win xp pack from him.
Not good.
do you think he might be using it?
If there is a possible way, then yes.
i really donno wat i've done.i was so excited about gettin the computer that iforgot every thing else.
Excitement is very understandable. A nice new computer IS exciting.
I suspect that the tech knew that from experience, and took advantage of it - hoping you'd forget the CDs.
was i supposed to get the cd pack?
Since you said you paid for it, then yes.
pls guide me
Others here will have to advise you on XP.
But this might turn out to be an expensive lesson. Hopefully, you can make it a one-time lesson.
You might have to go purchase another legitimate copy of WinXP Pro.
Even if you don't have to buy one right now, someday you will. You'll need it.
Sometimes there is a special partition on your drive, that you can use to do recovery, etc. I've only read about it. I believe it is usually on laptops though.
Perhaps someone else here can tell you how to find out if you have such a thing, and how to use it.
That's grasping at straws, but since I thought of it, I thought I'd mention it.
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2. Set BIOS to boot from CD first and put the CD in
3. A floppy boot disk will not be needed unless your BIOS does not support booting from a CD.
2-How do i do 2nd step.
3-I dont have a floppy drive on my computer,will that affect the installation of the OS...
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i dont know wat to do? I'm asking for your suggestions,i have no idea wat to do to reinstall,all i know is to format c drive and restart and then insert boot disk and start the computer ??? ???
If you do not have a WinXP install CD, then you need to tell quaxo and whoever else might try to help you, just what you do have.
In other words, what are you intending to use to format the C: drive?
and where did you get your boot disk? is it a floppy boot disk? or what?
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Mr willy,
A new win xp cd will cost a lot of money,but since its inevitable,i think i have to buy it.when i install using the new win xp cd,how can i remove the old version already installed on my comp? just formatting the c drive wil do it?and will i still be able to use the applications that are installed on the e,f partitions after installing with the new cd?
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2. Set BIOS to boot from CD first and put the CD in
3. A floppy boot disk will not be needed unless your BIOS does not support booting from a CD.
2-How do i do 2nd step.
See:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000217.htm
and
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000192.htm
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i dont know wat to do? I'm asking for your suggestions,i have no idea wat to do to reinstall,all i know is to format c drive and restart and then insert boot disk and start the computer ??? ???
If you do not have a WinXP install CD, then you need to tell quaxo and whoever else might try to help you, just what you do have.
In other words, what are you intending to use to format the C: drive?
and where did you get your boot disk? is it a floppy boot disk? or what?
Right click on c drive and click on format will format it,i thought ???
I have a cd which came with my mother board,with all the drivers,thats the boot disk right?
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A new win xp cd will cost a lot of money,
Yes.
but since its inevitable,i think i have to buy it.
And keep it in a very safe place.
when i install using the new win xp cd,how can i remove the old version already installed on my comp? just formatting the c drive wil do it?
I don't have XP.
But, with other versions, - Yes, formatting C: will do it, assuming that WinXP is presently installed on C: .
The install CD should give you options to format. Look at them carefully.
I suggest you wait for another reply though.
and will i still be able to use the applications that are installed on the e,f partitions after installing with the new cd?
As long as they have not stored anything on C:, I would expect to be able to use them.
Remember - when you format a partition, everything is gone. So when you format C:, if those apps had stored anything on C:, then it would be gone.
It would be wise to be sure to have backup copies of everything before you begin.
That includes the install programs/disks of any apps you have, and also back up any data they use.
You cannot have too many backups.
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As long as they have not stored anything on C:, I would expect to be able to use them.
Remember - when you format a partition, everything is gone. So when you format C:, if those apps had stored anything on C:, then it would be gone.
It would be wise to be sure to have backup copies of everything before you begin.
That includes the install programs/disks of any apps you have, and also back up any data they use.
You cannot have too many backups.
i'm sure OS is installed in the c drive.
I've checked my computer,almost all my applications and games have something in the program files folder of the c drive.can i copy the files from the c drive/program files folder related to my applications,and write it to a cd and after installing the new OS can i copy the files back on the program files folder of the new c drive??
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This is a long thread so,me and old PeckerWood could have
overlooked something.
What is the problem with your present install of XP?
What does it do wrong to lead you to a format?
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What is the problem with your present install of XP?
What does it do wrong to lead you to a format?
Its behaving odd.When i boot it,some times it comes up with a BSOD with some error messages,those 0x msgs.
i have to switch off the system completely and restart it after a day.then it boots up normally without BSOD.
Sometimes it loads like forever and some files dont open up.i have to restart the computer and then try opening teh file.
I think i've installed some stupid applications and some stupid games,thats why i'm having this problem...
thats why i decided to reinstall the OS
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Why not install and run AVG Anti-Virus and AVG Anti-Spyware,
and also run CCleaner?All 3 are freeware and very good programs.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download886.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/AVG_Anti-Spyware_d5287.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4191.html
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I already have AVG free and ran it also.didnt try cleaner.can i download it from some net cafe and run it on my computer?is it .exe file
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Yes CCleaner is a .exe file.
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Thanks bro for the info,
I'll try with ccleaner.If it works,that would be wonderful :D