Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: Sid on May 30, 2007, 09:41:07 AM
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I've got to format reinstal an XP machine...for my first time, and I'm a little bit intimidated...anyone got any advice, or sites/tutorials I should have a look at first?
I'm doing it Thursday (tomorrow) night, so rapid advice is appreciated!!!
Thanks chaps
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Hi Sid,
Don't be intimidated by this process... Once you've done it you wonder why you were worrying.
How are you going to back up your existing data? DVD, External HDD...?
Once you have backed up your data, its just a matter of setting the bios to boot from CD first and follow the instructions.
What are the specs of your system at the moment? ... And why do you have to format/re-install?
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back up (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,10684,00.asp) there is some reading material for you on backing up your data, but basicly you just need to burn any important files to cds or put them on a flashdrive
heres how to reformat and reinstall windows (http://sos.its.psu.edu/guides/GeneralWindows.pdf)
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I'm not sure of the specs, it's the computer at work.
The reason for the need of a reinstall is, somehow I corrupted it and it won't accept new hardware (ie the all important printer).
I'm gonna back it up onto a slaved HDD, one of my own, then disconnect the slave, format, reinstall, then re connect the slave, and restore data.
Just wondering if anyone has any insight, or if there are any things that often cause hiccups or anything.
I'm doing it at 8:30pm so there is plenty of time to read up and make sure I know exactly what I'm doing, and what I should be doing.
The added pressure of it being a work machine is kinda daunting, but it shouldn't be a problem, especially if I back everything we need up.
Again, cheers for your insight guys.
When I can, I'll try and help too.
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back up (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,10684,00.asp) there is some reading material for you on backing up your data, but basicly you just need to burn any important files to cds or put them on a flashdrive
heres how to reformat and reinstall windows (http://sos.its.psu.edu/guides/GeneralWindows.pdf)
did you get a chance to look at those links
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back up (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,10684,00.asp) there is some reading material for you on backing up your data, but basicly you just need to burn any important files to cds or put them on a flashdrive
heres how to reformat and reinstall windows (http://sos.its.psu.edu/guides/GeneralWindows.pdf)
did you get a chance to look at those links
Yeah I did, thanks. Doesn't sound too complicated! :) Got all my files ready to back-up, going to either use a slaved HDD, or my iPod via USB. Haven't decided which yet. The machine could do with an internal clean, so we'll see...depends how I feel later. :P
Cheers for the help chaps.
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For backing up, I'd use the HDD. I think it would be a bit more reliable than an iPod, but either one should be fine. Once you've done that, all you really have to do is follow the provided steps. It's really simple once you're actually doing it. Let us know how it goes.
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For backing up, I'd use the HDD. I think it would be a bit more reliable than an iPod, but either one should be fine. Once you've done that, all you really have to do is follow the provided steps. It's really simple once you're actually doing it. Let us know how it goes.
I'll prob try the iPod first, as means of easyness, but if that just doesn't want to happen, I'll slave the bad boy up.
Of course, taking all nessacary anti-static precautions! ...lol.
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lol i use my ipod for a back up before i had my beast computer i have now, try zipping you documents so they will be smaller.
you could also just for more back email your important stuff to yourself
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There is only about 2GB that needs saving, so my iPod should be enough, I think.
But any troubles, I have that HDD I can slave...should be sorted, will let you know.
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k good luck
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Doing the backup format reinstall now:
Good thing I grabbed my HDD, the problem I'm re-installing to fix, has prevented me from using my iPod as a USB MSD, which i suppose is a good thing, because at least the time I wasted d/ling iTunes to no avail, will be recovered on the restore, seeing as USB is limited to 11(?)mb/s and ATA/IDE is at least 66mb/s.
Lesson to all:
ALWAYS have a back-up method.
Also, good thing the DVD Burner is an IDE device, seeing as the hard-drive on it is SATA. My back up here would've been going home and grabbing some CD's (even SLOWER method). But instead, I've just got the DVD and the HDD sharing an IDE chain.
Also, I'm going to unplug everything that is connected, and add one device at a time, once the re-install is complete.
Sorry, I know I'm talking to myself, but it's boring here, and I suppose if this helps someone, then great!
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well check the site on my signature for some Guidance. :)
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well check the site on my signature for some Guidance. :)
What signature?
I've done it, and I'll post more about it later, seeing as I'm now at work, and shouldn't be "messing around" online.
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well check the site on my signature for some Guidance. :)
What signature?
The signature was removed for going against forum rules.
I look forward to hearing how it all went.
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as me too
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Ok, now I'm home, and have nothing better/more exciting to do, a full "field report" (if you like), of what I did, the lessons learned, and what I'd do differently.
During the day, got all the cd's together, and got all the files I needed backed up in one folder (<-saving a lot of time, headache and reducing the opp for forgotten files).
8:30pm Start, after the till and PC communicated.
The PC didn't recognise my iPod, so I thought installing iTunes might help, but in fact the problem that required the PC to be re-installed was what was causing this, so about 30mins wasted.
9pm, frustrated, I opened the case, to find a SATA drive, which I wasn't prepared for, and which kinda threw me, so I closed the case and decided I'd try cross-over cables with the laptop, or my USB MSD.
The cross over idea didn't work, at least I was a bit stressy and couldn't be bothered to get it to work, and the USB MSD was going to take a stupid amount of time, when I realised that I was being a total idiot and I could use my IDE HDD on the IDE chain off the DVD RAM. So I re-opened the case, and changed the jumpers on the DVD, and on my IDE (I don't know why either, I could've just left the HDD a slave, and the DVD a master, but go figure, I was on my own and felling rather n00bish). So my secondary IDE is in, and I'm backing up to it.
Back-up done, I pop the windows disk in, while still in windows I begin the install. <- Mistake. It tried to set it up on my (OS-less) secondary HDD, leaving temp setup files on the main one. After scratching my head, and phoning my drunken mate (who is a tech-head), and trying to delete the partition or create a new one (both to no avail) I decided to give putting it on the existing partition a go. It screamed that two OS's on one partition is a bad idea, but I got brave and carried on. Turns out, it will over write the old OS (well...windows) if you do it in this manner.
Had I not been a n00b, and used my HDD (in the slave) and put the windows disc in and then rebooted to it, it now would not have been 10:30.
Anyways, Windows overwrites itself, and the install goes just peachy.
No hiccups at all. I installed one device at a time. As soon as I got it inet connected, I updated windows (a massive 80odd updates from out-of-the-box (it was an SP2 disc as well!!!)), installed AVG, and ZoneLabs. And then I registered the copy of windows.
Earlier today the tech from our stock control software firm came out and installed the software we need, restored my data, and we're all good. So I get to leave that place on Monday (I handed my (one week) notice in on Wed (after "breaking" the computer on Sunday (<- not why I quit, I got another job))) without any worries! :)
Then, if the driver software hadn't done it, I was going to create a restore point. I might do that tomorrow morning, when I go in...seeing as everything is fine and dandy.
So my lessons learned:
If it works, it doesn't need fixing.
If it went on the PC with a CD, it comes off the PC with a CD.
Boot from the windows CD, don't launch while in windows.
Don't get stressy, you'll loose time, think clearly.
My advice to someone else attempting the same:
Don't worry, it's actually quite easy. If you've spent more than 2 hours trying to troubleshoot something, and you've got all the CD's, it's probably going to take you less time to re-install than it already has to fail to find out what's wrong.
Plan it thoroughly.
Get all the CD's you'll need.
Get all your back-up files in one folder, as it's easier to drag one folder across than it is a million files from a million different places.
Use the fastest media available to back-up on to, because the less time you're sat there doing nothing, the less junk-food you'll end up eating. IDE = 66MB/s, USB = 11MB/s, burning on to CD = ages. As part of your plan, see if you'll need to mess around with jumpers, take something out of the case, and what not.
Once Windows is on, start by installing devices, most important first, and then applications, again, most important first.
As soon as the PC is connected to the internet, update Windows, and then install anti-virus (and/or firewall).
Make sure System Restore is enabled, and create a restore point.
What I think the problem was:
I think when I tried to un-install the printer through the device manager (hence "on with cd, off with cd") I took something else out that the USB drivers relied on, as nothing would install via USB, it wouldn't even allow me to use my iPod, which Windows XP should see without extra effort, as a USB Mass Storage Device (yes, "use as disk space" was enabled) due to inbuilt drivers, and MSD protocols.
Everything is working picture perfectly now. Ok, I realise I didn't format the partition, but Windows over-wrote itself, and it all works. But I won't be re-doing this again, mainly because it works, and I don't want to hassle the Stock Control fellows any more. And it wasn't an issue with bad sectors, or viruses, it was just me being stupid.
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glad it works now
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glad it works now
Needless to say, SO AM I!!!
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Would a repair install solved this problem, do you guys recon?
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if it was a corrupted or missing system file then maybe