Software

Ask something
Question Locked

Just in Case...

0 helpful
10 replies

by var1016

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I have to reinstall XP, is it possible for me to preserve all my other programs say onto a DVD or must I reinstall all of them? Is there some software that offers this function? I have software that says it will back up my hard disc, but obviously this is not what I want.

A rather basic question I know, thanks for looking!

Paul

10 replies

by thumbsup2

No matter which type of reinstall of XP you do (in place over the top of the existing os or wipe the drive and start over), you will need to reinstall all of your other applications. Each application puts its own entries in the registry.

Of course, you will need to back up your data files and documents. If you run Outlook, you'll need to back up your PST file. There may well be other things you need to back up, just in case. But, backing up the applications themselves is fruitless. You might find some configuration files that you can back up for them, but the applications must all be reinstalled.

by nepenthe0

Writing to a 4.5GB DVD is pretty slow, and you will probably have to [i]span[/i] your backup over more than one DVD. Restoration from such a configuration is a nail-biter.

I have used Norton Ghost:

http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost14

and it has performed seamlessly for me on multiple occasions where I was desperate to retrieve an imaged backup.

Ghost will directly write an [i]image[/i] of your drive to the external hard drive. Should you ever need to restore the computer from the image file, Ghost will overwrite the native HD at 1-2GB/min, and you'll be totally recovered in <20 minutes.

I have no personal experience with [i]Acronis[/i], but if Peconet Tietokoneet endorses it, you can trust his authority.

Rick/Portland, OR

by var1016

Well, I do have software that can make a back-up (Paragon) but based on Thumbs2's comments, it is good news that I do not have to do a re-install of XP - as I expected it is running beautifully (yes with SP3 on HP/AMD computer!)

Thanks again.

Paul

by thumbsup2

I thought you said you NEEDED to reinstall XP. I guess I didn't read the title as part of the first statement/question. You didn't mention that you were about to apply SP3 and wanted to know what to back up before hand. If you had, I could have told you not to sweat it! ;) That doesn't mean not to back up your data. It just means don't worry about the update. I've been madly installing it on each of the systems under my control. So far, it's gone without a hitch on every one of them. :D :D

by oh smeg

Of XP if you have access to a OEM Install Disc and not just the HP recovery Disc.

Look here for what is involved.

http://tinyurl.com/g4bv8

Also you should have mentioned what you where planning to do as it could have saved you a lot of time & effort in this case.

Col

by var1016

Thanks again.

As soon as I had installed XP on my (former) Vista computer, I installed SP3 and it is just fine!

Paul

by var1016

Thanks for that. I am not actually planning anything, I just wondered - as I wrote "just in case." Your link is very interesting and so I have bookmarked it.

Paul

This discussion is closed to new replies.