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Re-installing WinXP Pro

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What with the hard disk becoming more cluttered thanks to spybots, ad-aware stuff and the like, sometimes the best solution is a re-install of Windows XP on a clean hard disk (or partition).
What is the best way for the less painful way of doing this?
Bearing in mind all the re-installs of applications, with registration details to be re-entered….
Any help would be appreciated….
Peter

Topic

IBM used to have a utility called

In reply to Re-installing WinXP Pro

ZAP and WIPE the ZAP side would just remove the MBR but the WIPE would write 0’s to every sector of the HDD in question. Provided you have backed up all of your necessary data that was the easiest way to do things. Currently most of the HDD makers have similar utilities that are down loadable from their sites but from experience that can take a lot longer to wipe a HDD than the old IBM WIPE. Anyway everything is run from a floppy and a Windows Boot Disc so it is quite easy and you are sure to have cleaned the HDD of everything that was on it.

Col

Please clarify

In reply to Re-installing WinXP Pro

Do you mean the best way to clean the hard drive or the best way to have an installation with all of the applications ready to go?

Clean hard drive then use something like WDclear.

Installation with applications all set up, then use [INSERT BRAND NAME HERE] Imaging software and set up software images.

A tip for this part is set up images for different roles of users such as a clerical image, a programmer image and a management image, etc.

Thanks for the replies…….

In reply to Please clarify

I’m thinking that the hard disk has become cluttered with all sorts of odds and sods over the past couple of years – from downloads and installations of apps that were then later ‘removed’ using Windows uninstaller, only to have left bits of code and gaps in the system directory.
The Registry would be full of obsolete entries and, even with using an app to supposedly clean it up, the registry will still have remnants left lying around.
So, I’m talking about a clean hard disk and then re-installing Windows and all the applications that are currently needed…. Is there a ‘easy’ way to hold on to all the registration data, etc that was needed to initially set this software up?

re-install win XP

In reply to Thanks for the replies…….

Here is a Tech Tip that may help

Tech Tip: Keep your activation status intact when reinstalling XP – Aug 26, 2004

Keeping activation status

In reply to re-install win XP

Right from the newsletter.
KEEP YOUR ACTIVATION STATUS INTACT WHEN REINSTALLING XP

Have you ever wanted to reformat the hard disk and reinstall Windows XP
on a system but you didn’t want to mess around with Microsoft’s Product
Activation after the reinstall? Fortunately, you don’t have to.

As long as you aren’t making any hardware alterations, you can back up
the activation status files before you reformat the hard drive and then
restore them after you reinstall the operating system.

To perform the backup, follow these steps:

1. Use Windows Explorer to open the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
2. Copy the Wpa.dbl and Wpa.bak files to a floppy disk or CD.

To perform the restore, follow these steps:

1. Decline the activation request at the end of the installation
procedure, and restart Windows XP.

2. During bootup, press [F8] to access the Windows Advanced Options
menu.

3. Choose the Safe Mode (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal) option.

4. Use Windows Explorer to open the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

5. If they exist, rename the new Wpa.dbl and Wpa.bak files to
Wpadbl.new and Wpabak.new.

6. Copy the original Wpa.dbl and Wpa.bak files from the floppy disk or
CD to the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

7. Restart the system.

You need to do this before formatting the hard drive. And why not just run setup from the XP cd and let setup do a quick format, no other tools needed.

PROBLEMS reinstalling XP

In reply to Re-installing WinXP Pro

I had a Big problem trying to reinstall XP IM or email me and I’ll tell you what happened. My email and MSN IM address is the same. Jim (dragonkeeper66@hotmail.com)

use registry mechanic 3

In reply to Re-installing WinXP Pro

Registry mechanic deletes unnecessary registry entries from installing and uninstalling programs. thus, this can make ur os quite freshy:)
you can download a working registry mechanic version 3.0 at warezfreaks.com and search for reg mechanic 3 on the left. then download the one with a 100% working software. register via internet connection. guaranteed the name Joseph Paolino working. Enjoy.

[Author]

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