What is Digg?82 Comments
- CBTF, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16*Waits for the fanboys come in here and say "Afraid of re-installing XP? Dont. Get a mac/Install Linux"*
- Sp00nMan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Ok that's just ridiculously complicated. Wanna know the easy and clean way to reinstall Windows?
1. Install Recovery Console
2. Go into Security Policy and enable both Recover Console options (wildcards, etc)
3. Boot into recovery console.
4. In DOS mode, rename (or delete) your Windows, Program Files and Documents and Settings directories (ren windows winbak)
5. Boot your windows cd and install clean!
That's it... No need for extra disk space, drives, proprietary software etc.. Once you boot back up into your new windows installation, just copy all the stuff you want to keep out of your renamed folders (most likely your documents in documents and settings) - Betty, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10"Just don't use internet explorer"
or have a very simple base install VM that you use for that kind of thing. Duplicate the VM, use it as much as you want to do whatever you do so well to break your machine, then delete it afterwards. - zodieman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I use Windows and Macs and I really wish Windows apps were more like what Apple does in that they all self-contained (except for Adobe stuff). Just backup the app and you can just drag it back.
- DigeratiPrime, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Hirens CD is not exactly legal. And Ghost sucks. Try Acronis True Image.
http://www.acronis.com/ - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I always make sure to leave a small 2gb partition whenever I install Windows, that way I can put a new copy on that partition and take the data from the old one come reinstall time.
- pt4117, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@wireddd
If you had Windows partitioned properly you could do the same thing. People really should learn that they should have two partitions. One for the system, and one for your music, pictures, etc... If you do that it makes reinstalls relatively painless. - tsupersonic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5God damn, his start menu is so clogged up. Thank God it's not my computer, I would never install that many programs. The guy is just a Joe Customer who just installs a bunch of crap. My number one rule of any computer is to never install crap I don't need. You can do so much to keep it nice and fast. Just back up all your data on a hard drive and then reinstall Windows. That always works...
- generic109, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Yes, his start menu is f-ed up. That's the way it is with Windows--install anything, and it puts crap everywhere: on the desktop, in the start menu, in the system tray. A mess. This is the culture that MS creates. Left to its own devices, this is the f-ing mess that is Windows.
- RobotCitizen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5If you keep all your personal date on a seperate partition, and you make a ghost image of your fresh Windows install, then the process is relatively painless.
- Clearz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This would be a good article for my parents to read but I don't think it applies to the general digg reader who has probably installed an OS more than a few times at this stage. The one thing you need to remember when re-installing Windows is to disconnect any networking devices and dont reconnect them until you install Anti-Virus, Service Pack 2, Drivers and a firewall if you don't have a hardware one. Then straight away connect to the Windows Update site and download all the latest patches and prey that you dont get a virus in the mean time.
- jzimmerman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5It really seems like someone would be better served with a tutorial about how to backup and restore their data along with a clean install.
Then they can just install software as needed. Does it really take that long to install a piece of software? If you sit down and install every piece of software you are possibly going to use, sure it will take a long time. But if you install as needed (i.e. when you would be prompted to load your virtual machine) problem solved.
1) Backup Your Data
2) Clean install windows
3) Run Windows Update or AutoPatcher
4) Install Software you need to run right now.
5) Restore data
Install other software as needed.
Do you really think people who are afraid to reformat are going to go out and buy + figure out how to use VMWARE and Acronis True Image? - aitf311, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I think for people who actually need to do this, just do it once, install everything as soon as possible and ghost your system. This way, when xp starts to slow down, at least you can be back up and running after restoring the ghost image in 5 minutes.
- yahoofrom, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7XP just has got to gradually slow down anyway.
Don't know why. but it has to. - adml_shake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3it's nice, and I don't mean to start a flame war, but any of us that use XP day in and day out for various projects have had to re-install it enought times to know most of this stuff already.
- Snyder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3lol. I just re-installed Windows last night and have spent hours today re-installing programs. I'm about 75% done. Wish I had seen this article first.
I have 3 hard drives (two internal, one external), so I moved everything I wanted to keep on my C drive over to my D and E drives, then formated my C drive and re-installed Windows. Sigh. - LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I don't know where the author gets the idea that it'll take months to get a system back up and running to where you had it before the format (sans problems and spyware). I just reinstalled XP around December and since I save all of my program installers, I was back up and running by the next day.
Edit: Oh, and do yourself a favor - Put Windows on its own 11 gig partition, that way when you do need to reinstall, it's just a reformat and reinstall of XP, no need to back up all of your data all over again.
Honestly, reinstalling is not that big of a task if you keep your current system organized and make a backup DVD of all of the installers for programs you use. And actually, if you just try to run some of the programs that you had (assuming that you didn't delete them), you'd be amazed how many don't need to be reinstalled - everything they need to run is already in that folder. While it's not a bad article, this process isn't that difficult if you just stay organized. - muddo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3and never connect the system to a network
- WRoach, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Good article, but an appropriately maintained OS will run for years on the desktop. I've been running XP without reinstalling since 2003 and my install performs just as good a a fresh one.
Monitor your services and your processes.
Watch for application created large temp files when you defrag.
Run an anti spyware app now and then.
You'll be good to go forever. - doyadigg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Once you get the install just how you want, make an image of it and copy it to another hard drive. This way when you need to do this again in a year or so it'll be a lot quicker. Some programs will need to be updated, but you would have had to install them anyway. And it'll probably be safer since your security patches will be more up to date than if installing from SP2.
Norton ghost should do the job. Look for Hiren's Boot Disc to make life easier. - RobotCitizen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3What really takes time is making all the little tweaks and program settings to get Windows and your apps behaving exactly the way you like. XP does have the File and Setting transfer wizard but I always fear I'm importing the very registry bloat I was trying to escape.
- radu79, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Exactly.
The ebst thing to do is have a directory called /kits, where you put all the installers for the programs you use.
When you move to a new computer, or for some reason or another have to reinstall Windows, you go the /kits directory and install the needed stuff.
Starting a whole VM because of an old program is total *****. I was actually hoping this article would explain how to transfer all your programs from the old version to the new version (if getting a new machine, or after a HDD failure). - Labar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It's a collection of utilities, many of which are proprietary software from other companies. For example, Partition Magic and Norton Ghost.
- dtfinch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I've never had to reinstall a Windows system due to bloat. On my work machine (I use Linux at home now), I just have an "old" folder on my desktop and another "old" folder in my start menu to archive things I don't use often. I probably have 10gb and over 30000 files in my desktop "old" folder. My start menu is one column, and the "old" folder in it is 4 columns. Whenever I run low of disk space, I just search for and delete large files I don't need. All pretty obvious stuff.
And whenever anything performs slowly, I always find out the cause, and the cause is almost never Microsoft related. I clean things I don't want out of my startup, and run shexview to disable unwanted shell extensions, which tend to cause the majority of slowness and crashes in Windows Explorer. I encountered one system that took 30 seconds to launch any program, no matter what it was, and the cause turned out to be a buggy, useless shell extension installed as part of Eudora.
Too bad you have to call Microsoft to reactivate Windows after moving it to the VM. If it's the OEM version, it's only licensed for the system it came with anyways. Since I respect EULAs, it's much easier to stop buying MS software, which I did at home about 3 years ago for many reasons. Control freaks. - recover82, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2this is just sad.
- Wireddd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3well if you were running linux and had it partitioned out properly, you could just format your root partition and reinstall the base system and be done, and not have lost anything.
- drakethegreat, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6They do its called Mac OS X. I don't care what flames will come of this, the fact remains that I've owned 2 macs for multiple years without having to reinstall OS X. They've never been infected and things have never gone wrong. Not the same for my Windows machine because while even running AV and spyware protection it will result in applications that don't remove themselves from the add/remove panel, application entries in the startup items that can't be removed , and varius other annoyances that come with an aging windows system.
- Arthemys, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It's a really creative usage of VMware, I will give the article that. Though, as many other people have mentioned so far, it doesn't apply to someone such as a net admin. An improvement to this idea would be to just run VMware Workstation on top of Linux and use your XP install from there, and whenever you need to "restore" to an earlier time you can use VMW's "snapshot" feature. Say install XPSP2 and with all your apps & drivers that you require and if need be, blow it all away to a blank install with a snapshot.
- moylan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1well the quickest way to speed up winxp is turn off the eye candy and put it back to the classic windows interface but a _big_ speeder upper is to clear out the prefetch directory.
http://www.tunexp.com/tips/maintain_your_computer/clean_your_prefetch_to_improve_performance/
it can make your computer feel a hell of a lot faster. - inkswamp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3> They do its called Mac OS X.
LOL! You live for being modded down?
FWIW, I agree with everything you wrote, and will also point out that OS X has a simple option you can check while installing that will do a clean install of the OS without disturbing anything (it will also put the old OS into a folder called "previous system" in case there's anything in those folders you want to keep before tossing them.) I'm stunned to learn that XP can't do this. - bitcloud, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think the biggest problem with this approach is that MS insists you put alot of data in their documents and settings folder...
this drives me somewhat crazy, especially when I'm trying to access any files created by maya from another machine on the network - windows disallows access to this folder over the network, as well as your program files folder.
I don't know that "copying from the installed folder" is really that big a threat to copyright. You should be able to just pick up a folder and re-enter a serial code to re authorise the software.
Perhaps someone could write a software that sits in your tray and takes note of what's installed & where, or an installer "wrapper" that lets you install from within another program, thus enabling you to transport that install. - WillDearborn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Why would anyone be afraid of reinstalling windows? Its a pretty easy task. But the best thing to do is just do a format and clean install, set all your settings and install your programs then just make an image of the hard drive. Then you always can back to a perfect install. I don't know what I did before Ghost.
- FyberOptic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's true, because I've done it before myself. Though I did it on a FAT32 drive, meaning I was able to just boot with an old DOS floppy to rename the directories. Though I don't see any reason why you can't do it from the Recovery Console like he mentioned, either, especially since most folk use NTFS (which you can't read from a normal DOS floppy of course). It's a good way of doing it without a lot of fuss.
- Ireland, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5"Afraid Of Re-installing Windows XP?" I was never afraid of viruses in the first place :P
- dagr8tim, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5I have an extra 40 gig HD installed just for such occasions.
- ddpruitt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That ***** rocks!
You know, this would also be a good way to verify that all your backups actually work.
Or, I follow this to CMA. Create a base XP install, back it up and restore it to a VM. Then, anytime I need a new install I restore the base. Any time I want to add a core program to the base I can.
Sweet. Hard drives! Must get more Hard drives! - plankmonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1bitcloud: right click on "My Documents" and change the target folder to a folder on a seperate partition/HDD.
- blankartist, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Ugh. I'm right about in that situation of reinstalling. And seriously, it seems easier to simply buy a new computer at this point!
And now for my Mac fanboy comment:
What ever happened to the good old days when you wanted to rid of something, you simply dragged the entire app folder to the trash? Or find the offending extension (almost always the last thing you installed) and move it out of the System folder? Why are programs even allowed to be so deeply embedded into the OS? Discuss amongst yourselves. - somerandomnerd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Extra marks for the usage of capitals, punctuation and spelling of "mack." You truly are teh leat.
- stepnet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've tried all the techniques mentioned. They all have their merits. Personally I prefer the clean feel of a brand new complete install (apps and all). But this VM approach does seem like a good safety net, for a temporary cover - just in case...
And on the mac fanboy side of things, it would be nice if apps were all self-contained. I love (under windows) that I can just back up my WoW directory and not have to reinstall - but I can't do the same thing for Battlefield 2? The Mac is just more consistent since it does centralise things in an os affiliated registry. - jsp317, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1that is not true. i have xp loaded on all my machines. the only time i formatted was when i loaded it the first time. now i do know people that have to wipe there PC all the time but its because they install everything and click on anything. they don't keep there anti virus up to date. they have so much ***** in there start up no wonder its slow. soon as you turn it on (yahoo) (Man) and many more. no wonder its slow. any software you install wants to load at start up. its like they think you cant live with out it. BS i know where it is if i want to use it. as far as xp goes i think its the best OS out there. with a little know how not much. you can have a better experience. i have 3 PCs that have been running xp for 3 years now. no slow down yet. i have two12 year old boys plus my wife. each have there own PC. the boys play games of course. they do the LAN plus Internet. my wife looks up news plus girl stuff. there is one thing i should tell i built all 3. there 3 years old still holding there own. amd 2600+ 1 gig of ram nvida 5700 ultra. two 80 gig hard drives. keep them lean and mean. i may have done a few upgrades but i didn't have to format. now my new PC i built about 6 months ago. it just to sweet. amd64bit 3500+ 2gigs of ram. i want go in to all the details but it hasn't slowed down yet. people make it sound like windows sucks. windows is the most popular OS around hands down. why apps and games. i love xp its solid I'm looking at vista with my eyes wide open. i want be the first to jump but i don't think I'm gonna wait long.
- Cyberdactyl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Hehe
- jdonner, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1No, I don't use a Mac, but I do prefer intelligent conversations.
You write incoherent sentences with all kind of spelling and grammar mistakes and you want people to think that you know all the answers? Here's a dollar; grab your skateboard and buy yourself an icecream. - andreo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Good article. But I think there's a better way.
Install a fresh version of Windows. Do all your tweaking and install the basic applications, ie; Firefox, Thunderbird, the codecs that you use, and maybe a couple of other things but not everything that you run. Also install Altris software virtualization software.
Next create a ghost image of your install.
When you install your apps, install them using the virtualization software. Later save those virtual installs and burn them to cd or dvd. Some apps will not like to be virtually installed. So you will have to install them the regular way.
In the future, if your OS gets trashed or you feel you need to re-install you will be back up and running in almost no time because of the ghost image and the virtual software installs that you saved. I can go from a blank drive to up and running in less then 30 minutes. - LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What's illegal about Hiren's CD? I've never used it, so I don't know the tools it has, but I've never heard of anyone calling it illegal before.
- timeshifter, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've done it that way before, but it seems you wouldn't get the benefit of an optimal file system layout. All the new files you're installing will not be placed in nice clean contiguous blocks, so I'd question whether your speed improvement will be as great as if you'd reformatted.
- LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Don't blame Windows or Microsoft for not being self contained. Blame EA and the other companies who don't make the folder have everything in it that the program needs.
- LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Or heck, do what I do and don't use the start menu at all. I've got a program called Slickrun (http://www.bayden.com/SlickRun/ ) that just takes commands (much like the command prompt) and launches programs and folders based on keywords that I give it. I wanna launch Winamp? I press Win-Q then type Winamp. I wanna open my bittorrent folder? I type bittorrent. It's much faster than using the start menu and I don't have to deal with the clutter and reorganization of it every time I install a program. I just tell programs to not add their folder there.
- Junto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That is a really good idea! I currently have exactly that problem, where I need to reinstall but the thought of doing it scares the crap out of me. I have one 40GB disk, with 2 partitions. One system partition for Windows on C: and a Data partition on D: where the bulk of my programs get installed and I keep music and photos.
I've heard a good way to do it three partitions (System, Apps, Data) but I've been thinking about a different format:
1. System
2. Applications
3. PageFile
4. Data
5. The re-install Windows Partition (like Metabolife suggests)
Questions:
1. Can you force Program Files to D:Program Files (not all installation programs offer you the option and are forced to c: - registry fix?)
2. Can you force My Documents to another folder (answered yes by someone else here)
3. When you backup, using True Image, does it copy all the bloated registry and system folders? Also does it just copy the files, or the disk clusters? I don't want the base disk data, just the files.
4. I have a monstrous MFT with more orphans than Iraq. Formatting will re-initialize it, but can you choose where on the disk it goes after reformatting?
5. Once you have re-installed Windows how do you tie your old program files to the new registry? Does True Image do it by default?
Ideally they need a re-install feature with Windows that allows you to basically keep all of your programs installed whilst also allowing you to format the drive cleanly. Suggestions on a postcard! What do people think of the 5 partitions idea? -
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