Introduction
Divide to conquer
The operation
Digital Fail-Safe |
| Divide to conquer The next few topics cover which files to save, but not where to save them. Obviously, the C: drive isn't a good candidate, because we're getting ready to wipe it clean prior to reinstalling the operating system. If the C: drive is all you have, now's the time to remedy that by setting up at least one additional partition, using an application such as Symantec's Norton PartitionMagic 8.0 or VCom Partition Commander 9. Then transfer all your document, graphics, media and other files to the new partition. If you do a fair amount of work with graphics or media files, consider setting up a separate partition just for those files. The general idea is to reserve the C: drive for the operating system and executable program files, with everything else located elsewhere. With your valuable stuff moved away from the operating system files, it will be easier to keep track of things once you've reinstalled Windows. You have two ways to review your current drive-partition configuration: the Windows way and the easy way. The Windows way is to go to Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management. The easy way is to type C:\windows\system32\diskmgmt.msc in the Start menu's Run box. Your My Documents folder and its subfolders, which should contain all the data files you want to move to the new partition before you reformat the old one, is located by default on the C: drive. To confirm this, right-click the My Documents shortcut on the Start menu and select Properties. In the Target box, you should see the C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents folder. To move the My Documents folder to your new partition, simply drag it over from its present location. Then go back and have another look at the Properties dialog box. You'll find that Windows has been "watching" you, and has rewritten the target line to point to the new location. Likewise, Windows automatically rewrites the Registry settings for the My Documents folder and all of its subfolders. Driver details If you installed some vintage hardware device that needed hard-to-find drivers to get it to play nicely with XP, save yourself some grief by making a note of them so you don't have to go off on another hunt. To find out what you need, turn the device on and open Device Manager. Again, there's more than one way to do this. One way is to right-click My Computer from the Start menu, and select Properties, the Hardware tab, and the Device Manager button. Another is to just type C:\windows\system32\devmgmt.msc in the Start menu's Run box. (Tip: Create a shortcut to this location if you're a frequent Device Manager visitor.) Either way, look for the device on the displayed list. If it's not there, click "Scan for hardware changes" on the toolbar at the top of the window. Once the item appears on the list, right-click the device name, and select Properties > Driver > Driver Details. You'll see a "Driver files" list, which may contain some nondriver files, too. Either copy these files to an equivalent location on the new partition or just make note of their location so you can easily retrieve them from your operating system backup later on. Network naildown Windows XP is good, but not great, at network configuration, and it's not at all unusual for it to need your assistance in finding things during setup. If your network connection is working now, make note of the configuration settings just in case you need them later. To do so, select Start > Run and type cmd in the box. This opens a window that looks suspiciously like a DOS box from the past. At the blinking command prompt, type ipconfig/all to display full configuration information. Then type ipconfig/all > C:\ipconfig.txt to write this data into a little text file. In Windows Explorer, move the file to your new partition so it doesn't get lost, and while you're at it, print a copy for future reference. (To learn more about all this, type ipconfig /?. This will display a help screen with a list of options for this little utility.) |
 The Windows XP Disk Management window displays an overview of drive-partition details.  When you drag the My Documents folder to a new location, Windows automatically rewrites the Registry details (shown highlighted) to point to that location.   To review driver details, open Device Manager, highlight a hardware device, and select Properties. Then click the Driver tab's Driver Details button to display the list of files this device requires.  The ipconfig /all command displays network configuration details, which you can save to a file for future reference. You can view the same details if you open Control Panel and follow a lengthy series of additional steps (the inset shows one of several windows).  Don't say you haven't been warned: The Windows XP recovery operation begins with a series of messages giving plenty of notice of what's about to happen. |
Save the mail
One mistake few people make twice is to forget to save their e-mail address book and messages during a major system overhaul. If you've set up a custom configuration of mailboxes to store important incoming and outgoing messages, make sure you save these files and folders so you can quickly restore them later. Of course, this data is all part of your backup file, but you may want to make a separate copy for easy access. If you're planning to switch to a different e-mail client, it's also not a bad idea to do so now, just to make sure you can import whatever you'll need from your present application, which presumably is in working order. Once that's done, save the data from the new application and forget about the old one after reinstalling the operating system.
Check the lifesaver
With all the prep work done, the impending operation will go flawlessly -- after all, nothing ever goes wrong in the wonderful world of Windows -- so this step could be completely unnecessary. But if you're the cautious type, make sure you have a recovery CD on hand, and make sure it actually works. Boot from that CD and see if you can gain access to the backed-up disk image that holds the operating system. Don't actually perform the system restore at this point; just make sure you can do it if it comes to that.
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hensleys_1999@yahoo.com
20/01/2006 09:08 AM
what if you've done the system recovery a few times and there is still some sort of "virus" popping up and causing problems? can you actually completely wipe your hard drive clean so that even some obscure virus cant possible survive after recovery?
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Alan
08/12/2006 01:39 PM
if you get the answer to your question let me know cause im in the same boat
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paradiseliven@hawaiintel.net
14/02/2007 02:02 PM
haven't use my +laptop in a while and forgot admin password is there any to by pass to get on the comp
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downie
04/03/2007 12:08 AM
i bought my pc about a year ago an got windows me took out of my pc an in place i got windows xp pro installed an its a fake how do i wipe my hard drive to reinstall my windows me back in it
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Needs some computr heeelp
17/05/2007 10:31 AM
I need to reinstal W2000 (Windows 2000) but I need to erase all da udder operating systems. I tried a million ways and day wont go away. Thers only 6.42 gb on da hd so i nede 2 get rid of dem udderwise it will be slow ash heck. Pweese tell me hou 2 overrite all dee exsisting operating shistems wid a new 1. UUUUUUURGENT
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Guest
09/07/2007 10:47 PM
Guys Use Dariks Boot And Nuke (google it) Dowload it then copy to CD/DVD then Restart ya comoputer Witht he CD/DVD in it and the boot From CD/DVD rom And it will auto Run Type DOD The it will wipe yor hardrive 100% you wont be able recover anthing!!!!! then simply Reinstall You OS
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bobby2681
16/07/2007 03:59 AM
i have a dell dimension p100t and i need help. i need to wipe the drive but my os is already gone how do i do this
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stew00d
03/09/2007 09:56 PM
hmmmm
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smoothbill
03/11/2007 02:39 PM
cool
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lolcat
12/12/2007 04:36 AM
I love how people ask questions that were just answered in this article.
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tom5411
20/12/2007 06:12 AM
my hardrives is completely gone, the sound card is messed up, the validation code is'nt right so i can't download and install updates i need, can i buy a new hardrives, its a dell dimension 3100,a brand new one though not a second one
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daniel
27/12/2007 02:55 AM
you can unstill windows xp everybode bye formateing your computer or restill window xp with cd have you got vista send me it if good at it
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warren
25/01/2008 04:11 PM
i deleated all things that was on my flash drive now every time i reboot all the info goes on my desk top i have to delate the information all the time how do i clear off my computer
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little_shuey
27/02/2008 05:55 AM
i have the same problem as hensleys_1999. is there away that i could make it to were it's like my hard drive was never used before?
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Jerry
23/03/2008 04:12 PM
anyone know how t set a server that we can run wipe and install os from?
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olivern
02/04/2008 08:21 AM
There is also free software that you could use to clean your hard drive. You should try: http://dban.sourceforge.net/ You can also pay for similar software if you want like. http://data-eliminator.com/
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DINO
29/04/2008 02:37 PM
EXCELENT
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Xiahoudun32
14/07/2008 03:21 AM
So, I own a toshiba laptop, and I have save all my media and saved game files, etc. to an external hard drive. There is nothing necessary on the computer I need to keep... I have a vista "anytime upgrade disk" and the product key associated with it, along with 2 driver cds... my question is, what do I put in my cd drive first, the driver disk, which has the option to format the drive, or do I install vista followed by the drivers? (ps, I only have 1 internal hard drive)
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stan lott
19/08/2008 11:17 PM
one of the best willsee you again thank you
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ouka ikari
25/10/2008 04:01 AM
what if you own a KDS laptop?
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anonymous
16/11/2008 03:41 PM
does being a PC user also mean not knowing how to spell? jesus christ people, i've never seen such horrible spelling and grammar EVER.
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