Ok, so I'm going to reformat.

[Neto Magnus]

Before I do I just want to double check all the things I need to do before hand because I wont be able to go online to ask for help during the process.

First off I have a Sony VAIO circa 2001. It never came with the Windows XP CD but it came with 3 System Recovery CDs, a Driver Recovery CD and 2 Application Recovery CDs. Which one do I use first? And do I really need the Windows CD?

I'm backing up all my files on an external HDD. Can I copy and paste the folders in the Program Files to the HDD and then put it back? And would the programs still work? I just dont want to reinstall them again.

If I need to do anything else before reformatting please let me know. I've never done this before and I don't want to mess up anything.

 

[Malice]

Before I do I just want to double check all the things I need to do before hand because I wont be able to go online to ask for help during the process.

First off I have a Sony VAIO circa 2001. It never came with the Windows XP CD but it came with 3 System Recovery CDs, a Driver Recovery CD and 2 Application Recovery CDs. Which one do I use first? And do I really need the Windows CD?

I'm backing up all my files on an external HDD. Can I copy and paste the folders in the Program Files to the HDD and then put it back? And would the programs still work? I just dont want to reinstall them again.

If I need to do anything else before reformatting please let me know. I've never done this before and I don't want to mess up anything.

Programs generally CANNOT be copied and pasted and then still run.
just copy all your personal data from your profile and my documents is the mail thing.

Each "restore" system is similar but different.

Do you still have support from Sony?
You can always call them and ask the process to do it

 

[Neto Magnus]

Programs generally CANNOT be copied and pasted and then still run.
just copy all your personal data from your profile and my documents is the mail thing.

Each "restore" system is similar but different.

Do you still have support from Sony?
You can always call them and ask the process to do it

how bout copying and pasting the .exe files? and then reinstalling it?

psh, I tried calling today but I was on hold for 45 minutes and then gave up.

 

[Malice]

how bout copying and pasting the .exe files? and then reinstalling it?

psh, I tried calling today but I was on hold for 45 minutes and then gave up.

.exe files are only a small part of executables...
The application restore CDs are going to restore the apps it came with
Everything else you need to have CD's to install from or downloads.

 

[Neto Magnus]

.exe files are only a small part of executables...
The application restore CDs are going to restore the apps it came with
Everything else you need to have CD's to install from or downloads.

ok I'm gonna pop in the System Recovery CD and see what happens. Wish me luck.

 

[ComicChick]

i was told to compress the program folders of programs i want to keep and then unzip them after the reformat (ive put everything on my ext hd too cuz i've been planning this)

is this true? is there any certain things i need to save that i wouldn't normally think of keeping (ie; fonts)

 

[Malice]

Program Folders on a PC...will do you little good in some instances of you dont get the whole PC including the registry.

 

[black_dust]

When i reformat (kinda regularly) i keep all my setup files for my progs and my music and pictures are on a slave hard drive. so once windows is back on i go down the list of progs and install them all again from fresh.

No chance you can go into programe files and copy the folders and expect them to work, the software spreads its self about in your windows folder half of the time, so bits will be missing that wont allow it to work.

 

[Malice]

Exactly...I have an APPS folder on my home NAS *Network Area Storage*
I have my iTunes there...apps..movies...and personal data since its a mirror of data.

I wrote a small robocopy script that mounts the pertinent drives and does a mirror copy opf the folders that DO have personal data on it to my NAS...

Bam...not sweat.

 

[Kable24]

I keep all my install files on an external as well. It makes it so much easier if I need to reformat. I also create a small partition on the drive for the OS itself, that way I don;t lose any of my saved files either.

 

[Neto Magnus]

WOO! ok so I finished reformatting. Man, it was so easy. Why didn't I do this sooner? My comp is running alot faster and quieter(weird). And of course virus free. The biggest shock however was that now my DSL is directly connected. I don't need to sign in anymore. So that problem I had before with the wireless has been fixed.

It's a lil weird now because everything really is like when I first bought the comp which was back in 2001 and now I'm getting all these flashbacks of Spider-Man Hype.t:

At first, things were rusty cuz I had to download Service pack 2 and bunch of other things but everything seems to be moving smoothly now. I haven't reinstalled all my programs yet. There are some stuff here that I don't want so I'll be uninstalling them.

But I do have one question. How can I change the settings on the quick launch menu or whatever its called so I can choose what programs to start.

 

[Malice]

Glad to hear it worked out.

 

[Neto Magnus]

thanks for your help man.

but do you know how I can configure the start up menu?

 

[Jerry!]

Reformat your computer.

 

[ComicChick]

http://www.buycheapsoftware.com/details~productID~1717.asp

is this a good deal or not? i can't find my disk anywhere.

 

[Kable24]

http://www.buycheapsoftware.com/details~productID~1717.asp

cheaper. Also check out tiger direct too.

 

[black_dust]

Get a OEM copy of windows (but you have to buy a hardrive as well) its much cheaper then you can use the Harddrive as a slave for all your important stuff