Stupid question, quick answer - please help

gt123 · Aug 17, 2004, 12:42 PM

Im sick of computers...it seems that if you dont do everything perfect from the start, by protecting it against viruses and spyware, and all that other good stuff, trying to manage a computer is HELL.

Ive only had this one for a few months and its got so many problems already...i know what they are, and i've tried to get rid of them, but every step i try to take to fix something only takes me right back to the start, because half the time the things i need to fix things dont even work, because of the things i need to fix. Its a vicious, frustrating, annoying cycle, and i just want it to end...and i have tried everything.

So, what i want to know is is there a way to just start over fresh, like on a new computer, without buying one? Im at the point where im ready to just clear everything from my computer. All of it, registry, programs, settings, everything - except downloads. I havent done any major tweaking or anything, and the only thing i'd really be losing are the programs - all i really use this computer for is music, DVDs, internet and a game, so if i could just keep the DLs, erase everything, then install again that would be perfect...is this possible?

I know this probably sounds like an idiotic question to all of the computer pros...but i've wasted so much time and energy just trying to fix this computer, most of the time accomplishing NOTHING, and i dont want to do it anymore. I want to start over fresh and just do everything right from the start. ill probably never download anything from that p2p BS every again.

So, if there is a way, please tell me, im desperate.

GutterPunk · Aug 17, 2004, 01:55 PM

Alright sir you have to watch the p2p stuff u d/l in the first place (the program and the host you d/l from) Aight, next yes youc an start all over! You can reformat your HDD and Install your operating system start from scratch. What I would do is first backup all of the d/ls you would like to keep put them on a dvd/cd or a 2nd drive. Make sure the files you backup are clean and do not contain spyware adware viruses trojans worms or any other malicious sort of file. Next I would put your OS disc in and reboot, thus bringing up a screen giving you options to A: Fresh install or B: Repair the install. Do not repair, do a fresh install and format your drive with for windows 2k and up NTFS or anything below fat32 hopeing ur not on anything really old. I am not too sure for linux as i havent installed as many OS's. I would do the full format instead of the quick one as it will better clear your HDD. After you reinstall all your goodies, put up your firewall and anti virus first. Then connect to the itnernet and download all the critical updates from windows update (assuming ur using windows). Then you can start using your computer you will notice it is much faster and you can install all of your goodies once again. staying away from the malware. After you get everything updtated drivers installed games installed programs and what not, I recommend you do a scandisk or error-checking run, and then defrag the HDD. After the installs you will gain some fragments (well I did, and I just did a fresh install.) I hope this helps any other questions ill be glad to help

gt123 · Aug 17, 2004, 02:08 PM

Man, that was a heck of a lot better response than i was expecting, thank you! That's exactly what i wanted...but one thing im not clear on - you said

"Do not repair, do a fresh install and format your drive with for inwdows 2k and up NTFS or anything below fat32 hopeing ur not on anything really old."

Were there some typos in there? What did you mean exactly

and i've got a lot of downloads, probably more than a few gigs worth, it wouldn't be easy backing them up on a CD...where should i put them? D: drive?

Oh and one more thing, this would default all my settings, right? and would it take care of the registry too?

TwistedMetal · Aug 17, 2004, 02:12 PM

Here are some programs to help you out...

Ad-aware Personal SE (Adware/Spyware)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot Search & Destory (Adware/Spyware)
http://www.safer-networking.org/

SpywareBlaster (Prevents Adware/Spyware)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

AntiVir Personal (Anti-Virus)
http://www.free-av.com/

ZoneAlarm (Firewall)
http://www.zonelabs.com/

All of these programs are free and will surely help you out. I use all of them and they are very good. Just check for updates atleast everyother day to insure everything is up to date.

GutterPunk · Aug 17, 2004, 02:13 PM

Well umm it'd be easiest to just tell me what Operating System you are going to be installing with?

gt123 · Aug 17, 2004, 02:15 PM

yea sorry, XP - i was editing that other post, but i'll just post it here again - Would this take care of my registry, and default all my settings too?

Thanks twisted metal, i've actually already tried most of those programs, except the firewall...they can't fix the problems i have.

TwistedMetal · Aug 17, 2004, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt123

Man, that was a heck of a lot better response than i was expecting, thank you! That's exactly what i wanted...but one thing im not clear on - you said

"Do not repair, do a fresh install and format your drive with for inwdows 2k and up NTFS or anything below fat32 hopeing ur not on anything really old."

Were there some typos in there? What did you mean exactly

and i've got a lot of downloads, probably more than a few gigs worth, it wouldn't be easy backing them up on a CD...where should i put them? D: drive?

He means don't repair your current Windows, format your hard drive and install Windows brand new. NTFS and FAT32 are filing systems Windows uses. There are older filing systems, but he's not sure what version of Windows you are using. Personally I would use FAT32. What version of Windows are you using?

If your hard drive isn't split up into two or more parts, like D:- Z: drive, then your only option is to back up to CD.

GutterPunk · Aug 17, 2004, 02:25 PM

I would personally use NTFS for win xp, when it gives you the option of a file system do NTFS and do not do the quick version. You will know what im talkinga bout when you get to that step. AND MAKE SURE TO FRESH INSTALL AND DO NOT JUST REPAIR! But before all back all the schtuff you want firsT!

gt123 · Aug 17, 2004, 02:35 PM

k i'll use NTFS, thanks a lot for your help

And twistedmetal...ive got about 3 or 4 gigs of downloads not very many, just a lot of big ones, demos and games and junk...am i really supposed to back all that up on CDs?? It looks like all i have is a C: drive, its the only one listed under "hard disk drives" in my computer...D: is my DVD drive...is there really no other place i could store it?

TwistedMetal · Aug 17, 2004, 02:54 PM

Well, if you don't have a DVDRW or a CDRW then you won't even be able to back them up. Just have to download them all over again, I know it sucks, but I have done it before.

gt123 · Aug 17, 2004, 03:11 PM

No, i have both of those, it just seems like a lot to put on CDs...how many CDs would that take??

GutterPunk · Aug 17, 2004, 03:21 PM

DVDS you can put it all on 1 probably, it took me like 15 to back up all my crap (including movies and stuff) which was ending up to be like 13 gigs of stuff or so

gt123 · Aug 17, 2004, 06:46 PM

Alright i started setup and got to the screen that asked me which partition i wanted to install on...i did NTFS with my C: drive already on it, and it said i was installing ontop of the OS i already had on there and that there would be 2 OSs if i continued...

Should i delete the C: NTFS partition first then install? the other two partitions were FAT and unpartioned space, FAT was only like 39mb big and unpartitioned was 8mb

GutterPunk · Aug 17, 2004, 07:42 PM

wow thats ummm weird i havent seen that b4, it should just over write it, delete it yes i guess

gt123 · Aug 17, 2004, 08:06 PM

alright, i tried to do that, now i got a new problem - it says it can't delete it because it contains temporary files needed for installation...what should i do? im looking around google but i haven't found anything yet.