Decided to just re-format my HD's..have some ?'s

Kemal · Jan 2, 2003, 04:22 PM

Well thank you all for your help in my thread below..yet it seems now, after my new power supply and fan, after tweaking my Video Cache mode and my AGP Arperature size..its still completly random when i get the delayed write errors after booting. So ive decided to say to hell with it and reformat my HD. Now i have some quick questions..

1. What is a good program I can use to back up, and then restore, files on my computer?

2. Is there anything special i need to do when reformatting? (ive only done it once, over a year ago)

3. Is there any way I can get around calling up Microsoft to re-activate my Windows XP? (Ive had to reinstall windows several times, and each time when i try and re-active windows it makes me call up a microsoft rep-getting pretty tired of that)

4. Again, thanks all for your help, its been greatly appreciated.

ToshiroOC · Jan 2, 2003, 05:37 PM

I would suggest burning all of your files onto CD's - Nero is my burning program of choice... Use Partition Magic if you can to reformat and set things up on your computer - its a wonderful partitioning and formatting program. You can get around re-activating Windows XP, but there are no guarantees that the service pack will work if you do so - look around for Microsoft XP cracks, but I would suggest just re-activating it by phone - it really isn't that much of a hassle, just make sure you don't sound "dodgy" when you call in - I had a sale rep hang up on me because I couldn't think of a better reason to reinstall Windows XP than, "Well, I felt like it", which was true, but not satisfactory and made him think I was using it on multiple computers (which I wasn't... but because he gave me a hard time I did...)

Kemal · Jan 2, 2003, 06:07 PM

Ok, im backing up my important stuff onto cds...though due to my sucky burner its going to take 45mins per Cd..

Kemal · Jan 2, 2003, 08:16 PM

Ok, i got Partition Magic and now I have a new ides. Tell me if this is viable. I have 2 hd's, one with Windows (the oldest hd which i assume is giving me the problems) and another of just programs and files. If i use partition magic to create a new partition on my windows disk, install windows, install parition magic, can i then safely use the 'merge partition' option to combine the programs and data from my older partition to the new one, so as i wouldnt have to back everything up, and still have a super clean install of everything?

ToshiroOC · Jan 2, 2003, 10:11 PM

To be perfectly honest, I have never used the "merge partition" option, so I would'nt be able to say. It does sound viable to a point - however, most programs enter data into the registry, and if you install a new set of windows, you will overwrite their registry stuffs - if you are sure that your problems aren't based in the registry, save a couple of copies of your registry and load them into the new Windows. (couple, md5 em and make sure they are the same throughout the procedure). If you do that, I can't see any problems arising, though I couldn't say for sure. Oh, and Kemal, put your swap file on the better hard drive - it defaults to the one Windows is installed on, and you say that it is the oldest one, probably meaning slowest, so I recommend you change that...

Kemal · Jan 2, 2003, 10:15 PM

I dont have a swap file set right now. The only thing really on my old HD that i want to keep is my music and videos, which is over 2gb of stuff. Im going to try this later tonight and will hopefully get back to you all.

digitalwanderer · Jan 2, 2003, 10:24 PM

Make sure when you reformat to make your HD into a couple of partitions so you don't have this problem in the future.

All my PCs have their drives busted into about 4-8 virtual drives, and I have at least one dedicated partition on each box for back-ups. (Triple-redundancy is a damned GOOD THING(tm)!

)

It's a whole bunch easier reformatting your hard-drive and re-installing windows and all your apps/games off the same hard-drive, and LOTS quicker! (BTW-I install most of me games on different partitions and just copy and export their reg entries as .reg files to quickly re-initialize them after installing.

)

Kemal · Jan 2, 2003, 10:32 PM

I will definatly keep that in mind...though if this works i wont have oto worry about reformatting..im about to try...wish me luck

Vampyromaniac · Jan 2, 2003, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by digitalwanderer
(BTW-I install most of me games on different partitions and just copy and export their reg entries as .reg files to quickly re-initialize them after installing. )

I always wondered are all prog's entries always found in one, neat place? I was thinking of doing this type of setup once, but was worried there'd be entries all over the registry....

Kemal · Jan 2, 2003, 11:36 PM

Well now isnt this special. After running partition magic and having it split my C drive int two partitions, when i bootup i get a corrupt file system error in my BIOS. I tried to put in my Win XP Upgrade CD and just plain ol reformat the whole thing (i copyed most of my super vital stuff to my other HD before arrempthing this experiment), and low and behold, cant find a previous version of windows for me up upgrade from. Now i know that all i need is an older windows cd just so setup can verify it, but the thing is, i dont -have0 an older cd. The comp came with ME and no startup disc. Im going to begin searching for the 98 disc i used on this computer a long, long time ago..Wish me luck and any ideas greatly appreciated.

Kemal · Jan 3, 2003, 11:49 AM

Ive decided to give teh middle finger to M$ (who undoubtable is the cause of all this..) and install the Longhorn alpha untill i can find a suitable older windows disc to use to verify my upgrade.

~~DriveEuro~~ · Jan 3, 2003, 12:13 PM

Well, here......wanna know how easy this is? Boot off the XP upgrade cd...but when it tried to find the previous version of windows....stick an old windows cd in the drive (95, 98, 98se, me, 2000) and it will notice that that is a previous version. Just sit back and relax cuz it will install XP for you....trust me.

Kemal · Jan 3, 2003, 12:21 PM

No, that is the -problem-. I cant -find- my old CD...

~~DriveEuro~~ · Jan 3, 2003, 12:39 PM

HA! S.O.L

Kemal · Jan 3, 2003, 05:14 PM

Score. After numerous attempts at creating a Longhorn boot cd (it kept asking me for a WinXP Professional cd during install), i had the bright idea...I put in my WinXP cd and went upto the point where it would ask me for a Win 95,98.,Me,or 2k cd to verify me. I popped in the Longhorn boot cd i made, and whatyaknow, it worked!! So ive reformatted the partition and XP is installing away as we speak. Actually im kinda thinking that ill install LH on it later...Thanks for your help guys.