Backup and Reformat Questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

A Dell Computer, using MSWindows 2000 Professional Edition built on NT
technology and Service Pack 3, was passed on to me recently, along with 4
CDs:
1. Operating System for reinstalling Windows 2000 Professional Including
Service Pack 1.
2. Drivers and Utilities - Dell OptiPlex ResourceCd for Reinstalling Device
Drivers and Using Diagnostics, Utilities and System Requirements.
3. Application for installing/Reinstalling Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.2 Basic.
4. WinDVD Intervideo Version 3.0.
I have a rather limited knowledge of computers and all of the above is not
familiar to me. Please, bear with me.

It is a Pentium 4 at 1.80 GHZ, AT/AT compatible 256MB Ram and 30GB HD. I
believe it may have a dual boot capability, but, if chosen, the second
option comes with many errors and fails to come up with anything. I notice
that there is an amazing number of running tasks, while logged on as
Administrator. Shut-down time is unusually long.
I do not know if I have the proper CDs or software for reinstalling the
Operating System and/or eliminating the needs for logging on or
Administration ‘stuff’, as I will be the only User.
I have created a Boot Disk, consisting of 4 Diskettes and was considering
reformatting and start from scratch. There are some Applications, however,
for which there are no disks, but, nonetheless, worthy of hanging on to. If I
were to back up these applications, would the back up process include
everything that is needed for restoring all in their entirety? Or are there
things that may need to be done to be successful?

Thank you for any suggestions!
Bernie
 
DL said:
You cannot backup applications, you *need* the installation cd's

You would appear to have the correct cd's for reinstalling the o/s and
drivers..
The win2k cd is bootable and capable of setting up the sys.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304868
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=292175

Re dual boot, it depends exactly what it states on the select o/s screen. It
may simply be that someone has incorrectly repaired the origonal o/s.
Click to expand...
************
Thanks, "DL"!

Sort of disappointing, but I presume it makes sense that you cannot backup
Applications. Is is because of the dissemination of various 'bits and pieces'
of necessary links that may be inserted in various Folders or registry during
the original installation which, in turn, cannot be accessed by the Backup
Application? Or is it because of something else?
Would a search of these links, using some related keywords, bring up the
locations of the scattered 'bits and pieces' that can be utilized in some way?
I guess not!

Thank you for the Articles you suggested.
I think time is needed for me to study all and digest same!
Bernie
**********
 
An installation 'scatters' various pointers etcetera, many in the registry
and also registers many files, and as such attempting to manually back up
these items is virtually impossible.
 
I thought so!
Thank you, again!
***********

DL said:
An installation 'scatters' various pointers etcetera, many in the registry
and also registers many files, and as such attempting to manually back up
these items is virtually impossible.
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top