Clean Reinstall of Win2000 Professional SP4

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New

BACKGROUND:
Hi! I bought an UPS because we have a lot of power surge fluctuations
in our building, but my computer isn't shutting down correctly (after
windows shutdown, I get a black screen with a single flashing cursor).
This happened ever since I installed my Plextor premium cd-rom
burner...Then, after I installed my new power supply, everytime I shut
down windows, I didn't get a black screen, instead I got a blue screen
saying something about power failure. So.....When I start to reinstall
all my peripherals and all my application software, I want to do it one
item at a time so I'll know what is causing the problem.

My computer consultant informed me that I should do a clean install of
windows once a year anyway, so I decided to do it. I will to keep all
the user settings I have in my programs without finding out that I need
a file on my "former" harddrive.

I have many of the usual programs that many windows users have:
MS Word macros, MS excel, antivirus settings, real player settings,
programming kit settings, zonealarm settings, AIM settings, cable modem
settings, router settings, etc.

Then I have registration information to allow me to use all these
programs.

MY QUESTIONS:
Do I need to contact each vendor to ask them where these
"user-settings" files are?
Is there a standard for what a "user settings" file looks like?

BTW, does anyone know which Windows2000 Professional files I need to
save too?


I wish there was a book on this.

Thanks, New
 
New said:
BACKGROUND:
Hi! I bought an UPS because we have a lot of power surge fluctuations
in our building, but my computer isn't shutting down correctly (after
windows shutdown, I get a black screen with a single flashing cursor).
This happened ever since I installed my Plextor premium cd-rom
burner...Then, after I installed my new power supply, everytime I shut
down windows, I didn't get a black screen, instead I got a blue screen
saying something about power failure. So.....When I start to reinstall
all my peripherals and all my application software, I want to do it one
item at a time so I'll know what is causing the problem.
Click to expand...


I shouldn't think you'd need to reinstall the OS or any
devices/applications one at a time to troubleshoot, as you've already
stated the proximate causes of your problems. The addition of the
Plextor CD/RW caused one problem, probably by created some sort of extra
power load or conflict on the IDE channel. The replacement of the power
supply caused yet another problem. Neither of these issues, however,
necessarily require a re-installation of the operating system. Far from
it, in fact.

How to troubleshoot shutdown problems in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315409

My computer consultant informed me that I should do a clean install of
windows once a year anyway, so I decided to do it.
Click to expand...


Then he is *not* a "computer consultant." He is, at best, a clueless,
amateur witch-doctor, without the slightest idea of how to maintain a
computer or an operating system. A properly installed, configured, and
maintained operating system, installed upon fully compatible and
properly functioning hardware, will last years, and never *need* to be
re-installed.

I will to keep all
the user settings I have in my programs without finding out that I need
a file on my "former" harddrive.
Click to expand...


I assume that you meant to say that you "want" to keep all of your user
settings. While many settings can be saved, your goal isn't even close
to completely possible, if you perform a clean reinstallation of the OS.
The most likely way to do this would be to perform a repair
installation, assuming any such drastic measures are really necessary.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q292175

What an In-Place Win2K Upgrade Changes and What It Doesn't
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952

I have many of the usual programs that many windows users have:
MS Word macros, MS excel, antivirus settings, real player settings,
programming kit settings, zonealarm settings, AIM settings, cable modem
settings, router settings, etc.

Then I have registration information to allow me to use all these
programs.

MY QUESTIONS:
Do I need to contact each vendor to ask them where these
"user-settings" files are?
Click to expand...


You could. Or you could simply open each application and make note
(even to taking screen-shots) of your settings. Some programs store
their settings in *.INI files, but these will be recreated when the
applications are re-installed. Just how "tolerant" an application will
be of "imported" settings depends on each individual program.

Is there a standard for what a "user settings" file looks like?
Click to expand...

No, there is no single standard. A great many of the settings will
stored be within the Win2K registry, but these would all be lost when
you perform a clean installation. Attempting to export registry
settings from one installation and then importing them to another
installation is likely to cause far more problems than you're currently
seeing.
BTW, does anyone know which Windows2000 Professional files I need to
save too?
Click to expand...


None, if you truly wish to perform a clean installation.





--

Bruce Chambers

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