fresh re-install without reformatting hd

[Michael Walsh]

Rather that explore why XP isn't running as efficiently as
it used to on my computer, I'd rather do a fresh re-
install. By fresh I mean eliminating everything, previous
registry and all all system/setup files to assure that it
is truely factory-new. I'm not sure what I have on my OS
hard-drive, but I'd really prefer not having to do the
reformat and risk losing something I didn't realize was
there.

 

[Ron Borders]

Michael, You might want to try something a little less
drastic, like getting a really good aftermarket defrag
utility like Perfect Disk 6.0 from Raxco Software
(www.raxco.com)(there is a free 30 day trial version) and
run that. Also you can try using a freeware tool from
Sysinternals called Proccess Explorer
(http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml)
to see what all is running on your computer. After a
while, many installs will add stuff to the start-up group
and you end up with so much stuff running in the
background that it eats up all your resources. The reason
that I make this suggestion is that any so-called 'fresh
install' without reformatting' is simply a 'Fix Install".
Meaning that it keeps all your curent registry settings
and other configuration data, so you would be right back
where you started from.
Hope this helps, Ron.

 

[Tom Swift]

If you want something that is "factory new" you have to reformat your hard
disk. But before you do that, try this:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341&Product=winxp.

Tom Swift