best way to install windows without reformat?

[her34]

normally i reformat a partition before installing a new windows OS, but this time it would be easier if i could install without having to reformat (the drive is one 120gb partition full of data). what's the best way to go about this?

 

[xtknight]

Reinstall Windows you mean? You don't have to format anything to just install it the first time.

If you're reinstalling, simply rename the following directories if you want to retain your data:

%SYSTEMROOT%
"\Program Files"
"\Documents and Settings"

%SYSTEMROOT% being your current Win directory, such as 'C:\WINDOWS'

 

[her34]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Reinstall Windows you mean? You don't have to format anything to just install it the first time.

If you're reinstalling, simply rename the following directories if you want to retain your data:

%SYSTEMROOT%
"\Program Files"
"\Documents and Settings"

%SYSTEMROOT% being your current Win directory, such as 'C:\WINDOWS'

i'll be going from windows me to windows xp. usually i reformat the drive to make it as clean as possible. but if i'm not reformatting, then if i just delete the 'windows' and 'program' folders, is that good enough? are there hidden files i need to delete as well?

 

[hectorsm]

her34,

I could be wrong but I thought that going from WinME to WinXP requires a reformat? Anyways I suggest that you copy your data to a CD first. Then install Windows XP.

In the future consider a second partition. You can store your data in the second partition as well as OS images from True Image or Ghost.

I love images because they wipe everything clean as if you had reformatted plus they usually take about 15 min to complete ant it is completely unattended. If you only image the OS partion then your data stays intact.

 

[her34]

Originally posted by: hectorsm
her34,

I could be wrong but I thought that going from WinME to WinXP requires a reformat? Anyways I suggest that you copy your data to a CD first. Then install Windows XP.

In the future consider a second partition. You can store your data in the second partition as well as OS images from True Image or Ghost.

I love images because they wipe everything clean as if you had reformatted plus they usually take about 15 min to complete ant it is completely unattended. If you only image the OS partion then your data stays intact.

it's not my system, hence trying to install winxp without having to move almost 120gb of data around.

i'm not trying to upgrade, but delete everything (except user data) then do fresh install of win xp. you sure that would still require a reformat?

 

[her34]

bump

 

[nweaver]

do the file and settings transfer wizard provided on the XP cd if all you want is user data