Best way to start fresh and reinstall windows XP

[theanimala]

My 2 year old XP Home system is running really funky. Lots of spyware, adware, device issues, bloatware, bad drivers, etc. I was thinking it's finally time to start fresh and not load up as much garbage. It's been a long time since I've had to do this, the last time was with Windows 2000.

My question is, what is the best way to do this? I already copied over everything I need to an external HD. I have my orginal XP disk from Dell. Should I boot to dos and then Format c:, then restart with the CD in the drive and reinstall? Or should I just delete the system files and restart with the CD in the drive?

Any help would be appreciated, and sorry for the dumb question. I looked online and there is no clear answer, and Anandtech has always been my source of knowledge. Thanks!

 

[okb]

Format. Your Dell disk will probably install a bunch of extra programs, but you can just uninstall the later.

 

[thegorx]

"have my orginal XP disk from Dell"

what does that mean exactly ?

is it a restore disk ?

I'd guess I'd get the Dell instructions
because I have no idea where the setup files are, some systems have them on the drive
so if by some chance you remove those, then you might have a problem

 

[theanimala]

Originally posted by: thegorx
"have my orginal XP disk from Dell"

what does that mean exactly ?

is it a restore disk ?

I'd guess I'd get the Dell instructions
because I have no idea where the setup files are, some systems have them on the drive
so if by some chance you remove those, then you might have a problem

No, it's not a restore disk. It is the windows XP disk from Dell. There is also a disk loaded with device drivers, but I have upgraded quite a few components so I will just install those seperately.

 

[mechBgon]

I would

1) disconnect all internal HDD's except the one you want to install on.

2) download the entire Service Pack 2 installer from yonder, and burn it to CD or save it on the external drive

3) download your motherboard chipset drivers, network drivers and video drivers from Intel, Intel and whomever, and save/burn them too

3) unplug your network cable to ensure no possibility of worm attack

4) put the WinXP CD into the drive and reboot

5) boot from the WinXP CD, let Windows Setup begin, delete all the HDD partitions, then press F3 twice to exit Windows Setup. This ensures that your bootup process doesn't have a silly menu offering two different WinXP's, one of which is a phantom

6) now boot from the WinXP CD a second time, install Windows, and now install Service Pack 2 before you install any motherboard or video drivers

7) next install mobo chipset drivers, reboot, then video drivers, reboot, then network drivers, and hit Windows Update

8) try out Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer to see if you're missing anything important


Hope that helps

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: theanimala
My 2 year old XP Home system is running really funky. Lots of spyware, adware, device issues, bloatware, bad drivers, etc. I was thinking it's finally time to start fresh and not load up as much garbage. It's been a long time since I've had to do this, the last time was with Windows 2000.

My question is, what is the best way to do this? I already copied over everything I need to an external HD. I have my orginal XP disk from Dell. Should I boot to dos and then Format c:, then restart with the CD in the drive and reinstall? Or should I just delete the system files and restart with the CD in the drive?

Any help would be appreciated, and sorry for the dumb question. I looked online and there is no clear answer, and Anandtech has always been my source of knowledge. Thanks!

If you simply have spyware and wish to remove it, grab MS's antispyware tool (see my .sig). I don't know what 'bloat' you mean, but you can easily uninstall most programs. For those you can't, see sentence #1.

If it were me, I'd go to MSFN.org's NLITE forums, download nLite 1.06, and research how to build a boot CD (XP) with ALL the integrated stuff already in it. It's now automated to the point that you download the nLite software, XP SP2-Network install, and some German guy's 'all-post-SP2-hotfix' bundle, and boom, you're all set - .ISO made to order. You can even customize your XP install with your PID and various other preferences.

That may be more effort than you want to spend (it took me about 30 minutes once I had the programs downloaded) but it does greatly simplify matters and gives you an easy, easy way to handle all future installs.

You can even integrate your chipset/video/audio/etc. drivers into the CD.

 

[thegorx]

personally I like creating a fat32 boot partition and having the cabs and drivers on that and run setup in DOS with WINNT in the i386 folder

that way you can update it as needed

other than that just make sure you have SP2 on your external drive along with the drivers and then just throw the CD in and let it reformat the drive
you could spend time setting up and unattended setup but if you don't do this offen there really is not point since you could have already had it installed by now.

but what I would suggest is that you get an drive image backup program like norton ghost but not the latest version or a image program that runs inside XP
they often cause problems get one that runs from a boot disk or CD

and back up the whole drive as soon as you activate it
with validation I activate it first, otherwise your online windows updates will be limited

install .... activate .... back up to an image file
then start updating and installing drivers and if things go sour restore the image and start again from there.

 

[ShellGuy]

Well you could save the time and slipstream SP2 in with your install and save the headach. But if you wish to do it the hard way be my guest.


Will G.

 

[thegorx]

how much time are we talking about ?

it does take time to update the setup files and then it will also take time to burn it or setup another way to install it

but to run SP2 after an install you just run it then come back a few minutes later an it's all done with no effort

if you want to create a way of running setup faster then you should run it from a separate hard drive on a different channel instead of from the CD drive
but the prep for that would take awhile.

yes, I'd recommend updating your cab files with SP2
but just for one install, it's not really necessary
sometimes it just best to get started on it then plan ahead for next time.