Reinstalling XP Pro To get wasted gigs back on HD.

[LouieLou]

I built a new system using the Asus P4c800-e deluxe and a P4-2.40c and an 80 gig seagate barracuda sata hd and XP Pro. I want to know if I can reinstall XP Pro and get back all the gigs I used when I was fooling around with my ATI all in wonder trying to figure out why I couldnt record sound onto a dvd I was editing from a vhs tape. It turned out to be a missing sound card cable connection, Problem solved. But I used up 10 gigs in the process. I am planning on purchasing a second HD for the video editing and thought I could reinstall XP Pro on my current HD to get those gigs back. Then install the second HD and Direct my captured video to it so that XP wouldnt compete with the editing process. No need to back up important files because I just built it and I dont have much on it anyway. Can I do this? Thanks in advance

 

[JustMike]

Why don't you just delete the temporary files that are consuming disk space instead of reinstalling?

 

[bacillus]

Originally posted by: JustMike
Why don't you just delete the temporary files that are consuming disk space instead of reinstalling?

good question!

 

[NokiaDude]

You'd have to format the hard drive. Reinstalling might not delete all the information. Deleting the temporary video files would be the best idea if you know where they are stored.

 

[LouieLou]

I forgot to mention that when I originally installed XP I accidentally filled out the info for the administrator. So every time I turn on my computer I must put in a password just to get into windows. If I reinstall and reformat the HD will I still be able to use my windows XP cd to reinstall the O.S ? My XP cd is Microsoft O.E.M version W/ SP1a service pack. Thanks in advance.

 

[KF]

>If I reinstall and reformat the HD will I still be able to use my windows XP cd to
> reinstall the O.S ? My XP cd is Microsoft O.E.M version W/ SP1a service pack.
Why not? You did it once, it should also work the second time. Don't forget to get all the security updates as soon as possible.

 

[nboy22]

what i found out about a year ago.. is that you should kill the system restore unless you are consistently putting your machine out on the line for being hacked or some such thing.. but .. disable that, and then turn down your internet explorer settings of the temporary internet files so that it will only store a few hundred megs instead of like 2 gigs worth of files in your folder, and delete the exsisting temp files.. it should help.. i know system restore once took about 8 gigs from me, which is a ridiculous amount of space.

 

[LouieLou]

Thanks you've been a grat help.