Saving files before a reformat.

[nightowl]

I am planning to reformat my booting partition on my computer to start fresh for next semester and fix some errors in IE and Win2k. Before I do that I want to save my e-mails I have already received, my addresses (MS Outlook), and various other files. If I just copy the Administrator directory from the Documents and settings directory to another drive, will that save all of my current preferences and e-mails so I can copy them back after I have reinstalled Win2k or do I need to do something else?

 

[FOBSIDE]

youre using microsoft outlook? you can just export to a file and import that file later and it will restore your emails, contacts, and such. in outlook select FILE -> IMPORT AND EXPORT. export to a .pst file and include any of the folders you want saved. then when you have outlook back on your machine import it and search for that file and load your folders back onto your computer.

 

[Magic30]

Hey, make a ghost image next time after installing your system, this will speed up "reinstalling" it in future.
I would make an extra data (primary) partition where you save your personal data, so you can easily re-up your ghost image and still have all your data on your untouched data partition or drive.

 

[josphstalinator]

but to use a ghost image you need a medium to put it on which cant include the same disk. so one would need a second hard drive or a tape drive. but i totally agree, ghost images are the best. 10 minutes to reinstall everything instead of 3-4 hours.

 

[nightowl]

I have a 18 gig data partition where I save everything. It just that I want to save all of my e-mails and addresses. I think that everything is stored under Administrator in the Documents and Settings folder for Win2k right? I am planning to ghost my system drive after I reinstall everything. As far as ghosting, how much can I fit on a CD. My current system drive is about 3 gig. If it is too big for a CD I can put it on my 18 gig data partition that has about 5 gig free. If I do put it my hard drive can Ghost read a NTFS partition?