This is what I hate about reinstalling windows.

[clicknext]

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On top of that, my updates have a tendency to stop while updating if I tell it to do a lot at once.

 

[us3rnotfound]

good job, dont slipstream your xp installation w/ service pack 1a :disgust:

 

[drag]

Well you should be carefull! you can get infected by worms before you even get a chance to install the updates.

If you don't like it, then people have solutions for you. Using distros like Redhat, Fedora, or Debian it's possible to keep your OS continoulsy updated and Linux doesn't have the propencity to gradual decline like windows does and rarely requires reinstalling.

Only once can I remember actually having to reinstall... And this was due to a power outage that fried one of my partitions. It was easy to retreive the information after some fixes, but it was a state that it would be easier to reinstall the OS then fix the filenames.

Most people when first trying out make some mistakes and require reinstalls. Linux is designed so that you can do whatever you want, no questions asked... This includes blowing away your entire configuration with one simple command: "rm -rf /". As long as you restrain from using root on a regular basis you'd be ok. 90% of the mistakes other then file deletion are fixable. (trust me, I regularly make hair-brained mistakes and screw up plenty of stuff. Just because I ain't all that brite))

The learning curve can be steep, but once you get familar with the concepts and basic operation of the OS it's fairly easy to use.


Other then that since you have a chance now, download all your WIndowsXP fixes to your harddrive and burn them to a CD. You can get them thru MS's website if you look in *.exe forms. Plus (I beleive) many of those fixes are taken care of if you install the service pack(s) first, if it will let you. Definately save the service packs to CD.

 

[HalfCrazy]

You could slipstream the service pack and windows on a cd. Would make it less time to update windows the next time. Below is a link that will help you make a slipstream cd.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp1_cd.htm

 

[arsbanned]

why reinstall unless it's a complete hardware change out

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: arsbanned
why reinstall unless it's a complete hardware change out

Even than a reinstall is generally not neccisary (if you prep it right first). I've changed motherboards and processer types without reinstalling Windows.

 

[clicknext]

Originally posted by: drag
Well you should be carefull! you can get infected by worms before you even get a chance to install the updates.

If you don't like it, then people have solutions for you. Using distros like Redhat, Fedora, or Debian it's possible to keep your OS continoulsy updated and Linux doesn't have the propencity to gradual decline like windows does and rarely requires reinstalling.

Only once can I remember actually having to reinstall... And this was due to a power outage that fried one of my partitions. It was easy to retreive the information after some fixes, but it was a state that it would be easier to reinstall the OS then fix the filenames.

Most people when first trying out make some mistakes and require reinstalls. Linux is designed so that you can do whatever you want, no questions asked... This includes blowing away your entire configuration with one simple command: "rm -rf /". As long as you restrain from using root on a regular basis you'd be ok. 90% of the mistakes other then file deletion are fixable. (trust me, I regularly make hair-brained mistakes and screw up plenty of stuff. Just because I ain't all that brite))

The learning curve can be steep, but once you get familar with the concepts and basic operation of the OS it's fairly easy to use.


Other then that since you have a chance now, download all your WIndowsXP fixes to your harddrive and burn them to a CD. You can get them thru MS's website if you look in *.exe forms. Plus (I beleive) many of those fixes are taken care of if you install the service pack(s) first, if it will let you. Definately save the service packs to CD.

I didn't have my internet connection on until I applied the MSBlast patch. Thanks for telling me anyway.

I DO use linux slackware on a dual boot, but I'm not good enough at it to use it as effectively as windows, and I play games so windows is a must, unfortunately.

why reinstall unless it's a complete hardware change out

Because I was getting all these problems, and then I got a virus as well from disabling norton antivirus (not a very smart move, but i didnt realize i did it), and the install was just getting buggy and slow in general from all these things I try like new shells and such. It's just nice to have a clean new OS every half year or so.

 

[SilverBack]

If you want to take the time and write your own install for XP you can you know.
I regularly reinstall XP as I change system specs frequently. I hardly ever have a system that goes 4 months without a new install.
I got tired of the same thing you say.
So I made an XP unattended install disk.
I put the cd in the drive and walk away. (The hard drive does have to be unpartioned though)

I included SP1 same as the above person mentioned.
It also installs my XP Pro key as well. Drivers were included in the CAB's for most new hardware that I will buy. So I don't have to install drivers anymore.
I can reinstall Windows completely in about 20 minutes.
I'm still looking for information how to do the other main things as well, like Favorites and email accounts if anyone has that information.

Here is the link for making a XP Unattended Install
Another link for Slipstreaming

Also here is a very good URL for all the XP updates that you can download and save.
XP updates

 

[HalfCrazy]

Originally posted by: SilverBack
If you want to take the time and write your own install for XP you can you know.
I regularly reinstall XP as I change system specs frequently. I hardly ever have a system that goes 4 months without a new install.
I got tired of the same thing you say.
So I made an XP unattended install disk.
I put the cd in the drive and walk away. (The hard drive does have to be unpartioned though)

I included SP1 same as the above person mentioned.
It also installs my XP Pro key as well. Drivers were included in the CAB's for most new hardware that I will buy. So I don't have to install drivers anymore.
I can reinstall Windows completely in about 20 minutes.
I'm still looking for information how to do the other main things as well, like Favorites and email accounts if anyone has that information.

Here is the link for making a XP Unattended Install
Another link for Slipstreaming

Also here is a very good URL for all the XP updates that you can download and save.
XP updates

Thanks for the Unattened Install link. This will help me out alot the next time I do a reinstall on windows. I placed that link in my favorites to keep on hand.

 

[stephbu]

From Integral SP2 installs onward the allegation is that ICF 2.0 will be on by default - it also starts with default rules that block all ports.

Currently with ICF 1.0 enabled there is still potential vulnerability during boot-up while the rules are applied - because there are no default rules.

 

[Bulldog13]

There is a copy of a windows XP pro install floating around which contains both service pack 1a and a "Roll up" of updates. I m pretty sure I couldn't link to it, because it would be piracy, but since it does exist, there must be a way to make your own...

 

[RalfHutter]

I just did a fresh install of XP Pro using a slipstreamed sp1 disk and only had 15MB of updates to apply afterwards. MS rolled up a bunch of updates into one package last fall and cut down a bunch on the amount/size of the updates that need to be installed after a fresh OS install. I used to have to download about 40MB of updates after a slipstreamed sp1 fresh install.

 

[Smilin]

Turning on ICF will generally save your butt from MSBlast long enough to get updated.

In addition to slipstreaming service packs you can also do the same with updates and hotfixes if you want:

828930 How to Integrate Product Updates into Your Windows Installation Source
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=828930

My favorite hotfix link