Format C:\ or reinstall windows? - Saxperience

TheVtrKid · 27th March 2009, 11:46

Ok my computer is annoying me. I was thinkin of either formatting C:\ or reinstalling windows? Which would be the best, i have transferred all my programs that i want and need etc, and my music onto CD, so i'm ready to do whichever. It hasn't been formatted in a good few years, so would that be the best option? then reinstall windows?

Maxamus · 27th March 2009, 11:49

Windows dude does basicly the same thing for alot less hassel...

TheVtrKid · 27th March 2009, 12:05

yeah but does it still clean your harddrive and stuff? It hasnt been done in a while, shouldn't you do it every couple years or something?

Modified · 27th March 2009, 17:10

right!!! lets sit down about this

Format or reinstall windows? hmmmm

have you ever installed windows before? lets guess no.......... when you boot up from a windows cd it will bring you into its own install blue system screen thing! lol and will ask you to format drive to install windows OR repair windows

now if i was you id never "repair" windows cos its just poop!

best thing you can do is remove everything off the drive you need get a win xp cd, change the boot start up in the bios, select CD and follow the on screen comands to format the drive and reinstall windows, i have never heard of someone reinstalling windows without formatting

format and install mate

TheVtrKid · 27th March 2009, 17:16

Yes i've installed windows before but i couldn't remember, it was a few years ago, i cant remember what i did yesterday.
Ok ive formatted and reinstalled etc. It hasn't detected to download service pack 1 2 or 3, i tried downloading service pack 3, it says i need service pack 1 so i guess i got to instal 1 and 2 before i can 3. Im trying all over the net to find it, but theres dodgy links everywhere. Anybody know where i can just download it? And i've tried microsft.com aswel, i can't find them.

Shadowdemon · 27th March 2009, 17:21

When You Insert a win xp disc it asks you if u want to format the hard drives 1st just choose yes and make sure u DON'T Use the quick formatting (Leaves quite abit of old crap on there)
Takes like 10-20 mins tops to re-format then about 30mins to install windows.
And if you've got all the programmes and stuff u need then ur be fine !!
Make sure U make a list of the drivers u need for sound etc incase the windows cd dosn't have the right 1s for ur pc. Can usually download them from the website off whoever makes ur computer.
Hope that helps

TheVtrKid · 27th March 2009, 17:35

yea the only thing im having trouble with at the moment is getting the sound card working, but again....it since service pack 1 must be installed at the minimum. which im installing as we speak. I've downloaded the driver, so ill hopefully get it going when the service packs are installed.

Alex^p · 28th March 2009, 09:56

Just use windows update, Will download all you need, no need to search then.

TheVtrKid · 28th March 2009, 12:34

yeah its ok, i've got all 3 service packs now, but i figured why my computer was so slow before. And its kinda doing the same again already. When i extract the service packs it automatically extracts to E:\ which is my external hard drive. So when its booting up i'm guessing the E:\ is helping it boot up? Which is why it was going slow? Does anybody know if i can move these service packs to C:\? And if so where abouts?

Shadowdemon · 28th March 2009, 17:09

When u install windows you choose what hard drive to install it on ...
Just choose the 1 u want it to go on When u install windows.
Then just make sure ur external hard drives unplugged while u update it, Then there's no chance of it being installed on the external hard drive.

bpm · 30th March 2009, 15:09

If you want to run your computer with any speed dont use external HDs. Internal ones are cheaper anyway. If you need to reinstall as its already instlled to E, just unplug it before you do so you know its all going on C.

TheVtrKid · 30th March 2009, 21:13

my service packs are already installed on E:\ though now. I can't uninstall them can i? Cos if i could, then i would uninstall them, unplug the external Hardrive, then reinstall them so they go onto C:\

Alex^p · 30th March 2009, 21:51

It probably would have just extracted temporary files to E:, What drive is the windows folder on?

TheVtrKid · 30th March 2009, 22:32

the windows folder is on C:\