Im looking to clean up my computer and maybe start from scratch.?

5 thoughts on “Im looking to clean up my computer and maybe start from scratch.?”

1. Dunbar Pappy says:

   October 10, 2009 at 3:59 am

   The full formatted installs will give the cleanest ‘ground level’ operating system, provided you have the Windows disk.
   Before you do anything, back up your drivers to a separate CD!
   It gets harder and harder to find them, and many places charge to get them.
   Try Driver Magician Lite (freeware);
   http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/system/fwbackup.html
   Use the ‘identify & back up all drivers’ for the first BU; & keep it with your unit.

   If you have a virus, data backup may prove to be futile, as it may save the virus & re-infect your system, rendering all your work useless.

   Data back-ups are separate items from System backups;
   Data are things you have created or added to you unit with programs: letters, documents, pictures, music, etc. These should be done every other week or 1X per month.

   Windows has a backup built in (System Tools> Backup), but I find it bulky & hard to use.
   Your 1st backup should be the ‘all’ data option as a baseline; after that use the ‘incremental’, which saves only new items, and changes to originals. This saves space on you backup media.
   Ideally 2 copies are made of each backup: one kept with the unit, one kept ‘off site’ in case of fire, storms, etc.
   One decent B.U. application is ‘Cobain’ (moderately easy to use; freeware).
   http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/software.html

   For an entire drive back-up (programs, data, drives, settings, etc.) try
   DriveImage XML
   enables you create a complete backup image of any logical drive or partition, allowing to to restore your entire operating system along with installed programs, user settings, registry and all. You can restore the image later to the same or a different drive, and also choose to copy the drive directly to another one. The program includes an image explorer that lets you open previously created backup images and extract individual files. DriveImage XML can use volume locking or Volume Shadow Services (VSS) to create the backup image from within Windows, without the need to reboot. The program stores your images in .dat files, using XML format, allowing you to process them with 3rd party applications.
   Freeware.
   http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/system/fwdisktools.html

2. I Am I Was says:

   October 10, 2009 at 3:59 am

   Format the drive and reinstall windows. The 1st person said clean install, I say FORMAT then reinstall windows. just restart the computer with xp cd in the drive and go from there.

3. KAMAL M says:

   October 10, 2009 at 3:59 am

   simply format your computer by knowledgeable person of computer hardware. OK friend

4. RalphX says:

   October 10, 2009 at 3:59 am

   What I did when mine needed a clean out, I backed up needed information onto a disc, turned off computer, put in the Operating System disc (may or may not have come with the computer) and boot from the disc. It should then guide you through to installing/reinstalling/formatting, depending on the Operating System. I didn’t actually get a disc with my computer so I had to ….download it :p

5. rockon! says:

   October 10, 2009 at 3:59 am

   Clean Install Windows XP
   http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

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