safe & easy reinstall-can it be done?

[tape]

After a repair/install of XP Pro on Dell didn't fully fix a desktop problem, I was advised by Dell to do a complete reinstall. If I do this, I thought I'd move my 80 Gb to the backup position and pop in a new 120 Gb HD as main HD and install on a really clean unit. Does anyone know of documentation or a web page that tells me what files to then copy back over to my "new" HD and/or which programs need to be reinstalled instead of copies? Thanks

[glc]

Remove the 80gb till Windows is reinstalled. Then slave the 80 back in and copy your data files over. ALL programs are going to have to be reinstalled.

Before you do this, please tell us in detail what's the matter with your desktop, it may be an easy fix. Just because Dell doesn't have an easy fix doesn't mean one doesn't exist.

[macko72]

And if reinsall didn't fixed it may be a hardware problem!!!

[tape]

I posted my problem a few weeks ago, but no solutions, so contacted Dell. Problem began when I tried to reinstall PaintShop Photo Album. After some back and forth with their tech people, it was decided that there must be missing/corrupted files that prevented me from reinstalling the Photo Album. I did a repair/reinstall. During the install, a power blip caused my PC to loose power. When it restarted, it seemd to pick up from where it left off. All seemed fine. Then while changing the desktop pattern from a jpeg graphic on file to the default XP desktop, a 3" square, a little off the center of my screen, kept that original jpeg graphic while the rest changed to the XP desktop. When I clicked on that strange square, it turned white and has been white ever since. Any opem window will cover the square, but other than that, I always have a white square on the screen. I've tried all kinds of screens, but none remove the white square. The only time I got rid of it was when I added a new user to the computer. That gave me a fresh and clean desktop. I explained all this to Dell. I was told to try the repair again. The power failure may have caused a corrupted file, etc. I did it, but no help. I've run Norton, Registry Repair, virus/ad ware scans (SpyWare Doctor, Adware & Spybot). I've tired starts with none of my usual startup items, etc, but nothing helps. I'm game for anything that would be less demanding than a complete reinstall! Thanks

[macko72]

Well is it possible for you to backup your immportant files and folders and do fresh clean install of windows not repair or reinstall( to reformat drive and start from scrach) that must get rid of corrupted files and you will have new desktop as well as everything else!!!

You may use this as guidance: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[tape]

Feel stupid when I get lost in terminology: slaving the HD ? I need an explanation. Sorry.

[Garyfl]

HDD have jumpers on the back of them that you can set to either c/s (cable select) or master or slave. if you buy a new hard drive there will be a booklet explaining how to set the jumpers. Normally the hard drive at the end of the ribbon cable will be the master and you would set the jumper as such on the back. Also if you take your hard drive out and look it over you will see the settings marked on the top or back of it somewhere.

[Corky]

Dell usually sets the drives to cable select, probably for ease of building. I'd go with "Master/Slave".