Question on approach of Window Problems??

[liquidblue69mce]

Ok, here is the situation I have been getting boot up issues with WIN XP PRO (just finished making this new PC about 2 months ago) and instead of trying to locate the errors that I have been seeing I would like nuke everything and reload windows…. I backed up all my critical data and I’m ready to start the reload windows tomorrow. How many people out there take the route of reloading windows instead of trying to fix isolated problems? Or, do you all take to reloading windows as the last resort? The biggest issue of course getting all the programs reinstalled and get the format of windows how I like it. As problems new problems appear I will get help from Microsoft and have you all get insight on the issues.

Vent away…

[TwoRails]

For me, it's always a last resort, and it's very rare I've had to do it. It's a lot simpler to correct problems. I guess it depends on how much stuff is loaded, too. I've got the proverbial gazillion things installed, but if I had only one or two programs, it could make a decision difference.

[Force Flow]

It's last resort for me too. I've got everything all tweaked and situated just the way I want it. The last time I did a nuke and pave, it took me over 3 full days to get all my programs installed and configured. ugh, what a job that is.

So, that's why it's worth it to me to spend a few hours trying to fix the problem instead of reinstalling the O/S.

[pam123]

Take a shot at fixing it first, you're not going to learn it well any other way.

[liquidblue69mce]

Yep, I realize that reloading windows is not a route that's commonly used by experienced people, but I think I once is not going to create a repeat offender... I also deleted a VSO program by accident and now when Windows boots up I gets several scan disk error messages and a folder automatically loads: C:\program files\common, again I not too sure what I did so I'm still thinking towards reloading WIN XP.

I was getting ready to reload WIN XP Pro and at the screen that prompts the user to select a partition to format; there were two different partition names/locations:

1st: "C: Partition1 [NTFS] 114487 MB <108910 MB free>”
2nd: "Unpartitioned space 8 MB"

Where the heck did this 2nd space come from? Virus?

Do I need to do boot nuke and then reload windows?

One more thing if someone is in the processing of reformatting the HD and your realized that you made a big mistake in doing so, you’re still OK as long as you interrupt the reformatting process before it's completed. If you turn off the PC (i.e. pulling the power cord) the HD is still intact in the old formatting system and you can get into windows again, just like nothing ever happened. I just tried this and I able to get into windows and all data was still there the way I left it... Only the formatting process works with this, I'm not sure about the boot & nuke program (zero filling).

[liquidblue69mce]

oh, I am going to try and fix the issues I've seen by not reloading WIN XP first, so there is hope...

[rave]

there was once in reinstalled windows 4 times in just a month. i have become very efficient in loading my drivers and programs again.LOL

i try to fix it first...but sometimes "fixing" windows takes more effort than its worth