ARGH! I had to reinstall Windows a couple of days ago ...

[BattyDem]

and I haven't had a chance to configure it and "tweak" it the way I like. To make matters worse, I still haven't reinstalled most of my software and everytime I try to do something with the computer, I realize I can't because the program I need isn't installed yet. This sucks! :-(

Oh well ... at least I didn't lose any files when the system crashed and burned.

Not much else to say ... just thought I'd share my frustration. :-)

[Occulus]

1. so what you do is

you install everything... al your system software, drivers, updates, and utilities, but NO GAMES or other extra software like video editors, photoshop, etc.... and then get a piece of software that allows you to burn an image of your HD after installing everything to one or more CDs or DVDs. I believe Norton Ghost does this....

[BattyDem]

2. Every time I have to reinstall Windows ...

I say to myself, "I've got to get Ghost so I won't ever go through this again." Of course, I never do. When will I learn? :eyes:

[Babel_17]

6. Exactly right

That's what I do.

I also have extra drives and partitions where I store my bulky files and rafts and rafts of other stuff.

I try to keep my C: drive restricted to just Windows and non-game programs.

I do an image backup (Drive Image 2002) every week or so and they usually take up less than one and a half gigs of space. They get stored on a seperate partition and I usually cull them out every month or so keeping a couple of recent ones as well as several "key" older ones.

I was pleased to discover that most mega-sized games can be safely stored in seperate partitions. Assuming I need to use a backup image there's no problem or issues with the games as long as they were installed prior to the backup.


What most people don't know is that many of these games don't need a reinstall even if one was forced to do a complete fresh install of Windows. Assuming there not on the C: drive which is getting formatted of course.

UT2003 and UT2004 for example need only a few key registry entries to be imported be good to go after a fresh windows install.

Some of the larger application suites and Encyclopedias are like that too.

[autorank]

3. Get off the grid, get Fedora!

MicroSoft sucks. I'm using XP Professional because a vital piece of my software is only XP compatible. The instant I find a substitute for this, I'm gone from MS. I was a MAC user since '85 (yes, it's true) and switched a couple of years ago. What a f'ing pain -- you're updates are ready. I thought I bought a functional piece of software! Why do I need fucking updates all the time (I don't). I got Mozilla and the FireFox, partial freedom, now the clock is ticking.

Got a low down on how Red Hat is selling companies enterprise service agreements using software (from Linux). The software is free but you pay for the service and customizing. The companies love it because they don't get locked into MS and Red Hat is really taking off. MS is toast.

God I do NOT want to go through a crash!

[BattyDem]

7. Open Source rules!

A few more years of development in a "user-friendly" direction and the MS monopoly could be history. :evilgrin:

[SKKY]

9. I'm all on Suse...

...but like you I need XP for like, 2 things. Tried Fedora, dated it for a while, but ended up marrying Suse.

[ngant17]

4. reinstall windows

Actually, some people, including me, would recommend that Windows be completely reinstalled with reformated hard-disk on a regular basis, such as every 3-6 months, to keep it from bogging down with all the registry enteries and excess files which accumulate. You might want to keep a copy of Win98 2nd ed. just for emergency protection, if you're running that version. Don't use later versions myself, such as XP and 2000 and NT. Not necessary for my needs.

[BattyDem]

10. I usually reinstall every year ...

I was actually planning on doing it next month, but then the crash happened and my schedule was moved up and I wasn't really prepared. Many of my software installation CDs are in a box in the closet, so I have to dig them out this weekend. Oh well ... we're supposed to get hit with a snow storm, so at least it'll give me something to do. :-)

[solinvictus]

5. Go Mac!

Say goodbye to Gates and his inferior software that requires a companion cottage industry to correct each release.

[SKKY]

8. You should try Norton's Ghost...

Reload your machine and tweak it as you like. Get all your programs installed, apply the updates and patches, and make sure everything works. Then "Ghost" it, using Norton's Ghost. It creates an "image" of your hard drive (or a partition as the case may be), and stores it on CD or DVD. It makes the recovery part soooo much easier. I re-ghost my machine in about 25 minutes.

[BattyDem]

11. I know ... I know ...

I keep saying I'm going to buy it and I never get around to it. Why do I have to do everything the hard way?

Hmmm ... for Christmas, I got a gift certificate to CompUSA. I think I'll use it to FINALLY buy Ghost! :D

[SKKY]

12. It will save you sooooo much time...

...About 4 years ago, me and my 2 junior admins deployed something like 600 computers over a weekend using Ghost. Phenominal product.

[BattyDem]

13. 600???

Wow, that's amazing! Ok ... you sold me ... I'll pick it up tomorrow. :toast: