Reformat Windows XP
 

Okay;

Few questions about an old computer of mine.

-Windows 2000 (XP)
-256 MB of Ram

This computer is basically full with old junk files and everything you could think of. I want to still use it and I have been thinking about reformatting.

Do I have this all correct here?

Turn on your computer (With disc in). A screen will come up saying “Press any key to boot from disk”. Press any key. Now wait about 10seconds for the setup utility to be loaded. When asked if you want to set up or repair, hit Enter to set up Windows. Read the license agreement and hit F8 if you agree. If the setup program detects an existing installation of Windows and asks if you want to repair it, hit Esc to skip the repair. The setup program will ask you where to install Windows. Highlight the existing "C: Partition1" partition and hit D to delete it. Hit L to confirm. Next, hit Enter to install Windows on the "Unpartitioned Space". Format the space as NTFS - You will get an option to choose full or quik format. My experience is that quick format is for disk that have previously formatted. If the disk has not been formatted, then you will have to use the standard format option. Usually you will get a popup message "This disk can not be quick formatted" or something along that line. Then continue the installation. Please note: During the installation process, your computer will reboot. You will then see a message to press any key to boot from cd. Do not press any key a second time, otherwise the installation will start from scratch again. Complete the next several screens on the setup process and make sure you do not leave the administrator password blank. After following these steps, setup should be complete.

After you have reformatted I am aware that you need to reinstall all of your drivers...does anyone know how many of these I should have on discs? or do I need the discs or can I get them from elsewhere?

Thanks a lot guys,
-Ancient

If you still have the motherboard cd it will have all of the drivers on it. If not, you will have to go digging on the mobo manufacturers website for the correct drivers.

If you have a separate sound card or video card go to the manufactures website and download them from there.

See if you can get some more ram at least another 256 meg stick...

Sounds like you should be fine re-installing XP. Wombat is right about the RAM, the more the better performance with XP. Although I have XP SP3 running on a 300mhz with 128MB RAM. It's just slower, but runs fine.

If you cant find the drivers for your board you can try one of these utilities if you still have the OS running on it.
SysChat - Downloads (Freeware Utilities) - Driver Collector
SysChat - Downloads (Freeware Utilities) - Driver Magician Lite

Also to get all the critical updates for XP on one disc, instaead of hours of downloading them a few at a time, from here.
Offline update from heise security

Yeh I downloaded SysChat - Downloads (Freeware Utilities) - Driver Collector. I just run the program and it puts each of the sections of drivers into a file in C:\ and then you just take that folder and burn it to a disc or floppy right? Then after you are finished reformatting you take the disc and put it in to install the drivers? I just don't want to reformat my computer and then not be able to use it because I lost critical files.

Do you just take the files you found using the program and burn them to a floppy or disc and then put that into your computer after you reformat to install the drivers?

Which files are you talking about,,,S&M gave you three different options and each is for specific details of what to do with them!

OK.

IF I reformat my computer with the installation CD that came with the computer, it reads:

Reinstallation CD
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

I also have more CD's that are as follows:

-M781 Color Monitor Quick Setup (Displays by DELL)
-For reinstalling V.90 Data/Fax Modem for Microsoft Windows (Drivers and Utilities)
-Dell Dimension ResoruceCD for Reinstalling Device Drivers and Using Diagnostics, Utilities, and Online Documentation (Drivers and Utilities)
-Backup: Dell-installed programs (Application)
-For installing/reinstalling Roxio easy CD Creator 5.1 Basic (Application)

Does anyone know if I need anything more?

My problem is when I go and reformat my computer, I'm I going to start it back up and then not be able to use it because I am not going to have the drivers?

I know after you reformat you have to download all the new updates and everything, I basically don't want to reformat and screw anything up to where I can't use the computer any longer.

Reinstall the operting system. You will be able to use it because the generic drivers that are installed will run ok.

The next operation is to use the following discs in this order:

M781 Color Monitor Quick Setup (Displays by DELL)...this is your video driver and should be installed. There will probably be other driver installations on there as well such as Direct X version This you would also need to get full potential from your 3D graphics.

Dell Dimension ResoruceCD for Reinstalling Device Drivers and Using Diagnostics, Utilities, and Online Documentation (Drivers and Utilities)...these are your motherboard drivers for the devices that are pre-installed on the motherboard.... The utillity things from Dell can be left off if you are confident on being able to diagnose any failures..if not then install them as well but they are full of bloat that is not needed or wanted by most users.

Don't use the Roxio installation disc...wait till you are completely updated and then get Nero (free edition)

Depending on how you connect to the internet:
If by cable I wouldn't install the modem card in most cases I would remove it...if it is built in to the motherboard then set the thing to disabled in device manager and forget about it....resource hog.

If you have to use it then install the drivers for it because you will have to do windows update to get all the updates for that computer.

If required you need to activate the xp installation or you can not get updates.

once the drivers are installed then you need to go to set your auto updates to off...then go to the windows update and when asked choose "custom" and when the updates are shown first look at the left side and select all the hardware installations as first....this will update all your hardware drivers to the newest that M$ has. then repeat going back to windows update to get the latest updates for the software and operating system that you have.

read what UpDates are being installed...DO NOT INSTALL SP3 SP3 will cause you computer to crash as there are lots of issues with SP# and Dell.

Okay, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I understand everything except for the MS updates, do I just go to their website and download them? Is there a list of them that I will need?

Also, I am going to use a wireless router and have wireless internet on this old computer. I am going to buy the wireless router

Linksys - Wireless-G Broadband Router with 4-Port Ethernet Switch - WRT54G2

And also buy the wireless network adapter

Linksys - RangePlus Enhanced Wireless-G Network USB 2.0 Adapter - WUSB100

My computer downstairs will have the cable modem attatched to the wall. Therefore I just take the wireless router, wire the modem through it, and then plug in the wireless adapter to the upstairs computer, and it will read the wireless internet and let me use it? Is it that easy or..?


So we have computer A = New computer Computer B = Old, being reformatted computer

Computer A : Downstairs, w. router, modem (cable)

Computer B: Upstairs, reformatted, wireless network adapter

Thats fiine for what you have in mind.