Tips Before Reinstalling Windows XP

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dnamertz

New Member
I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will need
to prepare. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive, so I
need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know how
to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to backup
Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I should
backup that I'm probably not thinking about?

What other things should I know to prepare for this?
 
make sure you have all the drivers disks for your MOBO because if you dont have those you wont be able to install the network controller and wont be able to get any other drivers, or internet period.
 
dnamertz said:
I need to reinstall Windows XP and I would like any info or tips I will need
to prepare. I understand I will lose everything on my hard drive, so I
need to back up important files first (is that correct?). If so, I know how
to backup pictures, documents, and music files, but is there a way to backup
Bookmarks and all the emails sitting in my inbox? Anything else I should
backup that I'm probably not thinking about?

What other things should I know to prepare for this?
Click to expand...

I know how to do e-mail, but not bookmarks. (Unless your using something other than IE)

I Imagine you use outlook express? ( think I know how to do it. I know Thunderbird better)
 
as far as ie.. just click on file on the tool bar and click on export
and send the bookmarks to a floppy or flash drive
 
Last edited:
If your using both Firefox and Thunderbird, a great way to backup your customizations, bookmarks, extensions, cookies, email, etc. is to use MozBackup.

Note that backing up your email is easy....restoring it may not be so easy.
 
voyagerfan99 said:
I know how to do e-mail, but not bookmarks. (Unless your using something other than IE)

I Imagine you use outlook express? ( think I know how to do it. I know Thunderbird better)
Click to expand...

I have bookmarks on both IE and Mozilla, and I use Outlook Express for email.
 
IE favorites and links are found under your user name in both XP and Vista alike. For XP there you look in DocumentsandSettings>user name>Favorites to copy+paste those to another folder or even on a floppy.

You don't always have to reformat a drve to see XP reinstalled depending on how long it's been on. For a lengthy period then a good clean install on a freshly reformatted or even brand new primary is preferred.

Once you have IE running FireFox will import all IE favorites and links into it's own feeds and links there. FireFox does see a backup method of it's own. The Mozilla support page for this is seen at http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing+up+your+information
 
next time put the OS on a seperate partition (15 gigs or so depending on how many programs you plan to install) so that you won't have to "delete everything" the next time but just that partition.

as for drivers you can use driver magician to clone whatever you have right now

also consider making an image of your next install so you don't have to install everything all over again

if you run firefox there's an addon called FEBE that makes a backup off ALL your addons, bookmarks, saved passwords, etc. use it to save your ff stuff before formatting

there's more but thses are the basics
 
dznutz said:
next time put the OS on a seperate partition (15 gigs or so depending on how many programs you plan to install) so that you won't have to "delete everything" the next time but just that partition.
Click to expand...

15gb can get quite a bit cramped real fast depending on how many programs are run and what files are kept. Not everyone will want to see a drive split up and even look at adding in a second drive or considering an external one for storage and backing things up. Some eventually ask how to merge partitions when the OS primary runs out of room too quickly.
 
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