wiping HD and starting over

giluser · 02-18-2007, 12:37 AM

Hello,
OK, Here is my situation. I'm running win xp and I want to wipe my HD clean and start from scratch, but I don't want to lose some of the programs that I already have. Know, I need to mention that I don't have the installation disk for some of the progams that I want to keep. My question is this, Is there a way that I can keep and reinstall some of the programs after wiping the HD clean. Please help. Thanks.

**kodi** · 02-18-2007, 01:49 AM

Transfer them to an External Drive or burn them to DVD's

**hwm54112** · 02-18-2007, 11:12 AM

In most cases you won't be able to do that without install cds. When a program is installed it makes changes in the registry, basically tells windows it's on the computer, where it is, where it's files are, that sort of thing. Backup/restore, copying, etc can't transfer the needed info to the new registry. You can copy data files directly but programs won't work

yoyojoe · 02-22-2007, 04:11 AM

for a CLEAN/scratch restart why not purchase a new hard drive

???

at today's prices it's a no brainer and lets you keep existing apps undisturbed

this suggestion assumes you have the capacity within your box AND that you're comfortable with changing about its hardware AND that you have an OS install disc.

otherwise i reckon it's no way jose

yo

02-18-2007, 12:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
giluser Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 69 OS: xp	wiping HD and starting over Hello, OK, Here is my situation. I'm running win xp and I want to wipe my HD clean and start from scratch, but I don't want to lose some of the programs that I already have. Know, I need to mention that I don't have the installation disk for some of the progams that I want to keep. My question is this, Is there a way that I can keep and reinstall some of the programs after wiping the HD clean. Please help. Thanks.

02-18-2007, 01:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,407 OS: Windows 7-Ultimate 64 Bit My System	Transfer them to an External Drive or burn them to DVD's __________________ Brian

02-22-2007, 04:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
yoyojoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the Matrix Posts: 152 OS: XPsp2, 2ksp4	for a CLEAN/scratch restart why not purchase a new hard drive ??? at today's prices it's a no brainer and lets you keep existing apps undisturbed this suggestion assumes you have the capacity within your box AND that you're comfortable with changing about its hardware AND that you have an OS install disc. otherwise i reckon it's no way jose yo __________________ . . . yea, I have a future proof pc! well, the power plug is so far :)

02-18-2007, 11:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	In most cases you won't be able to do that without install cds. When a program is installed it makes changes in the registry, basically tells windows it's on the computer, where it is, where it's files are, that sort of thing. Backup/restore, copying, etc can't transfer the needed info to the new registry. You can copy data files directly but programs won't work