re-format pre loading of XP sp2?

Hello,

I have a dell 8250, Pentium 4, 2.39GHz and 768 MB of ram
With XP home v 5.1 SP1

And after all the add/remove programs, downloading and updates I’ve done
it’s a bit slow.

I’ve completed the usual scan disk, disk clean up, defrag, virus, ad ware,
spy ware checks and all results come clean (let me know if there is another
step I missed).

But the computer is still dragging. So I figured that I should start a
fresh, no? I know it might be time consuming but I’m willing to endure if it
will be beneficial.

I did a back up of all my data (i.e. word excel doc’s, music pictures, etc.)
just by dragging them to my external HD connected via usp2 port. Do I need to
back up the system state data, if so I plan on using the following link to
guide me (http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_backup.htm). Anything else
necessary to back up that I might have missed or is that enough?

So how do I go about reformatting and starting a fresh? I can either install
XP Home edition version 2002 which includes SP1 or windows XP professional,
which do you recommend? I have the dell dimensions resource CD and the Dell
Tools cds, if necessary. Any other disks I should make sure I have?

After the reformat and loading of either XP, but before installing the SP2
(which I have on disk) do I reinstall all my software programs (e.g. XP
office, adelphia internet software, messenger, palmpilot, etc.) and all the
driver updates (e.g. my HP printer and digital camera)? For additional
drivers I go to dells website but they have so many listed I’m sure many are
unnecessary how to find out which ones I need
(http://support.dell.com/support/down...&os=WW1&osl=EN).
Dell tells me my BIOS is fine but how do I double check, cant rely on dell as
am sure you all know.

Also pre install of SP2 do I have to then download the various windows
“critical� updates.

I plan on using the following steps at this link to install SP2
What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/s...hattoknow.mspx

Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm


Ok I tried to be as thorough as possible. Let me know if you have any
questions.

I’m open to any comments, suggestions or alternatives.

Thanks again for your help,

Lear

Hi
I don't have any comments on saving your stuff, but here's my 2 cents worth
on building a clean system:
1. Some recent Dells come with a CD labeled something like: "Operating
System Reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Including
Service Pack 1". This is a bootable CD and is capable of booting up and
installing WXP on a new hard drive or starting over and
repartitioning/formatting and installing on your current hard drive. I
would suggest building a new bootable installation CD that can install SP2.
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...slipstream.asp gives a
well-illustrated set of instructions. The reason I like this bootable CD is
that it may allow reinstallation without being nagged about entering a
Product Key or requiring activation, when installed on the original system.

2) The next problem is to get all the critical updates released since SP2
was released. Download the full version of Autopatcher. Someone told me
about it a few days ago:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...c2d78cf44b6878.
You will probably want the AutoPatcher XP June 2005 version. It works good.
The full download is big - about 150 megabytes. If you don't want to use
BitTorrent, you should be able to find the stainlesscomputing link. Save
this big file to a CD - you will use it after installing your clean WXP SP2.
That EXE just extracts its contents to your hard drive a puts a link on your
desktop to actually do the autopatch. When you do the autopatch, it will
allow you to select exactly what stuff you want done. It has options to do
a lot of neat things if you want to.

-Paul Randall

"Lear" <> wrote in message
news:BCD443C8-F58E-467C-9C45-...
> Hello,
>
> I have a dell 8250, Pentium 4, 2.39GHz and 768 MB of ram
> With XP home v 5.1 SP1
>
> And after all the add/remove programs, downloading and updates I've done
> it's a bit slow.
>
> I've completed the usual scan disk, disk clean up, defrag, virus, ad ware,
> spy ware checks and all results come clean (let me know if there is
> another
> step I missed).
>
> But the computer is still dragging. So I figured that I should start a
> fresh, no? I know it might be time consuming but I'm willing to endure if
> it
> will be beneficial.
>
> I did a back up of all my data (i.e. word excel doc's, music pictures,
> etc.)
> just by dragging them to my external HD connected via usp2 port. Do I need
> to
> back up the system state data, if so I plan on using the following link to
> guide me (http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_backup.htm). Anything
> else
> necessary to back up that I might have missed or is that enough?
>
> So how do I go about reformatting and starting a fresh? I can either
> install
> XP Home edition version 2002 which includes SP1 or windows XP
> professional,
> which do you recommend? I have the dell dimensions resource CD and the
> Dell
> Tools cds, if necessary. Any other disks I should make sure I have?
>
> After the reformat and loading of either XP, but before installing the SP2
> (which I have on disk) do I reinstall all my software programs (e.g. XP
> office, adelphia internet software, messenger, palmpilot, etc.) and all
> the
> driver updates (e.g. my HP printer and digital camera)? For additional
> drivers I go to dells website but they have so many listed I'm sure many
> are
> unnecessary how to find out which ones I need
> (http://support.dell.com/support/down...&os=WW1&osl=EN).
> Dell tells me my BIOS is fine but how do I double check, cant rely on dell
> as
> am sure you all know.
>
> Also pre install of SP2 do I have to then download the various windows
> "critical" updates.
>
> I plan on using the following steps at this link to install SP2
> What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/s...hattoknow.mspx
>
> Service Pack 2 Checklist
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm
>
>
> Ok I tried to be as thorough as possible. Let me know if you have any
> questions.
>
> I'm open to any comments, suggestions or alternatives.
>
> Thanks again for your help,
>
> Lear