Non-PowWeb, but we can All Relate

[osensnolf]

I format my computer more so that I care to discuss (even if it is only about twice per year), but the reinstalling of all of the software is such a pain (ie: Office, WinZip, WinAmp, Macromedia, Adobe, .... Battlefield ). Can I create a new partition, install all of the basic applications (minus the drivers) and make a copy of it somehow and then transfer that stuff to a blank hard drive when I format, and be up and ready in no time? Or is it not that simple?

I know this does not really relate to PowWeb, but I always get good answers here so I thought this would be the best place to start asking.

Thanks,
Steven Gabbard
http://www.osensnolf.com

[Doc C]

Here's what I did and you can adapt it to your own needs.

Get a USB hard drive big enough for all your stuff. I've got 160 gig for mine (the PC has an 80 gig master and 160 gig slave but I never fill them up!)

Get some imaging software I use Alconis True Image.

Image the USB drive with your PC the way you like it. Run an incremental every time you load new software. Run Disk Cleanup and Defrag before imaging.

Then when you decide to reformat the drive, you can pop in the Boot CD, reimage your drive and you're back on the air.

I had a PC for 4 years and never reformatted it. Why do you reformat so often? Just curious.

[IanS]

I've had a PC for many years (different ones) and have never had to re-format the HD to solve a problem. It should be un-necessary.

[Pestilence]

I can somewhat relate, when i was using win98 I felt like i was formating every 3 or so months for what ever reason. I wasn't anywhere I shouldn't have been online, had a veriety of virus scanners and adaware programs and still.. Now that I'm on XP pro, and for the love of all that is squirrely, I have only formatted Once in two years I've been using it.. and no virus scanners now...

[YvetteKuhns]

My son used "his" laptop running Windows 98SE for 4 years before it needed to be reformatted. Then it needed reformatting after 6 months! He likes to visit game sites with adware such as Cartoon Network. He installs too much junk until the computer implodes.

The college used to install a drive image instead of installing each program whenever there was a problem with anyone's laptop. There are drawbacks to using a drive image. Your antivirus installation date will reflect the initial date and expire within one year of that date. If you reinstall your software later, you get one year from the new date. :D

If you install everything fresh and new, everything should work better. Be sure to install all updates. By the way, you may need to update your drive image backup or you will have a very old version and may be missing things you installed since the backup was made.

[osensnolf]

Thanks for the great advice. Ok, maybe I do not format as often as I say I do, as much as I go through the process of installing Windows on new hard drives and then having to install all of the basic software in addition to the OS.

When I do format, it's not because of errors, it's because I start to notice a lag in my system and I just like to start with a clean slate every now and then. I'm pretty smart about avoiding viruses and spyware and hardly ever find anything on my computers, but on my Compaq notebook, it just seems to always get louder and slower as time goes on. It's new, so that's not the isssue.

Besides all of that, I like to install Beta software and getting those things off your system is not always an easy task. Right now I'm running Office 13, which is really different, and I'm about to install Vista Beta 1. Those usually have an expire date, so I have to go in, uninstall, or in some cases format, and start over.

Thanks for the tips about the drive image, that is something I've looked into. Can I not do this with a DVD? That would be much easier for me.

PS - Yvette, I have been waiting for you to critique my website. You seem to be the leader in the room, so give it a look if you don't mind. I've posted a thread in the forum.

Thanks Group,
Steven Gabbard
http://www.osensnolf.com

[satis]

meh, I'm all for the reformatting thing. I install/uninstall alot of applications on a regular basis, including stuff that screws with drivers and whatnot. Even with XP I end up wiping and reformatting by drive every year or so.

The quickest way, and I think it was mentioned above, is to wipe your box, install the basic apps and drivers and whatnot, then image it. Then whenever you need to go back, you just restore the image. It's alot faster than installing everything from scratch. But if you change hardware, you'll need to redo your image (probably).

I've heard of Norton Ghost being used for this, but have heard some rumors that it no longer images boot files or something. That could be total baloney, however. Additionally, there are doubtlessly other imaging software apps out there.

Personally...I've been meaning to do it for years, but never have. Even though it sucks losing 6 hours to a full box wipe and reinstall...it's only once a year. :P

[YvetteKuhns]

When I do format, it's not because of errors, it's because I start to notice a lag in my system and I just like to start with a clean slate every now and then.

I notice that, too. My son Mark notices it more, because he installs and uninstalls software more often than he changes his clothes! Continuous shuffling of files can make the computer run less efficiently. Of course, maybe Mark should defragment/checkdisk the hard drive more often. ;)

Thanks for the tips about the drive image, that is something I've looked into. Can I not do this with a DVD? That would be much easier for me.

Yes, you can, if it fits on the DVD. I prefer hard drive to hard drive, because if my primary drive fails, I can simply replace it with my secondary drive. And I can easily update edited files to keep my backup updated.

PS - Yvette, I have been waiting for you to critique my website. You seem to be the leader in the room, so give it a look if you don't mind.

Sorry if I didn't have the chance to look at it. I am recovering from an auto accident, keeping my home clean because I am showing it to sell it, looking for a new home, selling my 1966 Caddy and other stuff. Following the forum since there will be changes to our web hosting brings me back here.

[oatesj77]

i've always created a few partitions, one for swap, one for os, one for main programs, one for extra programs and then a big one for files. whenever i decide to restart i just backup my registry on another partition and reinstall the os, then reuse the old registy. if things get too messed up i format the extra program partition to get rid of all the freeware and extra stuff installed there, but i definately like the idea of a drive image, i plan on getting a few large drives for backup in the near future and will probably do a drive image and partitions for an extra layer of safety.