I have decided that since I am off this week, It would be a great time to re-install windows and get my system cleaned up. I have done this many times in the past but this will be the first time I have done it with 2 partitions on my drive. I have most of my important information on a seperate partition so I don't have to worry about losing it. My question is; Will I need to re-install programs even though they are saved on a seperate partition, or will they still run without needing to be in the registry? Or will it be a case by case situation depending upon what type of registry info the program has? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
case by case. some programs need registry (office etc) and some don't (winzip etc). either way, it's just much cleaner to reinstall everything, even if you're doing on top of each other. this won't take more space, it'll just add the registry settings.
I suggest a complete clean install as well. Much much much cleaner. I do it periodically just because.
agree.....although some programs dont need to access reg information...it is cleaner and better to go ahead and do it anyway.
I did an "upgrade" at home. I didn't need to reinstall most programs, but did have to re-install an older scanner I had and updated drivers for my old Intel web cam. I've been doing CLEAN install ever since on machines where people ask me to fix. "Do you still have all your software disks?" Then I install clean with formatting and partitioning disk and all that.
I absolutely hate those restore CD's. I much prefer to set it up myself with a good XP load without all the crap that the restore CD's have. It may be quicker but who cares if it isnt clean. At home I have a partition exclusively with a ghost image that is hella clean. Then I dont have to keep re installing the basics over and over.
