Hello. I'm usually forced to reformat my PC at least 1 time every 2 month due to sluggish PC speed and scattered sectors and files. I don't mind reformatting it, but it really annoys me to re-install every program that was ever installed and re-update my PC, which usually take up my whole day. As a result, I'm trying to avoid all this re-installing and re-updating by building a bootable Windows XP disc that automatically installs all my currently installed programs and updates. The only thing is, I'm not sure how to go about it. All I know is, I need a CD boot sector called "wxp10", my "I386" folder, and a Windows XP CD with the License key. Please PM me if anyone can send me a tutorial and/or if anyone can point me to the right direction (IE, links, web site, etc.) Thanks in advance.
Your "sluggish PC speed and scattered sectors and files" seem to be the real issue here. Nobody needs to reformat that often unless there is a greater problem such as malware or possibly a lack of routine computer maintainance such as deleting temporary files and defragging. Try CCleaner to help with the cleaning first. Here: http://www.download.com/CCleaner/3000-2144_4-10315544.html?tag=mncol&cdlPid=10898240 If that doesn't help post a Hijack This log and we'll take a look for nasties on your machine. Get it here: http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html?tag=mncol&cdlPid=10781312 Also: where is your XP CD with your license key?
The best thing and simplest you can do is to make an image backup of your system partition as soon as you install windows with all the drivers and programs you want. This backup image you can save on a DVD. Once your computer starts to slowdown, just restore that image and you will be as good as new. You won't have to reinstall anything or enter serial numbers again. Once it's restored the computer will only have to reboot and you will be backup and running. There are 2 free programs that can image a harddrive "paragon drivebackup express" and "macrium reflect". I recommend macrium because its quicker, It has a bootable cd that will bootup your computer, then just enter your backup dvd and restore it. I tested it on the computer I'm using right now and it restored my hard drive in less than 12 minutes (20gb partition 9gb in use) worked great for a free program. I also have the paid true image 10.0 and that one took 1.5 hours to restore the same data. Even if it took an hour to restore it would still be more efficient than to try and do a clean install of windows. This is the best way to do it, just make sure you use good quality blank DVD's to save your backups (sonys or verbatims), low quality DVD's will give you errors and will take longer to restore. http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
jony218, That's interesting to me because I use Acronis True Image 11 on a 40 gig hardrive, no partition with about 9 gig in use and my restore only takes about 10 to 15 minutes, tops. And of course that will work every time but it doesn't address the the main problem of the increasingly slow performance.
lots of bad sectors and fragmented files... sounds like the drive is on it's way out to me. as for xp.. just get one from somewhere.. they are really easy to find. I haven't ever paid for M$ software.. it isn't worth any money.
