reformatting hard drive and reinstalling windows

[system]

@roro post:1

I have had my 2002 laptop for 6 years and never have reinstalled windows XP. I have read that it is a good idea to do so, as it gets rid of a lot of extraneous files which slow down the system. It would also get rid of apps that I really don’t use anymore without having to use add/remove. I have an external hard drive and have backed up all my files, so besides the time it takes to reinstall apps and files, are there any other negatives to doing so?
I was hoping that I could speed up the system on my oldest laptop.
I have reinstalled windows XP on my 2003 desktop as it was necessary, so I know the procedure.

RoRo

Wanna make sure any of the files you back up are not corrupt or infected. Reformattign is great, esp on an older comp!! get it zippin again

[Lisandro]

@roro post:20

I have used GoBack in the past but found that when my computer really went bad all my waypoints were erased

This is what made me mad with GoBack: when we deeply need it, it fails…

[bob3160]

The last time I did a clean install of XP, I used the original install disk and then upgraded using the SP3 disk.
I had no problems and haven’t had any since.
Even after updating the original XP install with the SP3 CD, there where still loads of updates to be installed.
I fully agree with the rest of the people that an image restore is a whole lot easier.

[scythe944]

WAY late response, but I have a short tutorial on how to slipstream a CD on my blog, if anyone’s interested.

The same can be used for other versions of Windows too.

http://www.jacobytech.net/index.php/2008/05/21/slipstream-windows-xp-sp3-rc1-into-windows-xp-with-sp2-cd/