Changing OS

[Zantas]

Ok, right now i have win2k on my comp. i partitioned my drive so that the OS would be on the main drive and everything else (like games and such) would be on the secondary drive. my question is, if i format the main drive to put windows xp on my computer, do i have to reinstall everything that has already been installed (even though they aren't in the registry)?

[Spyder]

You probably will... I'm pretty sure that some things wont run if they arent in the registry, because thats where they keep information about the program like your cd-key etc.

You could give it a shot though. i know a lot of programs will still run, but there are a few more advanced onces that yell at you and tell you to do a complete install or something.

[@gent-Orange]

Yes and no. I have all my games and applications on a partition and use my main drive "C" for windows only. All my games run without a hitch, including steam. Most of my applications need to be repaired, but I don't have to reconfigure them.

[Zantas]

by repair, you mean they just update the registry? or do some of the files acually corrupt because of missing information?

[Scorpion]

You don't need to reinstall them, but you will need to update your registry and shortcuts. I do the same thing, except I keep my web browsing with my OS cause that's where most viruses come from for me and I'd rather have an extra layer of protection between it and my games.

[Zantas]

awsome, i was hoping that's all it really is. had friends telling me "it's ok to do it this way" and others saying "nono you'll mess up your comp". thx for clearing it up, i'll probably reformat tomorrow or something (thankfully 11gig is much faster at formatting that 111gig).

[Scorpion]

Well there is a chance you CAN mess up your comp. Generally if it associates with specific drivers you want to keep it OS side, most software isn't effected by that however.

Your firewall and anti-virus programms should also be kept OS side.

[Zantas]

i have a network firewall which is set up by the router, and i think my anti-virus doesn't let me change the directory it installs into (which is on the main drive). so i think i'm in the green with those

[Zantas]

also, i'm looking for a new NON-wireless NIC card. does anyone have any suggestions? i'm currently using a rather old NETGEAR FA311/312 PCI Adapter. it gets the job done for the most part, but i temporarily loose internet connectivity from time to time (and all other comps in the house are fine).

[Scorpion]

just go buy a new card. Personally I have a linksys card cause that's what was cheapest at the time, but really when it comes to network cards they don't differ enough to really worry about imo

[StealthMonkey]

you're going to want to reinstall everything.

[kas]

As you already have seen yes. Or you can do what I did. I have Winxp + win2k on my pc. =o) My D: Drive is windows xp, and C: is windows 2k. I reformated the D: drive and stuck xp on it. I have to reformat C: still but for now this is working out good i dont use all the space on my hd anyways and I like xp better. =p

[Zantas]

well if i format my D: then i loose every single thing other than the OS on my computer (and months of my mundane life down the drain)

[Zantas]

you're going to want to reinstall everything.
why so?

[kas]

Move everything from D onto C then format. Or burn the stuff on D to a cd. =p

[StealthMonkey]

you're going to want to reinstall everything.
why so?Let me start out by saying how I have everything set up. I have to folders on my c drive: 'Windows' and 'Documents and Settings'. I move the favorites and my documents out of the Documents and Settings to the D drive. I then put everything else on the D drive. Program Files, music, videos, etc.

Then, when it comes time to format. I format and reinstall windows on the C drive. I rename the program files folder to something else (pf_old) or something. I leave the music and everything, that's ok. I then do all the windows updates and then install everything. I then as I need them, copy anything out of program files that I need, such and ini files and saved custom whatever the crap. I keep the old program files folder around for about a week or two until I'm sure I got everything I need out of it before deleting it.

Here are the problems with not reinstalling programs.

1. Most programs install registry keys and values, and with a fresh install of windows, they won't be there. The programs will either not operate properly, appear to operating properly, but give problems after a while, or sometimes run fine. Often the program will except those keys to be there, and having them missing could screw things up.

2. Just cause you install a program to Program Files for example, doesn't mean all the files it needs are in that folder. A lot of the time applications install files to the windows directory, system folder, application data folder, etc. Those will all disappear during a windows reinstall.

3. It makes uninstalling a program nearly impossible. Uninstall information is stored by windows. If windows is formated and all the applications are left, they won't be in the add/remove programs.

4. Some application installs specific files differently bases on the version of windows. Files designed to run on w2k might not be compatible with XP, the install may detect the version and install the correct version of file.

Those are four off the top of my head. It really doesn't take that much longer to reinstall stuff.

[steaLer]

zantas, stealth is right. however, as you see, most people get away with having a seperate drive for your OS. from my experiance, most of my programs work just fine, but youhave to reinstall some of them for windows to recognize the,.

kas, i have a win-xp pro and i wanted to have win 2k on a seperate partition. when i put the CD in, it says that there's a better version already on, so it won't install. i tried to boot with that CD, it still won't work. any auggestions as to how to install win2k AFTER you have win-xp on. if what the CD says is true, it's pretty retarded. or am i missing soemthing?

[Spyder]

Yeah, right now it doesnt make much difference for me, because both my drives are PATA. The only reason for having a separate drive with pata drives is merely to have the ability to format and reinstall windows should it decide to go on a coffee break ;)

But if you use an SATA drive it makes a lot more sense, i would think. You can keep windows running on an older pata drive but install everything on an sata, and things should (never used sata before :() run a whoooole lot faster.

[StealthMonkey]

kas, i have a win-xp pro and i wanted to have win 2k on a seperate partition. when i put the CD in, it says that there's a better version already on, so it won't install. i tried to boot with that CD, it still won't work. any auggestions as to how to install win2k AFTER you have win-xp on. if what the CD says is true, it's pretty retarded. or am i missing soemthing? try making a new partition, hiding the xp one, and trying to install w2k on the new blank one, not sure if tha works, if not... google "install windows 2000 after windows xp" or something

[kas]

Stealth is right I had 2k already on so, I would guess just try doing what he said. Note: When you have 2 diff os's on your pc and you cant get crap to work on one, disable it on the other part that you aren't on it will work then. Took me about 2 weeks to figure that out, least I figured it out on my own and can say "I solved it alone har har!"

[StealthMonkey]

zantas, stealth is rightStealth is right
Man, I love being the smartest person ever!

[blue]

get linux. no virus's

[Fist]

Get a Dlink network card. They're cheap and pretty good.