if I reinstall windows XP will it erase or impact existing files & programs?

Answer 1

Ok, i'll give you some tricks.

You have many options if you want to reinstall. The common steps are booting from the cd and going to the point where it asks you to install.

1) Repairing.

You can repair a broken install, it won't affect your datas, but might break your programs

2) Installing ANOTHER copy

You install a second Windows on the same partition, won't affect your data, WILL break your programs.
Not a very good idea, emergency only.

3) Restore the system

You still can try system restoration, on your desktop type F1 to get the help and chose "Undo changes to your computer with System Restore ", after that, just follow the wizard.

If you intend to format, and if your disk is not partitionned, you WILL lose everything, so backup needed.

4) Install over

I really don't recommend it, if you wanna give it a try, feel free, but BACKUP first, who know what can happen :P

The suggestion I can give you is to save your data and make sure you have all your drivers first, and then, when reinstalling, delete the existing partition, then make two new partitions, the one for the system, and the one for the data, 10 GB at least for the system, 20 GB better.

Format your partitions using NTFS (no quick format) and then when your windows is installed, right click on "My Document" you will see an option to move it, move it to your data partition.

Install all your programs and drivers, create a system restore point (F1 and so on) and you'll be allright. In your next install, you'll just have to change your system partition, and your data will be safe.

And don't forget, in any case, BACKUP !

Good luck

Answer 2

Documents would be fine. Starting long time ago Microsoft followed the UNIX tradition of using \Documents and Settings folder to hold documents.

A reinstall of XP orphanized all programs installed previously, depending on how the existing program was written. Being an orphan program might be OK, though unlikely true for big shots like Word, Photoshop, Counterstrike, etc. You have to reinstall each program as you go along, and any personal preferences set before the reinstall are at risk.

Answer 3

1) If you reinstall win xp on top of existing win xp, it wont erase any data. Many comnputer technicians do this because some of missing files of winxp is replace and clients dont lose their work.
It never gives a problem.

2) If you planning the erase your harddisk, then install win xp, then make sure you back up your work, have the hardware drivers with you and programs

Answer 4

when i reinstall XP i always format the drive, i have never used the existing partition. when i format you loose all your data. i'm pretty sure it will erase every thing,
rule of thumb: backing up never hurts.
just back up any files you want on too dvds or cds and any downloaded things that you want to keep. make sure you have all your keys for the programs installed on your computer, i learned that the hard way :)

Answer 5

if you just reinstall without formatting the hd is going to be more problematic. because anything that you have on your desktop or on your documents will be lost, and any programs that you already had on it will not be registered on the 'registry'. you still have the programs on the program files,but will have to reinstall them again. it is more trouble that way. my advice to you is if you are not happy with your OS right now format the hd and reinstall it fresh. Before you format it save anything that might be important to you and that you don't want to loose.

good luck

Answer 6

Yes.

Answer 7

if u fromat the C: drive and your all application and data on C: it will be removed.

and if you select 'Repair' the window your data will dot erase.

it is so simple budy.....

Answer 8

If you do not copy them to a different drive or DVD/cd you will lose them!

That is because, windows default, file save location is buried inside windows instead of in a folder outside of windows.

That location is C:\documents and settings\Your Profile Folder Name\Local settings\My Documents

That whole address and location belongs to Windows and when you reinstall windows all of that gets wiped out and recreated!

That is why you should always make your own folder, on a different partition or different hard drive and save all of your data/files there.

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Answer 9

you must reformat to reinstall, and this will wipe your hard drive clean.