format hard drive - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Eskimo · #16 12-03-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

I've got an aversion to spending what will amount to days getting all the programs back in the machine and all the software running the way it currently runs.

The machine is nearly four years old. If I get another year.......it's time for a new one...........

I know this has been discussed some in at least one other thread, but...

...are you using any sort of disk imaging utility to allow for disaster recovery (e.g., after a hard drive failure)?

Depending on how you value your time, it might be pretty cheap insurance.

Tomguy · #17 12-03-2006, 01:10 PM

A couple of tips:

1) Install with SP2. If you don't know how to do this (easy enough to modify your CD you have and burn a new one for that install), google it.
2) DON'T install with the system overclocked or overspeced. I always install on stock specs, including Windows Updates, THEN overclock.
3) DO install with all the peripherals plugged in you plan to use - WinXP will detect and install most of them for you automatically.
4) WinXP runs FINE on 256MB of RAM if you disable themes (the service itself) and a few other themes. In fact, my laptop runs XP on 160MB of RAM. I wouldn't call it fast, but it is faster than Win98 was on it (and MUCH more stable)
5) If your system crashes/blue screens EVER, there is, 95% of the time, a hardware issue causing it. If it does so on an install, it is 100% hardware related.
6) Firefox is a BEAST with RAM. I use it, I love it - but it is.
7) Update your system, and then disable the automatic update system service. Turn it on every week or so (Every other Sunday is fine), then update your system. Automatic updates hog resources.
8) Don't run XP's built-in firewall AND a 3rd party firewall. Don't run a firewall if you have a router, let your router's firewall protect you.
9) If you want to run an antivirus program, double your system RAM from what you consider "Running fast" prior to the install. If you have 512MB of RAM and your system is a bit laggy, you'll need a gig if you're going to install Norton/AVG/Panda/McAfee. And they're all crap, anyway.
10) 4 year old PCs can run XP just as quickly as they did when new. If you think your system is slow, but thought it was fast when you first got it, it needs a good cleaning - perhaps a reinstall. I rarely install programs I won't use, and even if you uninstall ones you don't, they don't always remove every one of their entries from the registry - causing system slowdown.

-- That should handle the basics.