Windows XP installation question

[BenzOnline]

I want to "refresh" my windows xp on my computer but have far too much stuff to back up if i reformat completely. A freind told me I could just reinstall windows using the windows xp cd and clicking on new installation which will leave all the files and just reinstall the windows but I am afraid to try it.

Will this work?

are you just tring to free space up
or is your computer running slugishly

if your computer is slugish comared to the orginal install it may have spie ware on it
i run spybot ocationlaly also have somthing called zone alarm runing when on line which acts like a firewall as far as your ? i'm not that famerur with XP but you'll probley have to get a new seral # from microsoft more info would help


sorry about my bad spelling

also a real good back up program is norton ghost but only if your computer is runing well

[BenzOnline]

I just put the cd in and hit new install.....No need to reformat...files were still there and i got a new windows