Saving internet options and mail passwords etc ..

[xxx]

Does anyone know of a program that will do this?

I'm going to reformat my computer and it will be a lot easier if there is something that will do this.

Thanks in advance

[YODA74]

Are you asking if there is a software programe that will do the format for you??? There is software that will help in partitioning but I do not believe there is one for doing a format i could be wrong on this but if it were that easy don't you think everyone would use it instead of going thru the big head aches of doing it manually? Little bit of advice fdisk and formate in the hands of some one unfamiliar with the process is a very dangerous situation if you do not feel comforatable doing it mauallyDon't IMHO http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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[diurnal]

Ghost 6.0 will copy your entire drive, but you have to have windows reformatted to use ghost.Like copy the contents of your drive then reformat and then erase the drive and reformat it. I still dont know how to use it though. I would read up on reformating and copying ,like yoda said get all your knowledge straight before you start deleting your hard drive, or get some one that knows cpus to help you.

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[xxx]

Thanks for the replies ..

What I meant was just a program that will save all your password cookies and esp. your email account details and things like that.

As for reformatting the drive - isn't it as easy as using fdisk and format the whole thing, then install Windows?. (that is after backing up my needed files,of course)

I hope I'm being clear here http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[diurnal]

yes use fdisk and delete the partition you have. Then hit make primary partition, after that it will ask you questions just answer yes to all , then it should do something again, then restart. withs boot disk in your floppy.(Should load something)click on start cpu with cd rom support, then it should load some stuff. At the a: prompt type "format c:" no apostrophes. Then will ask if you will lose all data, say yes. Then it take a while to format, depends on how big your hard drive is, then after its done the a:
prompt should come up again and type "setup" no apostrophes and it should scan your system.Press enter and windows should load up and then you answer some question and stuff.ALot of info, make sure to get everything straight for you do this, formatting can be a pain.

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[ranchdog]

Download 'em to a Floppy Disk. (Disks) OR
Copy 'em to a CD.

Luck.

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

[Paleo Pete]

Hard Disk Partitioning and Formatting Procedure (http://www.pcguide.com/proc/setup/hdd.htm) should give you most or all of the instructions you need for the fdisk/format procedure.

To save your address book, open Outlook Express, click File, Export, Address Book. You'll have two options, MS Exchange address book or Text file. Text file would probably work fine, save it to a folder and copy it to CD ROM or floppy if it will fit.

Same procedure should work for messages, but I haven't tried it and don't know how well it works, or how to instruct you to do it. The option to export is in the same location. I've imported/exported my Yahoo address book a couple of times, it works well, but since it's originally web based it must be saved as a text file, not MS exchange address book.

Cookies are located in C:\Windows\Cookies. copy those to a floppy or CD Rom, replace after reinstall to the same location. I can only think of 3 or 4 cookies I would really want to keep... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Passwords are stored in a read only file with the extension PWL, also in C:\Windows. Copy the file to floppy or CD ROM and replace to the same location. it should be named yourname.pwl

A secondary small hard drive might be good for backups, store them to that drive, and replace after reinstalling. No need to format it, since it only contains your stored files. A secondary partition on the primary drive works too, but only use that method if you know you won't have to totally repartition the drive. If you repartition it you'll lose all data stored there. To reinstall Windows only the Primary DOS partition needs to be formatted, other partition(s) only containing data, not programs, should not need to be partitioned.

Also usually a complete repartitioning is not necessary to reinstall, only a format of C drive. It's the one contaning the OS. Repartitioning is only necessary if you want to reorganize the partitions, change from FAT16 to FAT32 or to make really sure you get rid of a virus or trojan. If you only want to clean things out and start over with a fresh install, only formatting is necessary.


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[azonicbruce]

Glad I found this thread.

Paleo, I have a question then: I have 2 partitions on my hard drive (13Gig). One is the C: drive which is about 10gig, the other is the D: drive which is about 3 gig.

The C: of course holds Windows and programs, the D: personal and backup files.

What I'd like to do is get rid of the D: partition and just make it all a C: drive of 13 gig.

SO what you're saying is if I REPARTITION my entire hard drive it will screw it up or something?? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

I've already backed up all my important info on CDs and want to do a fresh install. I thought while I'm at it I'd get rid to the D: partition.



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[rond36]

There is a program on your computer Named format.com it will format your hard drive if that is what you want to do. To run this program open a dos prompt at the c:\> or c:\windows> type: format C: Press enter Caution!!! this will erase your hard drive with no hope of recovering any data on that drive be sure you have a boot disc with CDROM support and CDROM with your flavor of windoz. unless you have a bootable CDROM.

[RKBA]

Partition Magic (http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/) can resize and merge, split, etc., partitions without destroying any data. It's a must have tool for me, especially since I have a quad boot system (Linux, Win98, Win2000, and WinXP) and four hard drives totaling 170 GB. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

As for saving your various settings, I usually just copy the entire directory containing my email program, favorites, cookies, etc., onto a CD-RW drive or onto one of the hard drives I use as backup. After reinstalling windows, copy them back to where they were or where you want them and reinstall the applications. Most applications (at least Eudora will) recognize your previous settings if you install it into a directory that already contains the program and it's "ini" files. The reinstall is only needed to re-establish file associations, etc.

For keeping your passwords, notes, etc., I use a little neat (and free) program called "Password Safe" available for download from Counterpane Internet Security (http://www.counterpane.com/passsafe.html). It doesn't do anything automatically for you like some of the fancier password programs will, but it does encrypt everything you save in it, and you can copy your stored usernames and password to the clipboard for pasting into web forms, etc., with the click of a mouse.

Good luck,

-- Ron

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