Re-Installing Windows over-top

[Phylis Sophical]

Someone told me it doesn't do much good to re-install Windows over top itself. That the only thing you can accomplish that way is to install features that you didn't install the first time. Is this so, or what exactly can one hope to accomplish by a re-install?

If it does do something, like re-install missing files or something, what is the best way to do it?
A. Just stick the Windows disk in and go to setup?
B. Go through Add/Remove Programs > Windows setup tab.

[krayzie]

IMO it depends on what version of windows your talking about and what you need done. If your missing some settings or a file or two go right ahead. If your giving it a fresh start, might as well, fdisk and start from 'scratch'.

2000 go right ahead you can "Repair" your install by booting from CD.
98 Reinstalling over-top may work, may slow windows down a bit.
95 Good Luck http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif
ME http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif I don't work well with ME, keep moving Stuff around.

All you should have to do is throw the Windows CD in, but If you need to add accessories do it through Add/Remove Programs.

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MS-DOS, the only Microsoft OS that doesn't crash, or have bugs. Maybe they should have someone else write Operating Systems for them again.

[Phylis Sophical]

Sorry, I should have specified. Windows 98.

I have recently done an fdisk as well as getting a new motherboard. But I am having little problems here and there that lead me to believe Windows may not be working 100% right. OK, so it never does.

[mjc]

When you put the drive on the new MOBO did you do a fresh install?

If you didn't do a fresh install then your problems are probably a result from the settings and files left over from the old MOBO...installing Windows over itself won't fix that...could even make it worse!

Since you did fdisk, you probably got a bad install or haven't updated the specific drivers for your MOBO...(chipset drivers). Also do you have the latest drivers for all your cards and devices?


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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[hiredgoonz]

Sometimes, installing it again on top of the old install helps...I wouldn't think it could, but I've seen it done and had no better explanation for the problems that disappeared...

But I think you'll find that starting from scratch is usually better...I was always amazed at how well 98 seemed to run after I formatted the hd and reinstalled it (usually every 2 months http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif )

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[Phylis Sophical]

We had wiped the drive clean before installing the new MOBO. I assume this is the same as fdisk or reformat. We (my guru n I) had tried first to solve my problems by reformatting the HD. When Windows was reinstalled it was evident the problems were bigger. Hense, the new MOBO. It is an ASUS P3V 133Mhz. I don't know where to find anymore details on it. I put my old PII chip back in. I don't know if le' guru updated the drivers for the MOBO. How do I find out exactly what it is? I can't seem to see it in Device Manager.

I have an Nvidia GeForce2 MX/MX400 graphics card. Drivers have been updated. A friend walked me through that, but I just don't feel it was done right. (old drivers not uninstalled properly first maybe?) I have an Optiquest Q71 monitor. I am getting what I think is called 'screen lag'. When I close a window, it seems to disappear in sections at a time...slowly.

I like to use the accessibility option that toggles a sound on the caps lock key so you know if it's on. I engage it, it works for the next thing I use it on, then the sound doesn't happen anymore. A game I play (Kyodai majhongg) where you click on tiles, It makes a wierd weak beep noise the first time I click on the tile. Next click, it sounds okay, a strong beep sound).Creative Labs 64 sound card..have not updated drivers.

My Epson 440 printer works properly only sometimes. Skips the 5th line and starts on another page.I have posted a seprate message re printer.

The whole machine starts up much slower than it use to. 8gb HD, 128mb RAM

So you see, I have a multitude of minor problems here. Being as I just reformatted the HD, I'm hoping I can avoid that. So let me get this down to just a few answerable questions.
1. How do I find out the 'technical name of my MOBO'
2. How do you go about updating the drivers for it?

[mjc]

Here (http://download.asus.com.tw/mb_dl_menu.asp) is the manual and software for the board.

Here (http://www.pcguide.com/opt/index.htm) for some optimizations...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Paleo Pete]

A couple of things that may help.

Go into BIOS and set BIOS defaults, or Optimum/Performance defaults. Check the AGP Aperture setting, in most cases 64MB should work best. If it's running 4X you might try 2X. Internel and External Cache should both usually be enabled.

Right click on My Computer, click Properties, then the Performance tab and see if it says some drives are using MS-DOS Compatibility Mode. Let us know.

Reduce video resolution, if you're running 32 bit True Color drop it to 24 or 16 bit. You won't notice a great difference in image quality unless you're using serious image editing software or CAD applications.

Get rid of any wallpaper and backgrounds, and use a solid color desktop instead. I use a black desktop, reminds me of DOS... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Also get rid of as many icons as possible and use the Start menu instead. The only icons on my desktop that weren't created by the Windows install were put there by McAffee Nuts & Bolts, for a total of 11. Wallpaper, backgrounds and icons are all images that must be redrawn 60-72 times per second depending on refresh rate, and can seriously affect performance.



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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[Phylis Sophical]

Well, I finally gave up and re-formatted the HD. The more I fooled around, the worse things got. I am re-installing only a few things at a time this time around. I think my guru that re-installed everything before, just through stuff in haphazardly, plus some of his own 'special' programs. Lesson learned: If you want something done right, do it yourself! (with the help of this board of coarse).

This was my first time getting brave enough to fdisk and for those who haven't gained the courage yet, it really wasn't that bad. Prompts are very easy to follow. No more 'fear of DOS'

Thanks for all your help everyone. I'm keeping a copy of the suggestions on the MOBO, Bios, etc. Still may need them.