Question about XP reinstallation method

[Harkonenn]

I need to reinstall XP on my laptop. I've done this several times before, so I'm familiar with the process. But this time I thought I'd try something different for me. Currently my HD is in one partition of 111GB (120GB unformatted). So I created another partition of 15GB and reduced the size of the primary one accordingly. My plan is to reinstall XP on the second partition one, tiny, careful step at a time. Once I get that system to where I want it, and it's stable, I can just delete the first one and have the second consume the whole drive as a single partition.

It sounds good to me, but I'd like to know if anyone could think of any pitfalls I'd run in to. Am I missing some potentially damaging aspect of doing this sort of thing?

Thanks ;)

[Barty]

just backup your important data and reinstall! much easier and quicker! you could fall into booting issues and more.

just making more work for yourself than needed!

or whiile youre at it, consider an upgrade to Vista?

[Harkonenn]

I would agree with just starting at the ground level normally, but I need to keep the system up for daily work at the office, and I can't really afford the luxury of downtime. I guess I don't mind the extra work - I think my main problem is that I try to install everything and tweak it all too quickly anyway.

Yeah, I'd upgrade to Vista, but my laptop just won't handle it, especially in the area of video memory (only has 64MB instead of the recommended 128MB).

Thanks for the input!

[koftheworld]

to be perfectly honest, backing up you data is probably a good idea nonetheless. if this laptop is truly for work, then the amount of downtime created from your original idea would be far and away more then the time spent redoing your setup.

I would do the following:

1) Backup you information over your office network (extremely fast compared to burning cds/dvds) or use an external harddrive for same

2) Download all of the drivers you need from manufacturer websites and also the latest Autopatcher and then place them in a folder on the server or on a cd.

3) Make a list of all the programs that you would need to reinstall and then get the disks together.

4) Use the windows cd to reformat the drive and then reinstall the operating system (make sure you delete the partition and then make a new partition)

5) Install all drivers and use Autopatcher

6) Reinstall all programs

7) Grab your info back from your network.

~1-2 hours tops

Keep in mind that if you follow your original suggestion, that you'll end up reinstalling most of your programs anyway (because they usually change the registry upon installation and you won't have that with a new install), all windows updates (that's A LOT of restarts), all drivers, and make a lot of unnecessary partition changes (which has the possibility of screwing up your information). You are talking about a half day of downtime at least (if there are no problems) as opposed to having a fresh install of windows.

CLEAN INSTALL!

[Erp.]

yes, make a clean install, and since you have created a small partition just for windows, I suggest you get a program like Symantec Ghost or Acronis True Image. You can then put that windows installation on 2 CD or 1 DVD and never lose your settings again. Install all drivers, get it set the way you like it, copy the partition and you are free from reinstalling and reactivating.(well mostly anyways).