Bootable File manager?

[fred65]

I am doing a reinstall, and don't want Windows to overwrite my current D&S, Program Files and Windows dirs.

What I normally do is use a bootable linux CD (Damn Small Linux) to rename/move the folders so they will remain untouched. Of course you can't change these folders while Windows is running, thats why I need to do it in a bootable environment.

So I need a fast (DSL takes too long), GUI (preferrably), to rename like 3 folders. How hard can it be??

[markwolfe Veteran]

Boot into your recovery console off of the CD, maybe? It would be the quickest option, though you would have to use the command line (GASP! ) for three commands.

Otherwise, I might recommend using a Bart's PE thing, since you find that DSL takes too long.

[+BudMan MVC]

So your looking to reinstall your OS, but your not willing to wait the time it takes to boot DSL? What 2 minutes tops?

And the point of booting DSL is so you can rename your some directories before you reinstall -- your not serious?? That has got to be one of the lamest ?s I have ever seen on neowin.. And I have see some really lame ones!!!

If you want to redo your OS, how about moving the data you want to keep off the partition?? Not sure what would be in the windows dir that you would want to keep -- if doing a reinstall anyway?

Should not all your data be on your backup anyway??? If whatever your problem is has come to reinstall, would you not have all your data on your backup???

Sorry dude -- but OS booting off of media such as CDs an or DVDs take a couple of seconds too boot.. If you want it to boot faster - then boot it off your thumb drive maybe ;)

If your one of those people that has install issue -- then keep your data on different partition, etc... Or create an image of your OS with everything you want already on it..

DSL boots too slow???? Yeah OK :wack:

[fred65]

...

If I wanted to partition it/back it up, I would have done that. Plus backing up and restoring takes more than your "2 minutes" of time. Besides, I've got nothing to back up on (I DO backup my most important things though). I shouldn't need to backup if I can just rename the directories...

The main point is that it's a simple task, and DSL is overkill I would have thought.

So in conclusion, I will use DSL, just as I was going to anyway.

If booting DSL to rename some directories is "the lamest ?s" things you've seen on Neowin, then read my original post.... COZ I'M LOOKING FOR A QUICKER ALTERNATIVE!!!

So, again, is there any easy way to rename the directories that are IN USE by Windows???

[noroom]

I don't know if this works, but you could try booting into the command line (press F8 while windows is booting) and trying it from there. The command is "ren". Use "ren /?" for help.

[+BudMan MVC]

  fred65 said:

I shouldn't need to backup if I can just rename the directories...

You shouldn't need a backup?? Really - so your drive will just work and work forever.. Where did you pickup this magic drive? You always need a backup!

Since you want something faster, it ssems you do this reinstall often?? That your trying to shave minutes off the process? Store you data on a different partition than your OS.. This way you can do whatever you want to your OS, and never touch the partition that your "data" is on.

How exactly do you plain on doing this "reinstall"? Not sure what you think that is going to accomplish exactly? If your just renaming the dir's -- then you must not be formating the partition..

As I was saying -- if your one of these people that just like to install windows over and over and over again at the drop of a hat. Why don't you just create a image of your system how you like it, then when ever anything gets out of place you can just put it back to exactly how you like it. No need to rename directories before the reinstall.

Not sure what your looking to save during the install process, but since your just looking to renam dirs vs move files off the partition - you can not be doing a format. So vs renaming this dir -- why not just copy the data your worried about loosing to a different dir, say c:\save

What exactly are you looking to save that would be in windows or program files? Any software will have to be reinstalled on a clean windows setup. Since your registry will be clean.. Not sure what could be in the windows dir? You put your files in there much?

Copy "YOUR" files to a different dir on the disk, and then reinstall away..