[braddersep]

I want to re-install Windows XP on my computer as it`s had so many problems lately and is also very slow to start up. The machine came with XP pre-installed so I don`t have an installation CD. Do I need to buy a full retail version or can I use an OEM version (which costs a lot less). The version I need is XP Home SP2.

[Dave Hybrid]

OEM is fine, however are you aware your PC can be speeded up with the right free software and a few hours work.

[redden137]

Formatting your hard drive and installing a new version of xp then all your drivers for the m/b, xp2, getting upgrades for all your software, installing other drivers i.e. printer,modem, etc does take a few hours, and it doesnt always go to plan,
Think id go with dave hybrid suggestion that you try to clean and speed it up first m8, and youll still have all your folder and files, but if it doesnt work you havnt lost anything just a little time and gained a better understanding of your pc

[Dave Hybrid]

Plus it won't cost you anything.

[spot]

If it were me I'd read http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html twice and nerve myself up and use that with the OEM CD and get an XP system that was exactly what I wanted with all the bloat taken out.

You can consider that a dare if you like. Philthomas mentioned it a month ago and I've not seen anyone try yet. I think it's a great looking package.

[braddersep]

Originally Posted by Dave Hybrid OEM is fine, however are you aware your PC can be speeded up with the right free software and a few hours work.

It would need some super software to speed it up. It takes at least 5 minutes to start up, and the hard drive is almost empty, 130GB free space out of a 150GB hard drive. I have problems all the time. The latest is that Panasonic Video Camera software will not install properly from the installation CD. It is a new camcorder about 2 months old, I installed it OK when I first bought it, but then everything went wrong at once, could not access the internet, my digital camera software stopped working, and the camcorder software. Thinking back over the problem, I think it started when I used a registry cleaner program(which I used to try to speed up the computer). I think this has done some damage to the registry. Although I have got most of the programs working again, problems remain. Startup is as slow as ever, despite disabling all the unneeded startup processes,When I try to look at any PDF program the computer freezes and the only way to clear it is to restart, and the camcorder software won`t install properly. when I start the install CD, which installs 3 separate programs, it insists that one of them is already installed and that I should uninstall it using add-remove programs before trying to reinstall it. I know for a fact that every trace of the 3 programs have been uninstalled but it will only reinstall 2 out of the 3, so I can not use the camcorder to download to the computer. My Canon digital camera software which I also reinstalled works but there are glitches. It does not function as well as it did before. I think it will take a miracle to get it working properly again without reinstalling windows, but I am open to suggestions.

[spot]

On a P4 3.2GHZ with 512MB? That's madness. If you've backed up anything you want to keep then sure, rebuild the partition. Take a good look at that nlite link too, it really does give you far more control of what you're dealing with than just staying in the slow lane. Either use a router or stay offline until you've installed all those security patches and the virus checker too, I've seen machines infected within a minute by having the ethernet connection live while they install.

[braddersep]

Originally Posted by spot On a P4 3.2GHZ with 512MB? That's madness. If you've backed up anything you want to keep then sure, rebuild the partition. Take a good look at that nlite link too, it really does give you far more control of what you're dealing with than just staying in the slow lane. Either use a router or stay offline until you've installed all those security patches and the virus checker too, I've seen machines infected within a minute by having the ethernet connection live while they install.

OK thanks for that. One other odd thing I`ve noticed is that when I go to start,all programs,accessories,system tools, there are no system tools listed. Only an entry saying "internet explorer(no add-ons)". I know I can get to system tools via "My Computer", but it seems odd that the entries have vanished from the accessories list.