I reformatted today!

[Mobius]

After several weeks of adware hell, I finally managed to back up my important files, which was not easy, because I got a little over zealous with deleting suspicous looking proggies. OOps :evilfrown:
The upside is that I have 14 G of hard drive space, new firewall and a kick ass add blocker. MY machine is running like a kid again:bounce:

[LibertyorDeath]

1. Congrats on a job well done, Now tell me about the

Anti-Virus program you're running U R running anti-virus for the love of god tell me ur running good AV.

if not get some of this it's free and it's GOOD

http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

I do a clean install once a year because microsoft operating systems are genetically linked to swiss cheese!

Cheers :)

[Mobius]

2. LOL, Im covered, but thanks

;)

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. Congrats! - oh, I'll share my plan

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For when I have to do the same thing.

I have 3 harddrives.

C: gets my operating systems and major programs (Office, Windows,Photoshop, etc.)

D: gets all my extra programs Spybot, Adaware, Clean Ram, Games, whatever. It also gets all my graphics, music, and "Vanity" or non-critical files. D also has all the original install(exe/zip) files to re-install to C whenever that happens.

E: Documents only. Word Docs Txt Pdf whatever, & Copies of favorite pictures/graphics. Favorites/Bookmarks are copied into E: frequently.

I hope that when the time comes that C: craps out, and the OS registry and all that will eventually, I can either just throw it away, or "re-initialize" it (deep formatting-requires program from HD manufacturer) and reinstall my major systems, and either associate C: to my programs in D: - or just reinstall my "add-ons" as I call them from D:

E: remains untouched I hope

CONGRAT's again

Nothing likea clean install to speed things up!

:thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: . :thumbsup: .

[Florida_Geek]

4. You can backup your registry to a hard drive

and after a clean install reload it. Use regedit.exe to backup.

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. Ah, I guess I should have mentioned - I specifically DON'T want to

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back up the registry.

I've found that alot of junk gets in there from ad-bots, my own habit of installing add-on programs then deleting them, so there ends up being alot of strings in the registry that point to nothing - OR to a hardrive that isn't there anymore. I change harddrives around more than some people do with CD's I think . ..

Thanks anyways, I am aware of the regedit thing, but I'd rather do the clean install,

I don't mind that much, Unlike a certain pResident,

I CAN chew gum and walk at the same time. :dunce:

[Az]

6. Registry bad

Registry accumulate crud.

Reload windows good.

Blows crud out of registry.

Urrrg.