Thanks for the information! I don't have a second hard drive and have no idea how to do a partition, so.... well going to think on this, thanks again SandyLea ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tech Rose - LoveBytes" <TechRose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 3:01 AM Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: reformating hard drive. Bob.. I am NOT correcting you.. just clarifying info I think... and... adding more info.. (what else do I do..but go on and on) I am tackling different issues here... just to be clear to everyone: 1. System Restore. 2. Go Back 3. Backup 4. Using an OEM's (Original Equipment Manufacturer's) supplied disks to restore the computer back to what it was like when purchased. 1. In my humble opinion.... System restore...ONLY deals with system files. Therefore, it will only restore the computer's operating system files back to where they were at the time you set the restore point. 2. Go Back..is a program that can restore files that have been changed during a certain time period. (Go Back can only utilize up to 4GB per hard drive. You determine if you want it to have less space. The less the amount of space allotted, the shorter the time span covered that can be restored.) If you have a document that you changed...and now want the document back BEFORE you changed, you can use Go Back to go back in time and get that document back. If you get a virus or Trojan worm, you can use Go Back to go back in time to before you got the virus or Trojan and have your system safe again. (That is of course, unless the virus or Trojan was written to disable Go Back...I have never heard of one doing so...but.. I do feel the need to mention this possibility. Go Back is now owned by Symantec. (It was originally written by Roxio who also wrote System Restore for Microsoft) Go Back and System Restore are compatible in the same system. Other backup programs can also run on the same system. All this information is not meant to confuse anyone..but to make folks aware there are different methods to complete an action and different actions that probably should be taken. (Again, that is MY opinion!) I do all three. I run Go Back all the time. I set restore points before I add or remove programs..and I TRY to remember to run full backups occasionally. (I even burn stuff to DVD's occasionally.) If I were to reformat my hard drive... I would do a full backup to another drive..and probably burn some DVD's. 4. Now.. AS FOR USING A RESTORE DISK FROM YOU COMPUTER MANUFACTURER: I have a Sony Computer. They took 5 GB of my hard drive and put all the programs, etc that would be on a Restore disk(s). Then, when you first start up the computer they walk you through creating your own set of restore disks.. you can either use CD's (about 16) or DVD's (2 ). I made 2 sets of these disks just in case one failed. (If my hard drive failed, I would not have been able to create these disks again, so I wanted to be sure to have a working set.) When I had to revert my operating system (due to some unknown thing that messed my registry so badly) I only wanted to restore my system files and NOT reformat my hard drive. (I had partitioned my hard drive and I wanted to keep those partitions. The default on the restore disks was to simply reformat the whole drive. The choice was something like.. restore the hard drive to the way it was when you received the computer...or advanced, - choose what to restore..... I know that is not the wording..but it is similar ... I chose NOT to reformat the hard drive and I will tell you why. This may NOT be the decision you make. It is simpler to let the disks restore the computer to what it was like when you first received it. When you reinstall an operating system, the registry is wiped clean and a new registry is created with the info of the new installation. Therefore NONE of the programs you have installed before are in the registry and therefore will not run until you install them again. (groannnnnnnnnnnnn..I gotta reinstall EVERYTHING??? Yes.... :( I had LOTS of programs I had installed since I received my computer. I had all the folders and file structure set up. I have a graphics directory where I install all my graphics programs.... I have a Utilities Directory where I set up all my Utilities...I have a Games directory where I install all my....(yup.. you guessed it....)games......(A girl has gotta play you know) So, I did not want to have to create all my file structure over again. So, I did not allow my partitions to be deleted..and I kept my file structure. After Windows XP was reinstalled and all the updates were done..I then installed Norton to the files they had been in before..and all my other programs to the folders they had been installed before. (This was done over days...and days....lol!) My data files are stored on other hard drives (external) and they did not have to be touched at all. This works for ME...and I am not saying anyone has to or even should do the same..I am just saying.. this is an alternative to consider... and before doing anything... THINK!... It will make a difference...... Make a list of the things you need to have..and the things you need to do....and then gather the materials. (Like making sure you have all the cd's or zip files you need to reinstall the programs you purchased and added to your computer..... Have fun... do not stress yourself out..and KNOW the folks on this list will be there to help you all they can..... Rose Las Vegas ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bashful Bob" <Bashfulbob@xxxxxxx> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 12:37 PM Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: reformating hard drive. Hi Actually I think there is a slight difference between system restore and back up. Here is my understanding of the two. A system restore can be don by the operator or can be done, a different times, by the operating system. System restore is done for so many times, say four, and then the oldest one is replaced by the newer one. On a back up, that resides there until another back up is done. In either case, if you have bugs in your system, they can be incorporated into the system restore and/or backup. Life is what happens in between plans. Virus free email by Norton's This message is intended for the sole use of the individual and/or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee, or authorized to receive this on behalf of the addressee, you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, disclose, or distribute to anyone this message or any part thereof. If you have received this in error, please immediately advise the sender by e-mail and delete this information. Thank you ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Crews" <rec46@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 12:13 PM Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: reformating hard drive. > They are the same. Just some systems use different names. Backup or > Restore. Actually, a Restore is when you go back and Backup your PC and > later you Restore it but in my WinXP it only has Restore. Kind of silly but > that's the way it is. I just did a "find" on my system and I have a lot of > "backup" there but all of them is within my other programs. Not my system > itself. > > Bob > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joyce" <jmcclure@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 10:59 AM > Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: reformating hard drive. > > > > Bob, do you back up or do you use system restore? or both? > > Joyce > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Bob Crews" <rec46@xxxxxxxxxxx> > > To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 9:12 AM > > Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: reformating hard drive. > > > > > >> SandyLea, > >> > >> Everytime I install/download something new on my PC that I don't know > >> much > >> about, I always back up my PC prior to the install/download. This way I > >> can > >> always go back and refresh my system back to it was right before I > >> install/download. Also by doing this way, I will not have to worry about > >> loosing all kinds of things because the only backup I have was done > >> several > >> days or weeks ago. > >> > >> Bob > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: <sandy1943@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >> Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 12:08 AM > >> Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- reformating hard drive. > >> > >> > >>>I want to reformat my hard drive to get rid of all my problems... so now > >>> what's a good back up program or should I just use Windows XP? Major > >>> problems with Outlook and outlook express as well! And if I do a back > >>> up, > >>> and then reinstall.......... am I going to create the same problem? > >>> What > >>> exactly do I back up, just the word files etc or the program themselves > >>> or............ any and all advise is welcome and appreciated! > >>> > >>> > >>> SandyLea > >>> > >>> To unsub or change your email settings: > >>> //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk > >>> > >>> To access our Archives: > >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ > >>> //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ > >>> > >>> For more info: > >>> //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk > >>> > >> > >> To unsub or change your email settings: > >> //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk > >> > >> To access our Archives: > >> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ > >> //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ > >> > >> For more info: > >> //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk > >> > >> > > > > > > To unsub or change your email settings: > > //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk > > > > To access our Archives: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ > > //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ > > > > For more info: > > //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk > > > > To unsub or change your email settings: > //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk > > To access our Archives: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ > //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ > > For more info: > //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk > > > To unsub or change your email settings: //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk To access our Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ For more info: //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk To unsub or change your email settings: //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk To access our Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ For more info: //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk To unsub or change your email settings: //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk To access our Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ For more info: //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk