Need to reinstall windows - I need your help!

[Baz]

For some time now my computer has been crashing the whole time and generally playing up, and I'm sure I've got a whole load of viruses and what not from me and my friends using broadband the whole time without firewalls and virus killers and whatever.

Anyway, what I want to do is start from sratch and reinstall XP.

I've got the boot up disk (which currently needs to be in the drive just so my computer will boot up) and I think I'll be able to follow instructions to reinstall windows, but I'm worried I don't have all the necessary drivers on disk, and crucially, I CAN'T FIND MY CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 4 SAVE FILE SO I CAN BACK IT UP!

After having my last saved game (over 100 hours easily) corrupted as my computer crashed whilst it was saving, understand this is a touchy subject.

If anyone can tell me how I can back up this file, and any other advice as to what I should be backing up before I undertake the reinstallation, it would be much appreciated.

I don't want to be going into it blind because whilst my computer is completely ****ed at the moment, at least it does the basics, and I couldn't handle it if I couldn't play CM4 (albeit with it crashing every half hour) or check my emails and genreally use the internet.

It has got to the poing however that something needs to be done.

Please help - believe it or not all my mates are less computer literate than I!

[Baz]

Ok I've managed to backup my Champ Manager save file, and I think I'm ready to reinstall windows.

Only problem - I don't know what my serial number is!

I've got an Evesham Windows XP back-up disk, as XP was already installed with my computer, but I don't know if I ever had anything with a serial number on it, and if I did it's been lost when I last moved house.

Has anyone got any idea how I can find out the serial number?

Last time I tried phoning Evesham I didn't get through in three days solid phoning, so that's not really an option.

[Shimmyhill]

Most preinstalled Xp machines do not need the serial number as its put on during install.

May be best to check tho, generally you should still have a serial number.

[McPastry]

Usually Evesham / Mesh etc put the serial no. for their backup discs on a narrow sticker on the back of the PC tower, might be worth checking there.

[gIzzE]

why dont you just set your pc to boot from cd rom and put the winXP cd in the drive.

when it says during boot up "press any key to boot from cd" do so

then choose to repair your instalation when you are asked.

at least you should get windows up and running so you can back up any thing you need.

once you have backed up it would be an idea to boot from the xp cd and do a clean install.

[marcus]

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ViewKeyXP.zip

[Baz]

Thanks for the help.

I tried to reinstall XP but ended up just doing the repair (which hasn't sorted out my problems at all!) - this is because of the options I was given when I used the recovery CD, the option of reinstall XP on the C drive (which already has XP) wasn't recommended as it warned against running 2 operating systems on the same partition.

I think I may need to partition my harddrive, but having given me the option, it wouldn't allow me to it! (or am I being really dim?)

Can anyone please tell me how to wipe my harddrive and start again!

It really shouldn't be that hard, but I'm struggling...

[gIzzE]

it is really quite easy, btw when it asked to install on the same drive but warned against you should have done it, it would have over written existing files and probably repaured your problem. Anyway, just run the disc again and you will be given the option to install to certain drives, at this point it will ask you if you want to delete, create drives etc.

make a primary of around 5 gig and do a quick partition using ntfs, you can then partiton the rest once you are in winXP
under = start/admin tools/computer managment/disk managment

may be an idea to create a D:\ drive that will hold all your stuff like mp3's etc. and I always add an E:\ drive for apps, Drivers and saves such as email accounts and store folders, that way if I need to reinstall windows you have all your latest drivers on you pc and all the apps you use, plus you can direct your outlook etc. back to the e:\ drive so you dont loose anything.

wouldnt it be nice to know you game save was safe on your e:\ drive and wouldn't be lost once you format and re install ??