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Reformatting Windows XP the RIGHT way

Robert Hallock October 21, 2008 12:34 PM ET in Tech

Restoring drivers and updating

Now that the data has been migrated back to the machine, the final step in the process is easily the most difficult. Identifying, obtaining and installing drivers will allow Windows to leverage hardware in your machine to its fullest extent. There are numerous ways to both identify and obtain the drivers which we have covered in detail in our Driver Collection Guide. Using Drivermax, search engines and manufacturer websites, it should be possible to round up and install the necessary drivers in just a few hours.

Next, get a jump on the automatic updates by launching Windows Update to immediately obtain the most recent patches for Windows:

Select this icon in the start menu to launch Windows Update.

Select this icon in the start menu to launch Windows Update.

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6 Comments:

  1. LIN
    Shaken, not Stirred
    21 Oct '08, 1:13 pm

    Really great article; easy to read & follow. A "must read".

    LIN

  2. QCH
    Guru
    22 Oct '08, 11:02 am

    VERY detailed but not too complex. Nice work, again, Thrax!!!

  3. Ben
    Guest
    24 Oct '08, 11:32 am

    On the size of the C drive partition: the problem there is that your desktop and the contents of Documents and Settings are automatically stored on the same drive as your OS. You might want to move your My Documents (which is easy), and you can re-define the locations of your Desktop, Temp directory, and Documents and Settings Branch in the registry, although this can get messy as it seems some programs use the registry while others will persist in using the C drive.

    On the use of NTFS: Last time I checked Linux based recovery CD's have a hard time dealing with NTFS drives, so be prepared to not have that option.

  4. Leonardo
    F@H Reign of Terror is back!
    15 Nov '08, 3:35 pm

    Excellent! From A to Z.

  5. minoan
    New to the neighborhood
    15 Nov '08, 6:03 pm

    "Need to repair Windows XP professional if possible"

    I have a current thread with the above title, and wonder whether this article is a solution to my problem. I have a Dell Precision M50 laptop which has a corrupted Windows XP Professional installation which will now not boot up to the Desktop. It reports it cannot load hive, which is either corrupt or missing.

    Does the present article cover my situation? Would I need to be able to get the hard disc out of my laptop? (which may not be so easy as getting a hard disc out of a desktop).

  6. Leonardo
    F@H Reign of Terror is back!
    15 Nov '08, 6:43 pm

    Minoan, this is the next step for you. In your other thread we looked at possibilities for salvaging/repairing your existing Windows installation. If you cannot get your Windows installation repaired, then the guide linked in this thread is probably your next step, to reinstall Windows, fresh.

    You will find in this guide by our Icrontic writer, Thrax, different methods for salvaging data from an existing Windows installation. Some of those tools may work for you, some may not.

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