Hi guys,

Don't have a problem here as such, just want to ask for some advice on re-installing XP.

My system has become quite slow recently and is taking a while to fully load up the OS and components and I want to re-install XP from scratch. I have 2 hard drives installed and plan on moving all my important docs etc onto my storage drive if they aren't there already. Will the new install be able to see the drive OK ?

Now, my XP is SP1, if I re-install with this, can I still connect to windows update to download SP2 and all updates or do I need to get a disk with SP2 on it ?

I use Outlook 2003 as my mail client and would like to keep all my current e-mails. Is it possible to copy a mail file to my storage drive and then copy it back over and they would still be there ? (Pretty sure I could do this with Outlook Express).

It's going to take me an eternity to re-install all my programs, but it has to be done !

Thanks for any advice

- H_M

should be no problem...but you may need to take ownership of the files to gain access to them (instructions at end of post)


if your XP cd is a VALID install..you should be able to connect and DL SP2 with no issues (except the time to download it)


in outlook click file > import/export > choose "export to file" > next > choose "personal folder file (.pst)" > next > either select just your contacts...or select your entire mailbox and tick the "include subfolders" box" > next > choose a location to save the file and click finish...this will save the info into a pst file on the drive you select.

to get the files back...go through the same steps but choose import from file...point it to the file you saved...and import

How to take ownership of a folder

Note You must be logged on to the computer with an account that has administrative credentials. If you are running Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, you must start the computer in safe mode, and then log on with an account that has Administrative rights to have access to the Security tab.
If you are using Windows XP Professional, you must disable Simple File Sharing. By default, Windows XP Professional uses Simple File sharing when it is not joined to a domain.
For additional information about how to do this, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
307874 How to disable simplified sharing and set permissions on a shared folder in Windows XP


To take ownership of a folder, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the folder that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).
3. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
4. In the Name list, click your user name, or click Administrator if you are logged in as Administrator, or click the Administrators group. If you want to take ownership of the contents of that folder, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.
5. Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message:
   

   You do not have permission to read the contents of directory <folder name>. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?.

   
   All permissions will be replaced if you press Yes.[/code]
   Note <folder name> is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of.
   
   
6. Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.

How to take ownership of a file

Note You must be logged on to the computer with an account that has administrative credentials.

To take ownership of a file, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the file that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).
3. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
4. In the Name list, click Administrator, or click the Administrators group, and then click OK.
   
   The administrator or the Administrators group now owns the file. To change the permissions on the files and folders under this folder, go to step 5.
   
   
5. Click Add.
6. In the Enter the object names to select (examples) list, type the user or group account that you want to give access to the file. For example, type Administrator.
7. Click OK.
8. In the Group or user names list, click the account that you want, and then select the check boxes of the permissions that you want to assign that user.
9. When you are finished assigning permissions, click OK.

Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated.

When I re-install XP (it's a legal copy), do I need to call Microsoft to activate it or can I do it online ? I thought maybe it would fail as I've already registered it before ?

it should have no problems activating online (as long as you've got an internet connection)...but if it does...it will give you the option to call them...just tell them you did a format/reinstall and it should go fine

I was wondering if anyone knew that if I tried installing
a DELL windows re-installation CD on a very very slow
IBM laptop..would it work? Or would it damage the
computer?