Reinstallation and internet connection?

TheSwede

TheSwede

TheSwede

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This is probably a n00b question but I thought I better ask before doing it since it might save me time!

My system is a bit "slugish" and I am thinking of a reinstallation of XP so it hopefully will work better.. I am connected to the net through a ASDL (think that what its called, through the phone line not cable) router and was wondering, if I disconnect my PC from the ASDL router and do my reinstallation, can I then just connect back to the router and be up and running to the net once again without problem? Or is it not that simple? :o

Cheers
Tom
 
Your router will remain connected to the net indefinately. After reintsalling windows just plug the ethernet cable back in and you'll be away (tbh, you don't even need to disconnect the cable in the first place)
 
Thank you suarve! :) I just thought disconnecting the cable would be a safer practice since my computer otherwise would be "open" to any mischief if I would be so unlucky and someone stumble upon my connection before I would be able to get it secured again.. then again, the router has a built in firewall which should be enough I guess..

In anycase, thank you for answering! :)

Cheers
Tom
 
Just a heads up, re-installing windows requires re-installing drivers (the ethernet stuff got me thinking of this). Just thought I would mention this as many people do not take drivers into consideration if they have not re-installed XP before.

A restore disc will have these pre-installed, though a little outdated, a fresh XP disk will not. Make sure you have your ethernet drivers to hand incase XP does not recognise your ethernet adapter. Without those your not going to be able to go online to get them if you get my drift.
 
yup

always a good idea to chuck drivergrabber on a usb stick and running that before formatting
 
bledd. said:
yup

always a good idea to chuck drivergrabber on a usb stick and running that before formatting
Click to expand...

Interesting bit of software, will have to give this a go sometime. Definetly worth using as a failsafe, personally I would still obtain the latest drivers from the appropriate manufacturer websites at the time of the re-install but some good advice there for those who are not too happy about doing that and want it to just "work".
 
Last edited:
bluetech said:
Just a heads up, re-installing windows requires re-installing drivers (the ethernet stuff got me thinking of this). Just thought I would mention this as many people do not take drivers into consideration if they have not re-installed XP before.

A restore disc will have these pre-installed, though a little outdated, a fresh XP disk will not. Make sure you have your ethernet drivers to hand incase XP does not recognise your ethernet adapter. Without those your not going to be able to go online to get them if you get my drift.
Click to expand...

I have all the drivers I need on a separate hard drive in my PC, well I thought I had anyway! :eek: Did not know about ethernet driver though.. how do I find out what ethernet driver I need? And since we are on the subject of drivers, which other drivers will I be needing? I am presuming the following, but might be missing some..

Motherboard - Got the disc, but maybe should download from the manufacturers website instead?
Graphic Card - Got them..
Monitor - Got them..
Sound Card - Got the CD..

And then all the others, such as Printer, Scanner, Anti Virus, and so on and forth.. but those above is the ones that I will need first and foremost to make sure its up and running smoothly right after the reinstall.. or have I missed anything? (Probably have! :o)

Cheers
Tom
 
If it is installed at the moment. Go to device manager (start, right click on my computer, manage, device manager) network adapters, and look for your ethernet adapter manufacturer and model number, use google to track it down and download it.

From the sounds of it you have the other drivers you need on disc. Remember, printers, wireless adapters, webcams and other hardware that you needed to install a disk for originally will require drivers.

Take bledd.'s advice and give drivergrabber a go (it's free) and just get the existing drivers backed up. Not used it personally but if it does what it says on the tin. I think it may really help you with the re-install if you hit a driver install hitch.

http://majorgeeks.com/DriverGrabber_d5596.html

I assume you understand re-installing XP will result in the loss of data on that drive / partition so make sure you have it all backed up.... game saves / my documents for example.

Feel free to ask any questions here if you get stuck.
 
bluetech said:
If it is installed at the moment. Go to device manager (start, right click on my computer, manage, device manager) network adapters, and look for your ethernet adapter manufacturer and model number, use google to track it down and download it.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Downloading the driver as I am typing this! :)

bluetech said:
From the sounds of it you have the other drivers you need on disc. Remember, printers, wireless adapters, webcams and other hardware that you needed to install a disk for originally will require drivers.

Take bledd.'s advice and give drivergrabber a go (it's free) and just get the existing drivers backed up. Not used it personally but if it does what it says on the tin. I think it may really help you with the re-install if you hit a driver install hitch.

http://majorgeeks.com/DriverGrabber_d5596.html
Click to expand...

Have downloaded this and has the existing drivers on a separate hard drive just in case!

bluetech said:
I assume you understand re-installing XP will result in the loss of data on that drive / partition so make sure you have it all backed up.... game saves / my documents for example.

Feel free to ask any questions here if you get stuck.
Click to expand...

Yup, have already made back ups on a separate hard drive.. and most of my games is on another drive.. but just to make sure.. any other drives that I have, i.e. drives F to K will not be affected of the reinstallation (which will be on drive C), correct?

Cheers
Tom
 
Yup that is correct but if this is your first re-install I would suggest physically disconnecting all drives bar what you know to be C:. It's pretty obvious in the re-install which is which and to select the one to re-install to but I would suggest disconnecting them all the same till after the re-install.

Good luck and any problems, feel free to post your questions here.
 
Sorry for the bump but got a slight confusing problem here..

This is the first time I am doing a reinstallation and I thought I just had to put the CD in, restart the PC.. boot from the CD and off we go.. it entered the Windows Setup through the CD.. did all the checks.. asked if I wanted to install the XP, repair it or exit without installing.. I chose Install and then was told it could not find any Drive to install it on and press F3 to quit! I was like.. wtf?!?!? :confused:

I am presuming now that the way I thought it could be done is wrong and that I need to do a Format on my C: drive and then after it done, restart the PC and with the C: drive formated it should then automatically boot from the CD/DVD unit and then I can Install the OS.. or am I wrong once again?

Any and all advice is appreciated! (and sorry for being such a n00b! :o )

Cheers
Tom
 
The hard drive on a SATA controller that your Windows CD doesn't have drivers for at setup time? Make a floppy with the drivers on. Can be had from the motherboard manufacturers web site or directly from the chipset maker (Intel?). Then press F6 when prompted in the Windows setup routine.
 
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