Hi everyone,

I mentioned this installshield problem I have in another thread. I think it might just be time to reinstall Windows. I've been going over a year and a half on this installation. I'm convinced that the installshield problem is on my machine, and despite hours and hours of research, I can't figure out how to fix it. The most recent hypothesis is a corrupt installshield database or some bad registry information. I have no idea how to proceed besides reinstalling Windows.

Anyhow, I'd like your thoughts on how to go about doing this. I want to create sort of a checklist for reinstallation. I also have a few questions:

1. Is a reformat and total reinstall the best approach? If so, what things should I make sure not to forget?

2. I already have "My Documents" (changed the name) on another disk. "Documents and Settings" remains on the primary disk, however. How do I migrate my settings to the new installation? Is backing up the contents of the Documents and Settings folder sufficient? I believe this is somehow tied to username. What has to happen here? What exactly do I need to do to make sure that the backed-up data is used in the new installation?

3. Is there anything besides Documents and Settings that I need off of the primary disk before I reformat it (assuming that is the best approach)? Are firefox and Internet Explorer favorites/bookmarks stored in Documents and Settings?

4. Can you help me with this checklist:

• Obtain all device driver installers
• Create installed applications list and find the installation media
• Backup "Documents and Settings"
• Reformat and reinstall Windows
• Install device drivers
• Restore "Documents and Settings"
• Reinstall Mathematica (installer does not work with SP2)
• Update Windows to current
• Install codecs
• Reinstall applications

5. Since I'm starting from scratch, I have the opportunity to get my video codecs right from the beginning. Can anyone explain exactly what I need to install to make the various internet videos display without getting a raft of spyware on my machine?

6. Can someone, please, recommend an alternative to this drastic action?

The biggest part of this I'm unsure of is how the user settings are handled. I'm also curious if I'm forgetting something on my list.

Comments, warnings, suggestions and prayers are all welcomed.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

Firefox and IE bookmarks are in documents and settings but I also use the bookmark export feature for firefox and IE as well because I am paranoid.

What are you using for email do you have an address book and messages to back up ?

Quote:

5. Since I'm starting from scratch, I have the opportunity to get my video codecs right from the beginning. Can anyone explain exactly what I need to install to make the various internet videos display without getting a raft of spyware on my machine?

6. Can someone, please, recommend an alternative to this drastic action?

DefilerPak
Real Alternative
QuickTime Alternative
If you want to play DVD's I would get WinDVD or the new nvidia dvd codec.

You could try using the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" built into XP. Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools

I've used Eudora for years. That keeps a nice separate folder. Good thinking, though.

If you have a non-intel motherboard (Via chipsets, I'm looking at you!) I'd recommend making a slipstream windows install CD with those drivers pre-staged, or failing that, make sure you have a floppy with them available.

This is double true if you don't have a second, internet connected PC nearby the newly-reinstalled machine.

-Zeke

What about the "Files and settings transfer wizard" I've never had a need to use it. Dose it do what one might expect it to do?

Edit: ok it's for moving stuff from one computer to another, not preserve stuff across a clean reinstall on the same machine.

I'd suggest the K-Lite Codec Pack. Some of those options include Real Alternative and QT Alternative.

One of the things I used to do (and haven't in a while) is to reboot the machine into Linux (though with NTFS, some Windows-based boot CD would probably work better), create a new C:\OLDWIN directory, move everything into there, then install Windows. It won't notice that there's already a version of Windows installed, so you get a clean install, and you don't have to delete anything. Just make sure you don't let the Windows installer format your hard drive. Then once it's installed, you can move data back as you see fit.

I never did like the idea of using a player capable of playing all the formats. I much prefer the codec idea, as it means everything can play it. Much like where on the Mac, a unified browser plig-in specification ages ago led to any browser able to do the same things, be it IE, Netscape, Safari, Cameo, Firefox, etc...

Plenty of codec packs out there that work well now. Usually I install one, along with Quicktime 7 (since I do use iTunes), and play everything through Media Player Classic.

I thought Media Player Classic could play most files without the need for a codec pack.

I guess my problem is that I hate how Windows handles codecs. In the past I've had problems with conflicting codecs and others that cause problems in general. Then when I went in to remove the offender, I've had no way of doing it.

I prefer mplayer as a media player anyway, so it doesn't bother me.

Are there any free DVD playback codecs? Google only gives me spammy links when I search.

I'm trying to buy a CDR/DVDR software site license for work and DVD playback would be nice too. For the DVD codec, I can pay Nero $9/license or Roxio $12/license. Nero, my 2nd choice burner, is cheaper but Roxio, my 1st choice, requires a volume of licenses that I can't afford.

Bottom line is, cheap DVD playback for infrequent use. And I've been told I can't use the DVD drive's OEM software either. I'll have to read the licenses carefully.

Do you own an ATI or NVidia video card? Most any of the video cards in the past few years has come with a DVD license of some sort. Dig out the old driver disc it came with, odds are it has a DVD player, and at least for the ATI, a system codec allowing other things to use it.

OS X and Linux usually just have DVD playback built in.

VLC Media Player plays DVDs for free.

There's apparently a free Cyberlink DVD decoder available. I'm too lazy to look for a direct download, as I get it as part of the K-Lite Codec Pack (full or mega).

Thanks much guys. I'll check these out.

Drakino: At work, I have a pile of OEM driver/software CDs for different DVDRs I've bought over time.

I was told by a fast talking salesman at Sonic (Roxio) that some OEM licenses might not be allowed on multi-user machines or Ghost images. I'll have to read each license carefully.

But I am also reluctant to install 6 different DVD player programs. More variation to support, less consistancy in my work image. Maybe $9/DVD codec isn't so bad.