If you get to the point of wiping out everything and starting from scratch you might try this first: from langa letter
The "system restore" CDs actually use a kind of drive image of the system as it was when it left the factory: You can use that image to restore your system to its original condition. However, they're usually all-or-nothing deals: When you use a System Restore disk, you'll lose all your customizations, alterations, changes--- and most importantly--- any data files (documents, spreadsheets, etc) you've saved or created since you got the machine.
Some of this is indeed Microsoft's doing; they're trying to reduce piracy by reducing the number of excess OS CDs in circulation. With less piracy, Microsoft's profits go up. But some of it is also the vendors' doing, because using the System Restore CD will automatically resolve all software problems in one giant step. With an easy fix for software problems, vendor tech support costs go down.
In fact, the use of System Restore CDs is great for everyone-- except us end users. It makes it harder to do selective restores, or to have the flexibility to rebuild your system, from scratch, just the way you want it. Grrr.
However, even on systems that use the System Restore approach, you'll find all or most of the original OS setup files in the windows\options\cabs directory. If you have good backups, you can usually run a reinstall from the Setup file in windows\options\cabs; this reinstall will lay itself on top of your existing installation, and should pick up your changes, settings etc., without harming your data files.
tc |
