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re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Monday, August 4, 2003 at 2:52 pm Posted by Andrew Benton (258 messages posted) XP has a process called system file protection which backs up and replaces any files which are important to Windows. So for programs, if you don't use it and don't want it, just uninstall it through add and remove programs on the control panel On Monday, August 4, 2003 at 2:40 pm, Jenny wrote: >Hello, we bought a gateway pc from a neighbor. It is running windows Xp. It as an >8 Gig hard drive. I am running explorer and outlook express. The Problem I have is >they were download crazy and just have tons of programs on here. I want to delete >as many things as windows does not need to free up space. How can I be sure which >programs are windows or explorer needed before I send them away? I also have many >programs listed in the add and remove box that do not exist any longer but must still >have files in the registry. Is there a way of knowing which registry files belong >to windows, explorer or outlook. > >Thanks in advance Jen [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Monday, August 4, 2003 at 3:51 pm Posted by Jenny (12 messages posted) Does windows do this automatically? I had windows 98 on my old pc and had to take it in to get redone twice because a file got deleted and I just do not want to repeat that problem. Alot of the stuff I want to delete does not show up in the add and remove program. will windows back up its needed files even if I delete without going through add and remove? Jen [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Monday, August 4, 2003 at 3:57 pm Posted by SnP (94 messages posted) Reformatting is your best bet, but i guess since you took your computer to a repair shop, i'm assuming you don't know how to do it, and I have a feeling you don't have the windows setup disks anyway. On Monday, August 4, 2003 at 3:51 pm, Jenny wrote: >Does windows do this automatically? I had windows 98 on my old pc and had to take >it in to get redone twice because a file got deleted and I just do not want to repeat >that problem. Alot of the stuff I want to delete does not show up in the add and >remove program. will windows back up its needed files even if I delete without going >through add and remove? >Jen [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Monday, August 4, 2003 at 4:09 pm Posted by Ricer46 (23825 messages posted) Technically speaking, the listings in the registry are not files. You can delete some lines to reclaim some space, but delete the wrong ones, and you've killed your system, and it won't delete any files. The best thing probably is a clean re-install. It's really hard to clean up someone elses mess, even if you know software very well. On Monday, August 4, 2003 at 2:40 pm, Jenny wrote: >Hello, we bought a gateway pc from a neighbor. It is running windows Xp. It as an >8 Gig hard drive. I am running explorer and outlook express. The Problem I have is >they were download crazy and just have tons of programs on here. I want to delete >as many things as windows does not need to free up space. How can I be sure which >programs are windows or explorer needed before I send them away? I also have many >programs listed in the add and remove box that do not exist any longer but must still >have files in the registry. Is there a way of knowing which registry files belong >to windows, explorer or outlook. > >Thanks in advance Jen [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Monday, August 4, 2003 at 4:28 pm Posted by Jenny (12 messages posted) That was my old Pc. wehave given it to my son . Our new pc runs widows xp , It is just teh lessons with teh old pc that have made me slow to delet stuff off the new one. They did not give me a windows xp cd when I bought this , which make me extra cautions. Now that I know that windows xp has its own restore functiosn that helps me breate easier. Do you know if the web has something similar to a windows xp users guide. My pc didn't come with that either. Thanks Jen [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Monday, August 4, 2003 at 4:35 pm Posted by Jenny (12 messages posted) The Xp restore file does have a restore point that says windows xp install. I am assuming that was done teh day xp was placed on the pc. will That take me back to a clean slate ? Jen [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Monday, August 4, 2003 at 6:18 pm Posted by Ricer46 (23825 messages posted) No, it will not remove the downloaded software, it would effectively uninstall it. but leave the installation files behind, and perhaps a bit of other stuff you don't need. On Monday, August 4, 2003 at 4:35 pm, Jenny wrote: >The Xp restore file does have a restore point that says windows xp install. I am >assuming that was done teh day xp was placed on the pc. will That take me back to >a clean slate ? > >Jen [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Monday, August 4, 2003 at 6:24 pm Posted by Dan Sarandrea, MCSE (4310 messages posted) I am inclined to believe that your neighbors' Gateway PC started out life with another Operating System (OS) on it, maybe Win 98SE or Me. Especially since the HDD is only 8GB. Check the computer's case for a Certificate of Authenticity sticker, which would have the OS listed on it. Your purchase of the system should have included the OS or recovery disks that came with the computer from Gateway. If the computer is running XP Professional, my guess is that it is one of the prirated versions that are floating out there. If it is running XP Home, then your neighbors should have given you the CD for it. If the neighbors cannot supply a legitimate XP CDROM, then your best course of action is to purchase a copy of XP from a legitimate source. You could use any of the three major versions available: Retail Full, Retail Upgrade (here's where you'll need the CDs from the neighbors), or OEM which is popular on EBay and at neighborhood computer stores. Once you get a legitimate XP CDROM, you'll want to use a "file shredder" or "diskwiping" program to thoroughly scrub the hard disk, then do a clean installation of XP. Running the disk wiper eliminates any possibility of inheriting legal or social problems "included" with the neighbors' old computer. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' Tuesday, August 5, 2003 at 9:23 am Posted by Jenny (12 messages posted) Great , I will talk with the neighbors and see if they have what I need. They are an older couple and we had to go back like 4 times just to get all the right cables so they may have the right disk and just misplaced it as well. I am hoping LOL. Thanks everyone for your help. Jen [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows XP Discussion Forum