Starting Afresh

**westy159** · July 01, 2006, 10:14 AM

Over time i have downloaded so many little programs and the such that i never use, happens to all of us and my harddrive is just cluttered with crap. More worringly by bringing up the windows task manager about 40 processes are running which is quite a lot. Ive probably got some spyware or something. But anyway what i want to do is save any important stuff to my flash drive, write down any programs that i will want to re-download and basically wipe my harddrive completely, with the exception of my operating system windows XP. So how do i do this (i have a faint idea but im want to be sure im getting it right) and should i do it or will problems arise?

Cheers.

**Spiff** · July 01, 2006, 10:22 AM

If you are going to start a fresh, you should completely wipe the contents of your drives by reformating them - this will earase all data, even windows. Then reinstall windows using your XP cd.

formating is your best option if you plan on deleting everything anyway, windows will run much smoother that way when you reinstall it

**Gaius Baltar** · July 01, 2006, 10:22 AM

I suggest an alternative to the extereme of harddrive wipe

1. Add-Remove programs..go through and delete all those you dont want anymore..make a note of those that you uninstall
2. Go through your Program files listing and delete any remaining folders from the list of the porgrams you just uninstalled.
3. Search and destroy through your received files folder and in other misc places..delte all that you dont want.
4. Use a registry cleaner to tidy up the registry.
5. With your new, trim and healthy harddrive, go out and fight evil...save the world...

**wipeout140** · July 01, 2006, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by westy159

More worringly by bringing up the windows task manager about 40 processes are running which is quite a lot.

You think 40 alot my mate had 75 processes running before i helped him - now down to 35 processes. I have 31 normally

**imb39** · July 01, 2006, 11:44 AM

I have 81... I am now worried... Buyt my anti virus software is uptodate and the computer is running well enough...

**Justinian** · July 01, 2006, 12:15 PM

I have 49, but they're mostly iPod service crap I don't use because I don't have one, and stuff that HP packaged with the computer.

**Spiff** · July 01, 2006, 01:12 PM

lol ive got 21 on startup..

Anyway Gaius Baltar what you say is true but since westy159 has said he'd prefer to start fresh with nothing but windows your method seems like a long winded version with the same outcome, and is quite a bit more complicated really than just inserting the windows cd and pressing format.

**krazykarl** · July 01, 2006, 04:24 PM

why use your flash drive? Why not back everything up to DVD-R?

**King Edward I** · July 01, 2006, 04:28 PM

ive got 27 on standard idle!

**imb39** · July 02, 2006, 05:03 PM

So, should I be worried?

**Spiff** · July 02, 2006, 05:37 PM

Well 81 is awfuly high.

if youre familiar with the msconfig utility you could have a look through that to find out exactly whats running on startup and disable anything you dont want.

My advice is on startup to only run what you need and want, and to know exactly what that is. So when youre in the task manager have a look at every process, if you dont know what something is, google its name. If its something you dont want and isnt part of windows, just end it. But that wont stop it running next time you restart, for that you have to use the msconfig program

oh and do you have a spyware scanner like adaware or spybot s&d?

**wipeout140** · July 02, 2006, 05:44 PM

Damn 81 is very high, I would do what Spiff says now. It must take ages to load up windows with 81 there and i was thinking 41 was exterme so when through and got it down to 31 - Boots up loades better and only uses 185mbs of ram on boot up

**Incinerate_IV** · July 03, 2006, 12:07 AM

81 is really really high! You better do a scan and uninstall some programs! I think I have about 20 running when my computer is idle.

**Søren** · July 03, 2006, 06:28 AM

I have 55 processes. :hmmm:

Does anybody know of a good cleaner for them. I've tried one or two but they always only remove about 5 registry entries, unless you pay to register?

**wipeout140** · July 03, 2006, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by Valentinian

I have 55 processes. :hmmm:

Does anybody know of a good cleaner for them. I've tried one or two but they always only remove about 5 registry entries, unless you pay to register?

could use msconfig as said before and then go to start up tab and un tick the ones you now are not needed. If ever want to clean out your registery use this Reg Cleaner 4.3