Repairing a system?

[kv]

I've been plagued with minor yet annoying problems with my 3-year old Win2K install, I've posted previously that I was debating moving to XP but have decided to stick with 2K.

Problems I'm having are (but not limited to):
* Explorer locking up and needing to be killed via task manager (particularly when previewing thumbnails in my digital phot collection)
* IE locking up randomly
* Occassional inability to shut down
* Unable to install recovery console as a boot option
* Scheduled chkdsk for primary drive does not run at boot
* Office XP occassionally locks up or freezes temporarily

Due to the nature of the symptoms, I'm convinced the problem is with my actual OS (and the MS insistence on application/OS integration), and not a particular bad app, plus I'm not having any problems with non-MS apps. My system is still very usable, it's just a little frustrating with the problems. Over the last three years I've installed and uninstalled countless programs so I have no doubt there is a lot of grunge in my registry (although I've run three different cleaners) and orphaned dll files floating around.

(And I'm convinced the system is malware free, I'm running Spybot/AdAware/SpyBlaster, and sitting behind both a software and a hardware firewall, and I can account for everything in my HijackThis log)

So here's the thing, I know I should do a clean install, it's about due, but I started to dread the idea of re-installing all of my apps, I have a ton. Perhaps more importantly, I am very lazy, so I am trying to avoid having to go that route.

What exactly happens with a repair, I've never done one so I'm not entirely clear? Will my registry get wiped? Will my system files revert back to original, or will they use any cached latest-SP files on my hard drive? (I did re-install SP4 and Windows Updates hoping that might help fix whatever was wrong, but no dice). Basically, am I going to have to wind up re-installing everything? If so, I may as well do the clean install and be done with it.

Anyways, sorry for the rambler, as always any advice or comments appreciated...

Cheers,
KV

[Ivanothername]

The symptoms you describe are reminiscent of a system that has indeed suffered many add/remove program changes without a proper backup restore point being used.

In fact your description reminded me acutely of Windows 98 when l used to run it before l learned exactly how it needed to be tamed.

No, a repair will not sort you out (that is over-installing W2k to your C:\winnt directory...) because you'll still have your old systems clutter spread across various other folders...

Yes, reformat and bite the bullet, painstakingly reload and you'll at least have eliminated all the orphaned software hazards, you may even be able to identify if any hardware has a hand in the disturbances your system suffers.

One absolutely concrete recommendation is to get yourself a program like Norton Ghost or Power Quests (ahh, Symantec now) Drive Image so that once you've set up W2K as you wish, with your drivers, M$ updates, firewall... all perfectly tickety boo style... then you can write an image to a CD-R for all time simple 20 minute recovery of your basic system without ever reinstalling again!

Your whole OS will fit onto a single CD-R (you'll find raw W2K + it's system drivers will take up 450Mb-600Mb on the boot partition... and compress onto the CD-R at about half size...)

That's a really important step that will save you so much future trouble that you'll never be sorry you did it - and if you go to ebay you can get Drive Image 2002 s/hand for as little as $15...

l posted a similar statement the other dy in reply to a back-up request topic... l am an enthusiast of drive imaging programs and pass on the word whenever someone might need it...

The only thing is to add is "good luck" - sticking with W2k is a far better idea than going to XP which is slower (in my opinion) and eats up much more hard disk space...

Ivanothername

[Cantoris]

Hi!

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works by suggesting a repair!
I know how huge a task it is to reinstall all your apps so you have nothing to lose except some time from at least trying a repair install. I've used the process a couple of times to fix problems that I couldn't pin down to anything fixable.

I think you may find you will have to reinstall some drivers but otherwise it's fairly painless. I'm really not sure how many updates need reinstalling afterwards. Run your repair from a CD containing a slipstreamed service pack to match your installation.

If though your system is bunged up with tonnes of apps you never use and you're always installing and uninstalling stuff then maybe a clean install will give you a nicer result and encourage you to keep it clean afterwards hehe.

Best wishes,

Andrew

[SuperSparks]

I'm inclined to agree with both Ivanothername and Andrew here

I honestly don't think a repair install will do much to help, but if you can spare an hour or so to try it it would certainly make life a lot easier than a clean install. I've done repair installs many times, sometimes they work better than others. Boot up with the Win2000 CD in the drive and let Setup run. Go past the "C" and "R" repair options by presssing Enter just as if you're doing a clean install and you'll eventually get an option to "Repair an existing installation". That's the one you want. If it asks about formatting you've gone wrong, so start over.

You'll get to keep your existing apps & settings, but you need to re-install SP4, Windows Updates & any unsigned drivers afterwards. NOTE: Be aware that you'll lose any protection from Blaster / Sasser type worms. Don't go online without a firewall.

And I completely agree with Ivanothername about imaging software - it can save hours of labour. Well worth the investment. I dislike Drive Image, Ghost has been my software of choice for years, but Acronis True Image is getting itself an excellent reputation.

[Ivanothername]

Thought l'd just remark how nice it is when someone seeking help bothers to post-back their progress in the original thread, it's not merely from a position of pure knowledge that solutions are put forward... but from years of uncannily accumulated and often hard come by hands on experience of computers...

Not posting back might give the impression the advice given in a thread simply wasn't good enough...

This isn't a comment aimed at this thread - just a general remark and l put it here cos' l'd already appeared in this thread...

On the otherhand most of us accept paypal...

Nope... l was joking, honestly

[kv]

Thanks for the replies everyone. With nothing to lose, I'll just go for the repair and hope for the best.

If that fails, I'll do a clean install. I have a copy of Ghost as part of Systemworks, although I'm hesitant to reinstall Symantec on a clean system, I'm not entirely convinced it didn't lead to some of my previous trouble (I've been a Symantec user for years but have recently moved to other alternatives).

The worst part is that some of my software was purchased online over the years, and I'm not sure I even still have all of the license keys. I guess worst case scenario I'll just go back to the original vendors and hope they still have a record of my purchase...

Anyways, guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend...!

Thanks,
KV

[SuperSparks]

As far as Ghost is concerned you can install it completely separately from SW (and I entirely agree that SW causes more problems than it cures). Just find the Ghost folder and you'll find it's own Setup app in there.

[kv]

Thanks SuperSparks, I was hoping that was the case and it puts my mind at ease if that winds up being the route I have to go...!

Cheers,
KV

[Ivanothername]

The recommendation about Firefox 0.9 that l wrote in a different thread last night (internet software forum) wasn't written to make your problems any worse KV... honestly...

(These 2 threads are not suitable for merger!!!)

But maybe you will go and get a copy of one, or another, of the earlier mentioned drive imaging programs... which all got the support of various contributors...

Then you'd still have ALL your license keys, bookmarks and... or is that rubbing it in too much...