my desktop windows xp dell is having problems. the biggest one is that every once in a while after leaving my computer unattended for a while, i'll come back to find that it restarted itself. a "windows has recovered from a serious error" comes up and that's about it. it's quite annoying.

other than that, my hard drive is just riddled with clutter, spyware and adware.

so would a good solution be to just format the C drive and start over? i've got an external hard drive so i'd just transfer over all the files i want to save, and then transfer them back after re-installing windows. which would just be my music and a few software programs.

 

Have you seen the other posts in this section on running Spybot Search & Destroy?
It will rid your PC of spyware.

If your PC is real sluggish, and has not been formatted in over a year, it is time.
I did mine in Sept., and it runs real fast now, and never crashes.

If you have the files all backed up on the external, go for a format.
It will seem like a new PC afterwards.

 

spy sweeper got rid of my adwre popups ect.

 

hasn't been formatted in a year?
ha! mine hasn't been formatted ever. it's about 2 or 3 years old.

 

The only way to save your programs is to either clone your HD (which would defeat the purpose of getting rid of spyware) or have the installation file for the program handy. If you don't, there's no way you can just "copy" the program to the other hard drive. You'd have to also copy the proper registry keys, which would also be pointless to just clone because spyware infects your registry also. Finding the right reg keys would be extremely tough, IMO.

 

PCs should idealy be formated once a year, even more often if you install/uninstall lots of apps.

Your Registery gets bogged down with bits of info, even after you uninstall stuff.

Best thing to do is download any apps off the 'Net you need to reinstall apps you have now, and make sure you have CDs of your other apps.

1. Format
2. Put Windows back on
3. Update everything with Microsoft's Update site
4. Resinstall your programs from their original CDs, execute your saved exe files from the 'Net you backed up to your external drive.

This way you have no spyware or viruses lurking.
I would never try to copy whole folders of saved programs back on as Chris mentions, as that would just reintroduce snafus.

You will think you have a new PC after you do this.
If on broadband, still expect a few hours of updating Windows and putting on Service PAck 2.

 

[QUOTE=calrockx]my desktop windows xp dell is having problems. the biggest one is that every once in a while after leaving my computer unattended for a while, i'll come back to find that it restarted itself. a "windows has recovered from a serious error" comes up and that's about it. it's quite annoying.
QUOTE]

That's funny. My CPU is doing the same thing and I thought it was do to an old HD. This install is only 3 months old and I run Adware, Spybot S&D, and Reg Cleaner (good free ware to clean up your registry of the crap that gets left behind). I freed up a gig of space to make room for the swap file and so forth. Worked well for about a week and now it is back to shutting off all by itself.

Good thing is I convinced the wife this thing is shot and it is time for a new CPU.

 

Is there a good free program that will clean out your registry?

 

The one that Brad just mentioned in his post above yours.
I have read that one is good.

 

so, um...how do i format my computer?

through dos?
then start it up with the windows cd in the cd drive?

 

Look in the PC Tips here in this section.
It is a sticky, and I believe I have a link in there on how to do it.
3rd post in that topic.

 

Cal, I do pc repair, pm me and I can have it done in a few hours. You cover the price of Dr. Pepper and coffee, and the work will be free. I have 3 systems I built here at home you can check out, and I'll loan you my rig til yours is done if you prefer. And, if I melt your motherboard or cuase any interesting flashes of light, you keep my rig in place of. Whacha think???