RE: Checklist for Reformatting

["Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>]

Have you tried running Windows Task Manager to see if something is slowing
your processes?  Have you looked for applications and files that can be
slowing things, like too many unarchived messages in Outlook, Internet
Explorer issues, excessive background applications and such?  If your slow
down is caused by a corrupt file or an application that you plan to reload,
then you could risk slowing things again.  Do you have an unencrypted
wireless connection that could be in use by hackers?  

Are you sure that you've done everything to troubleshoot the situation?
Reformatting the hard drive should only be necessary if you have installed
something that corrupted your computer.  You should find out what caused the
problem before you try to reformat your drive.  Have removed all unnecessary
applications and files and run your disk defragmenter?

Lauren

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of Nancy Allison
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 8:13 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Checklist for Reformatting
> 
> I've just done a web search for "checklist for reformatting 
> hard drive" and I have not found anything like what I'm looking for.
> 
> I work from home and don't have an IT department to rely on. 
> Even after I run SpyBot, Counterspy, Norton, and AdAware, and 
> even after I did a partial reinstallation of XP, my computer 
> is still as slow as cold molasses.
> 
> It's time to reformat my hard drive, but despite saving 
> almost everything to an external HP Personal media drive, I'm 
> scared to death that I will lose key data. Here's the backup 
> checklist that I've come up with so far:
> 
> 1.  Export Contacts, Calendar, and Mail from Outlook, and 
> back up the exported files.
> 
> 2.  Export Favorites from IE and back up.
> 
> 3.  Back up all known data files.
> 
> 4.  Back up all downloaded executables that I will need to 
> reinstall software.
> 
> >From your collective wisdom (and painful experiences) -- 
> What hidden or obscure files am I not thinking of?
> 
> Honestly, I could not find an existing checklist for personal 
> computers. If there is one, please point me to it. If there 
> isn't, I'll create one from what I learn here and send it to 
> anyone who'd like to have it.
> 
> Thank you for your help. I am sick to death of having to take 
> a nap while waiting for a new application to open . . . 
> 
> --Nancy
>  

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