or just disable the service

Duh, I said this once...

/me tears out whatever hair he has left...

Just disable messenger already...

installed windows in about 4 hours

Yeah? I did a window xp installation twice in a single week in same computer ( windows admin class, not because it's failing ) and both was about 40 minutes. Actually, second one were just 30 minutes because it was a unattended type installation. THAT was a worthwhile thing to learn how to do. Just pop a cd and read a book while it does everything.

Drive Image Backup....20 mins and I'm back in business Don't think I could stand a 3-4hr. re-install.

My system has been stable for 1 1/2 years. I've learned a lot about keeping my system stable by visiting and helping on sites such as annoyances.org. I was under the impression that you could access your system fully by logging unto a different account. Over all these years of using Windows 95, 98Se and now XP, and Windows 2000 at work, I've learned a lot. I've also run and troubleshoot computer mainframes. I've found through experience that the best protection is Norton, period(Antivirus, Firewall, and the Windoctor). Spybot is also the best protection scheme for Spyware. There are lots of hackers with malicious intent in this world.

Windows messenger is also a dangerous avenue for malicious attempts to compromise the integrity of your computer system. I've learned to completely block it.

I've also learned to stay away from windows customizing programs that hack the operating system. I've also learned to stay away from programs that create possible conflicts with the operating system. Therefore, I'll never use StyleXP, Alt-desk, or any of those other windows customizing programs.
It's Object Desktop for me, or nothing.

I've also learned to stay away from, Microsoft Updates as a avenue for third party software. If you need updates for a Nvidia video card, or Soundblaster, visit their sites.

With that said, it sounds to me that you need a complete system restore. If you have a dell, I have heard many horror stories. I had the same problem with my Gateway system. I got rid of the Gateway Restore Disk completely. These manufacturers tend to leave out important parts of the operating system and it limits your systems flexibility. If you want XP, get XP. Get it uncontaminated by Commerical advertisements and promotions by one of these computer manufacturers.

Most important, troubleshoot. If you have a problem carefully trace it. Restore your system without conflicts, and then add software and accessories, one by one.

Once, I completely restored my system three times, trying to trace a problem. I found the problem was third party windows updates. Never install third party driver updates from windows updates. Visit your hardware manufacturer for updates.

If you want a stable system, learn to use your registry. And learn to defrag your system completely before installing new components or software.

MOST important during this learning process, is to back up your important files. This means by an safe external source such as a CDR. I backed up my important files to 2 different devices(external drive and CDR).

A complete reinstall for me takes two months. I won't take any shortcuts. shortcuts cause problems. Viruses can hide in your boot record. So, when I reinstall, I reformat my entire hard drive.

It's a learning curve. Good luck.

A complete reinstall for me takes two months. I won't take any shortcuts. shortcuts cause problems.

I couldn't put it better.
I use an external CDR for my system backup.
Being both paranoid and sceptical I have a mirror backup on a second HD .... and let's not forget that you can have a virus or bot in your system restore folder without knowing about it .... so it's wise to nuke that from time to time.
Learning to edit the registry is not a black art ... it's even worth crashing and burning a few times as part of the process.
Generic drivers are a real bitch ... rather like a shifting spanner ( aka "adjustable wrench").... they do most things in a mediocre fashion and anything else badly.
I also like to zip my backup files ....
Sorry to strike a note of discord "Soon to be Hairless One" (So ... would you be 'Bald Logic' or 'Fuzzyless Logic?) .... but I remove Messenger as a #1 priority ... along with automatic updates, error reporting and any other holes that Microcrud build in .... and I refuse to 'activate' the system!
Noticed the latest file for Spybot S&D has around 12,000 bots listed.
And growing each day.
Wombat has a dark side ... an Evil Twin .... Wombat666!
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[Message Edited]

3-4hr. re-install

the actuall install was only 40 minutes. the others 3 hours was my computer compeletly reformatting the harddrive. when I say completetly I mean compleltey

Travis....have one more go...you got it wrong three times....can't be many more times before you fluke it.......

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I refuse to 'activate' the system

Do you mean you don't register the software? I thought XP had to be activated within 30 days by internet or by phone.

I thought so too Essencay.

Anyways, I am about to ask a question thats probably pitifully easy for you guys to answer. It must be really easy, since I cant seem to find it through google.


Ready?

Here it comes.......


How do I actually do the reformat?

Formatting depends on the method you use to do it. If you have a WinXP CD go into the bios and set your PC to boot from the cd. When this is done restart and the WinXP installation routine will begin. At some point it will ask if you want to install over an existing OS or format, select format and I would recommend NTFS. If you are using a restore disk from Dell, etc. your mileage may vary. But they sometimes offer the same options. If you have a boot disk you should or will most likely end up at a dos prompt. From the prompt type format c: to begin the format. Replace the letter c for whatever drive letter you may have.

Hope this helps.

Sorry this isn't very informative but I am doing this on my lunch break and don't have much time.

i use killdisk to do a low level format before using a drive.

Ok. To reformat the drive, I get into the DOS prompt and type "format c:" correct? Then I have to insert the XP cd after it is done, and tell the computer to boot from cd. This will give me my installation options. I'm guessing I hit "install" or something like that?

usually it starts by itself IF youset up BIOS to boot from a CD ROM before the HD.

With Win98 reformatting a hard drive was easy. I didn't learn it myself. I actually had a service telephone rep. walk me through it once when I had a problem. He actually removed my partitions and everything. It can be tricky, and there are no quick explanations on how to create partitions in dos.

If you have Win98, reformatting is easy. You could just use a start up disk that you create in windows98, and then use it to boot to dos. You can basically do the same thing for XP, if you can get a Win98 start up disk. The file system for Win98 and WinXP are the same, unless you want to use NTFS. I'm happy with Fat32 myself because its much more compatible with software. You just use the startup disk and boot to Dos, and type Format C:(i'm not sure if you need the *.* command) If you do then its Format C:*.*. But, I even go a little further. I erase and recreate the partitions as well. I think the command for that is Fdisk. But, it's been awhile. You definitely want someone to show you how to create partitions. There are like five different selections there. Creating Logical Paritions, Master boot Partitions, Dos Partitions etc. The first time there is going to blow you away. You can try it and if I remember well, the program won't let you exit without warning you that you aren't finished .

For XP, I think there is a solution although there is no Dos like Win98. I found a set of startup disks for WinXP, and I think you can use them just like you would for Win98. But, the startup disks require six floppies. They are available at Microsoft. Just Google it. Hope this helps.

This is gonna sound really stupid, but I didnt get a floppy drive with my computer. I actually saved myself $50 by doing that.

So if I boot from the XP disc I have, and choose Format from the options list, will it reformat the drive? When I say format, I mean I want NOTHING left. I want to do a clean install of XP.


[Message Edited]

if you have a cd writer drive you can make a bootdisk

you can make a bootdisk

Yeah I know, but do I need one? If I can do it all with the stuff I have, whats the point?

well for me i like doing low level formats but what you are suggesting will work.

So I want to delete my current partition right?

yes. windows xp will set up a new one for you.

Ok

I now have two options for the new windows partition:

NTFS file system (Quick)
NTFS file system

Whats the difference?
[Message Edited]

quick is if you already have formated ntfs before. no need to do a long format then.