cleaning up

[Clowneh!]

hey guys!

erm, how would i go about cleaning up my 'windows' disk drive without completely formatting it? its a little 6gig drive with windows and all the apps on it.

i swear all these codecs and shit i install messes up my registry and whatnot and my pc is running slow and i cba to properly format cuz that involvs downloading all my drivers again

bleh

ideas?

ta

 

[Embattle]

Use Regcleaner, you can get this program by its self but you should get the Powertools package that includes Filetool etc.

http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/jv16powertools.shtml

 

[(Shovel)]

Is the 6 gig contain your programs too?

If so, check through and clear out all of your unused applications - using the unistaller provided to clean up its registry settings too. Once you've done that, maybe consider unistalling any app that is being *really* shit to reinstall it later afresh. If you have any unistallers for codecs then uninstall them - you could add them back again later on if you feel that they are slowing you down.

Then run the above mentioned registry cleaner.

Then scan disk and defrag. Ideally don't use the Windows defrag tool since you can get some third party versions that let you choose how to rearrange your disk and will reorganise your free space properly. The degrag with Norton Utilities is highly regarded for this.
The tip would be to place C:\Windows at the start of the drive to get a faster boot up, following by the most commonly used applications.

It wont beat a full reinstall, but it might well get it running smoother for now.

If you give up all and decide to reinstall, do you use separated partitions for Windows and programs? Which version of windows are you using? Even on a drive as small as 6 gig, a Windows 95/98/ME system only really needs 1.5 Gigs (usually) to run with space to spare, and the rest can be partitioned off and used to store applications/documents. This helps keep the import bits of the disk in check and free from fragmentation. If you are feeling really fancy, there are ways to move the "Program Files" folder onto other partitions, reducing the size constraints of C:\ somewhat furthur.

 

[Clowneh!]

i always thought reg cleaners mashed up computers more? and did stuff to the registry that mashes up 'legit' registry 'code'

sorry about my terminology, i dunno what to call this crap

 

[(Shovel)]

You might want to check usenet about individual pieces of software, but I ran an MS one on Windows 9x years ago and it was fine. Not a huge improvement but it didn't make it any worse as you suggest.

 

[Clowneh!]

oh i use win2k. i think im gonna uninstall everything. all my applications. they are all on my 6gig windows drive. then uninstall all my codecs, then reg clean, then defrag and utilities-ize maybe if i cba to aquire it

then reinstall all the programs, codecs - i dont think i have anything else on my hdd apart from the drivers and windows - and im sorted. i think?

 

[.Cask]

Might as well format the disk and reinstall windows if you're gonna do all that.

 

[~Lazarus~]

Originally posted by .Cask
Might as well format the disk and reinstall windows if you're gonna do all that.

Was thinking that too.....

 

[Tom]

Yes but before u do that take everything apart and blast it with an air duster, and put rubber grommets on everything to make it quieter.

Buy a clear perspex case, and put a big blue light in it, then play games naked thinking 'i r l337' etc

 

[Clowneh!]

MMMMMMZAAA

 

[smurkin]

I got McAffee Cleansweap free on a disk...itll clean the reg...your shitty space wasters...etc...I recommend, its nice.

 

[Clowneh!]

right, im gonna go for a format...

i'll stick drivers, all my apps, codecs and stuff on another hard drive.
im gonna install norton antivirus and some sorta firewall on too..
i know theres probably loads of threads for this already, but which firewall should i use? ZA? norton? mcafee?

mmzaa

also, i have bf1942, q2, rvs, chessmaster, and some other stuff in another drive, d:\program files, will i need to reinstall these too?

maaaan im spamming and im making myself look stupid with all these questions



nothing new eh?

 

[Wilier]

*points*
stoopid

 

[(Shovel)]

You will have to reinstall most applications. Some (like Winzip) can be browsed to and run and they replace their registry settings. However, most programs don't facilitate that and are highly registry dependent. If you back up your save game directories you can restore them easily enough when you reinstall (just put them somewhere safe so that they don't get overwritten by a reinstall)