my computer is run by windows xp sp2. my hard disk has two partitions, namely C (primary active) and D (logical). i have installed almost all the applications in D. this means that all the files associated with the applications are in D. but, the thing is that the registry still remains in C. if i format C and reinstall windows xp, will i have to install all my applications once again, or will these applications keep functioning normally since they were installed in D?

If you lose your registy most programs that depend on the registry for information will have to be reinstalled. A lot of programs also save information in your c:\documents and settings\application data ... etc... Make sure you backup your C: if you wish to prevent any data loss...

That seems to be the bad thing about installing apps on another drive. I'd like to know how to prevent having to reinstall all the apps, too, if I have to reformat C: and the root drive for app install is D: (or whatever).

there is no getting around reinstalling applications unless you do a repair installation which will cause you to lose all your hot fixes and updates. The thing is that doing so doesn't really give you a clean installation or a reformat. Very few programs are stand alone which means they don;t use an embedded registry to operate..so no matter what you do you need to always keep handy amy program discs so they can be reinstalled. In The Matters Of Style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, Stand Like A Rock "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

My recommendation is to do a clean install. Then install all your "main" applications and set all your preferences in Windows and the applications accordingly. Once your system is set up with all your setting how you want them, then use an application to make an image of your OS drive. You can then restire your system to that clean state with all your programs working in about 20 minutes to an hour. Michael J