Is there a way to completely format my back up drive. Transfer over all my data I want saved to the B/U HD, then format my main HD and perform a clean reinstall of XP? Then... yes then... copy all my "saved" data back to my main HD? I have stability problems with XP now (upgrade over a problematic 98SE) so I want to perform a clean install.

I already did a clean install per the XP upgrade disk. So I want to format and then reinstall.

Thanks...

I do it all the time. I myself just save my files and not programs and then move my files back after reinstalling. You might look into the file and settings transfer wizard and see if that will do as you like.

Its at start, programs, accessories, system tools, files and settings transfer wizard.

To format your backup drive go to the control panel and click on administrative tools and then computer management, under storage click on disk management, find the drive that is your bu drive and right click on it and choose format.

To save your files to your bu drive just make you a folder and put all files you want to save in it and then open my computer and drag that folder from one harddrive to the other.

You cant just move your programs and have them work. Nothing will match in the windows registry.

I do not think you could back up and install your old registry, because it will be a different (clean) install.

It MIGHT be possible to use a program like pc relocator. That may help move programs, but I am not sure you can pick and choose what to relocate.

He never mentioned backing up programs, only data. Just do what they stated above, cut and paste your files to the backup drive, then format and reload. Then install all of your programs.

Thank you... Yeah I just want to back up my data (movies, mp3's, pictures etc...)

So that'll work. Tonight I will dump the C drive and reinstall XP... then hopefully it'll work all right!

Thanks again!