I have this old, slow laptop. Its loaded with junk, and though I'm trying to clean it off, nothing seems to gain me much space or anything. I am wondering how a reformat/re-install would go. However, I dont have the install disc as it was done in a shop. I have heard about ways to create installation disks from the already present files, but I dont know how. Can someone give some suggestions on how to clean out this thing? (I notice that there are TONS of "$NtUninstal..." folders in WINDOWS, and they take up ALOT of my 36 gig HDD. Just a bit too reto

Probably loaded with spyware & has a lot of programs running in the background. Start by downloading, installing & running CCleaner Slim...both the cleaner & the registry scan. Remove everything it finds: http://www.ccleaner.com/download/bu... Then install, update & run SuperAntiSpyware: http://www.filehippo.com/download_s... Which antivirus program are you running? If it's Norton or McAfee, dump it & replace it with AVG Free: http://www.filehippo.com/download_a... Do the custom install & uncheck the box next to "link scanner". Run the updater then scan for viruses. Run MSCONFIG & disable any startup programs that aren't necessary. You don't have much RAM so the more you disable, the better. I don't know what you have installed but you don't need programs like AIM, Yahoo, iTunes, RealPlayer, QuickTime, etc loading at startup. For a quick check, press Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up Task Manager, then loook at the bottom/left...how many processes do you have running? I have 34. If you have 50-60, you have WAY too much stuff running. http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msc... And if you have any toolbars, Yahoo or Google for example, uninstall them. After doing all the above, defrag the HDD.

CCleaner I'll try, though I already have done a WinASO scan and clean. SuperAntiSpyware I'll try, though I have Spybot Search and Destroy (tea timer BOMBS tho...) avg lost its hold with me when a certian virus came through. It started marking every file as a virus and started deleting EVERYTHING, peaking at deleting itself. I got avast! instead. Although...avast!'s background searchers (while great) take up some BIG ram. The only things that I have at startup that I know I put there is avast, spybot, bluetooth, skype, and magic disk. however, it really gets on my nerves to see all this other stuff that is 'necessary', but never used, startup in my systray. thanks for the tips, i'll try them. Just a bit too reto

For the other part. Install SIW and name all the hardware drivers that you have in the laptop. Locate the correct updated drivers from manufacturer's website-download and store them on CD for later instalation. SIW will allow you to retrieve the XP license number installed on your computer if you do not have the COA sticker on the laptop. Determine exactly what xp system that you have installed...home , pro, upgrade. and see if your friends have a copy of the cd installation disc that you can borrow... use it to do a new format/reinstallation In reference to 11/05/2008 "So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause." - George Lucas

And, yes, you can remove all those Uninstall folders in the Windows Folder. Clean out the temp folder under C and also the Temp folder under any user's Local Settings. "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown

Starting up msconfig and thinning out the programs in the Startup tab, as Jam suggested, would probably do wonders (especially if you are a little short on memory). If you don't recognize any thing in there, the following web sites can help. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/sta... http://www.answersthatwork.com/Task... http://www.processlibrary.com/ Note that you can deselect anything in the Startup tab without causing a system problem. But of course you probably don't want to deselect your Firewall or Anti-virus. In case you do decide to start fresh. Dell (and most OEM PCs) normally have a second partition on the drive with an image of the system as it came from the factory. One of the ways to do this is on a Dell is to hold down the CTRL key and press F11 to access the system recovery wizard. But it might be a good idea to go to the Dell web site and use the particulars of your laptop to make sure.

In most cases the XP files are there. If you use a key finder program you can use any retail type XP cd and install with the cd's key. Then change back to your key. Then I'd make a ntbackup. Might be a good time to try linux. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10