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Another Recover vs Format/reinstall question

C

Chuck

Flightless Bird
Greetings, All.
This has probably been answered here someplace, but seeing as there are
about a gajillion questions and answers, I figured it'd be quicker to ask
afresh. So:
I have a few-years old Dell (WinXP SP3 and all attendant updates) that is
suffering from the usual ailments; slowness, etc. I'm PRETTY sure it came
with a recovery disk vice an actual WinXP disc [I'm at work, and it's at
home].
My question (in a few parts) is this:

Since these discs are supposed to return your PC to "factory condition", is
there a difference between just popping it in and going, or doing a complete
format and THEN reinstalling? Does either carry an advantage?

Part II: if indeed it is a Recovery disc, is there a way to backup the
beaucoup updates that have come out since then, or am I doomed to redownload
alllllll of them? :p

Part III: if I luck out and it's a WinXP disc instead of Recovery, what is
the *best* way to create a slipstream disc, so as to avoid the aforementioned
re-downloading horror?

Many thanks!
Chuck
 
J

John

Flightless Bird
"Chuck" <Chuck@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7F2C83E5-ACFE-4541-85D0-ECC05DC47BE9@microsoft.com...
> My question (in a few parts) is this:
>
> Since these discs are supposed to return your PC to "factory condition",
> is
> there a difference between just popping it in and going, or doing a
> complete
> format and THEN reinstalling? Does either carry an advantage?


Image restore (to factory condition) will bring back all preloaded
junk/trial software.

> Part II: if indeed it is a Recovery disc, is there a way to backup the
> beaucoup updates that have come out since then, or am I doomed to
> redownload
> alllllll of them? :p


You'll have to redownload/reinstall service packs and updates.

> Part III: if I luck out and it's a WinXP disc instead of Recovery, what is
> the *best* way to create a slipstream disc, so as to avoid the
> aforementioned
> re-downloading horror?


You can slipstream service pack into the original setup CD but you'll still
have to (re)download the service pack (SP3). Post SP3 updates are not
"slipstreamable".
 
S

smlunatick

Flightless Bird
On Jan 20, 5:47 pm, Chuck <Ch...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Greetings, All.
> This has probably been answered here someplace, but seeing as there are
> about a gajillion questions and answers, I figured it'd be quicker to ask
> afresh. So:
> I have a few-years old Dell (WinXP SP3 and all attendant updates) that is
> suffering from the usual ailments; slowness, etc. I'm PRETTY sure it came
> with a recovery disk vice an actual WinXP disc [I'm at work, and it's at
> home].
> My question (in a few parts) is this:
>
> Since these discs are supposed to return your PC to "factory condition", is
> there a difference between just popping it in and going, or doing a complete
> format and THEN reinstalling? Does either carry an advantage?
>
> Part II: if indeed it is a Recovery disc, is there a way to backup the
> beaucoup updates that have come out since then, or am I doomed to redownload
> alllllll of them? :p
>
> Part III: if I luck out and it's a WinXP disc instead of Recovery, what is
> the *best* way to create a slipstream disc, so as to avoid the aforementioned
> re-downloading horror?
>
> Many thanks!
> Chuck


The only major advantage of the recovery systems is the fact that "all
drivers" will be install back onto the PC. When using a "generic" XP
install CD, you will need to locate several "missing" drivers after XP
is installed,
 
P

Pegasus [MVP]

Flightless Bird
"Chuck" <Chuck@discussions.microsoft.com> said this in news item
news:7F2C83E5-ACFE-4541-85D0-ECC05DC47BE9@microsoft.com...
> Greetings, All.
> This has probably been answered here someplace, but seeing as there are
> about a gajillion questions and answers, I figured it'd be quicker to ask
> afresh. So:
> I have a few-years old Dell (WinXP SP3 and all attendant updates) that is
> suffering from the usual ailments; slowness, etc. I'm PRETTY sure it came
> with a recovery disk vice an actual WinXP disc [I'm at work, and it's at
> home].
> My question (in a few parts) is this:
>
> Since these discs are supposed to return your PC to "factory condition",
> is
> there a difference between just popping it in and going, or doing a
> complete
> format and THEN reinstalling? Does either carry an advantage?

*** A factory restore disk usually involves repartitioning and formatting.
*** Installation of Windows will then proceed more or less automatically.
*** A manual format & installation is much more demanding because
*** you have to locate the necessary drivers.

> Part II: if indeed it is a Recovery disc, is there a way to backup the
> beaucoup updates that have come out since then, or am I doomed to
> redownload
> alllllll of them? :p
>

*** You're doomed.

> Part III: if I luck out and it's a WinXP disc instead of Recovery, what is
> the *best* way to create a slipstream disc, so as to avoid the
> aforementioned
> re-downloading horror?

*** Best to consult one of the many Google references for creating
*** slipstream CDs, e.g. http://theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp3_cd.htm
> Many thanks!
> Chuck
 
H

HeyBub

Flightless Bird
Chuck wrote:
> Greetings, All.
> This has probably been answered here someplace, but seeing as there
> are about a gajillion questions and answers, I figured it'd be
> quicker to ask afresh. So:
> I have a few-years old Dell (WinXP SP3 and all attendant updates)
> that is suffering from the usual ailments; slowness, etc. I'm PRETTY
> sure it came with a recovery disk vice an actual WinXP disc [I'm at
> work, and it's at home].
> My question (in a few parts) is this:
>
> Since these discs are supposed to return your PC to "factory
> condition", is there a difference between just popping it in and
> going, or doing a complete format and THEN reinstalling? Does either
> carry an advantage?
>
> Part II: if indeed it is a Recovery disc, is there a way to backup the
> beaucoup updates that have come out since then, or am I doomed to
> redownload alllllll of them? :p
>
> Part III: if I luck out and it's a WinXP disc instead of Recovery,
> what is the *best* way to create a slipstream disc, so as to avoid
> the aforementioned re-downloading horror?
>


Re-installation to cure slowness is like hitting a tree to stop the car.
Other solutions are more appropriate (like using the brakes). Only if all
else fails should you aim for the tree.
 
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