reformat now or later ???

[Computer]

I really need to reformat my computer. I am running win 98 at the moment but am getting XP soon. Should I wait to get xp to reformat? is there anything in xp that would make reformating easier or should i just do it with win 98.
Also, i need to know how to reintegrate things like favourites files and emails. An does internet explorer come with the windows cd? or do i have to get that. if it doesn't, where are the files located so i can burn them onto a cd to re install.
I am sure i will have some more reformating questions along the way.

Thanks

[NeoStarO1]

when you format you loose everything. Best is to start organizing your files that you want to burn to disk. Then start burning all the important stuff you want to keep.

Once you get your Windows XP install disk can let that do the formating for you. You'll have option to stay with FAT32 or go to NTFS file system.

So back up important things like, mail, contacts, addresses, files, favorites, pics, mp3 and whatever you save.

[DanGrease]

Its way easier to format your Hard drive with XP rather than 98 in my opinion, and you really should wait until you have XP because if you format now you will have to format again when you get XP since 98 is Fat32 and XP is NTFS (You can install XP with Fat32, not recommended though) Just my opinion, wait for XP

dan

[daveleau]

Well, you're going to have to reformat when you get XP, so I'd say wait. To speed up the system, use this freeware MS utility to speed up the machine. Win98 slows because of registry errors, mostly. This will resolve a lot of that:
http://download.com.com/3000-2094-881470.html?tag=list

IExplorer does come on the XP CD, but it might not be verison 6. It might be 5.5. And, you'll have a ton of updates anyway, so you can update to the latest version of IE then.

Do a search for your "Favorites" file and save it to disk.
As for your Outlook, you can back it up with this: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=EN

[Martoch]

Do it with XP!

Windows XP Clean Install Instructions


Mike

[StealthyV]

IMO, go with win2k. xp you have to register when you do upgrades and ask permission to do major hardware changes. what a crock!
win2k...ease of use, most compatibility, and oh, it doesn't eat ram!

~Branson

sorry, that was kind of a thread crap.

here's a revision:
clean out unused proggies, use a program like Reg Cleanr to clean out the registry, and use a couple free programs like Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-Aware to clean up a little...
the housecleaning you do now might help smooth things out before you reformat.
if you don't have many files to backup, you may just want to reformat with your current os, then when you're ready to upgrade, you'll have had the practice, and will know what to install.

~B