Any computer gurus? Best way to reinstall OS & software?

[BRO]

I have basically a new PC built up from new components over a few weeks, including a new Hard Drive (Diamond MAX 9.0). The installation package for the HD seemed to copy over the whole of the C:drive from my old HD which was handy at the time to be able to use it straight away, but I was looking forward to a fresh install and that nice fast crashless system that ensues for a while.

I have allocated 20 Gig for C: and 60 for D: What I usually do is copy all C: to a directory in D: , format C: reinstall OS and then copy over 'My Documents' etc from the copy directory in D: Then I know I haven't completely lost anything...

Is there a better way?

Cheers

Mick

ECS K7S5A REV 3.0, Honey-X Bios OC021209b.
AXP 2400+
512 MB DDR PC3200 & 256 MB DDR PC2100 / Crucial by MICRON.
80GB 7200 RPM ATA 133 HDD / Maxtor DiamondMAX 9.
MSI FX5200 Personal Cinema VT128 :-) - New  
DA08A BLack & Silver Case with fancy display ;-).
400W Power Supply.
LG 32-10-40 CDRW & DVD
CM1772FS monitor 17" CRT
Generic v. cheap mouse & keyboard  
HP 940C deskjet printer.
WIN ME OS.

[robbie]

Not that can be done easily I dont think. That is the way I do it too. I have 3 hard drives in the machine (greedy I know!!) and I always make sure I back up onto one of the others my important stuff, just oncase one of them fails

[matthew]

Probably as good a way as any. I tend not to use the 'My Documents' folder and just create a documents folder on D: or else where.

I'd throw Win ME away though.

[matthew]

Not that can be done easily I dont think. That is the way I do it too. I have 3 hard drives in the machine (greedy I know!!) and I always make sure I back up onto one of the others my important stuff, just oncase one of them fails

No guarantee you will be safe.

A friend of mine recently had a power supply fail, it took both of his hard drives with it along with 18 months worth of accounts that he'd just spent over a week putting together.

Just done a quick tally, there are about 10 hard drives whirring away here. 5 are in one mahine.  :P  :P

[BRO]

I'veused Win 2000 at work... I quite like  it, - it's not perfect by a long way and  I'm certainly not shelling out for another OS just yet! I've had Windows 3.1, Win95, Win98SE and now WinME. The ONLY big leap was 3.1 to 95!

I've heard there are still probs with XP as well so maybeI'll wait for the (inevitable) next one....  :roll:

Cheers

[robbie]

Yeeh Mathew, I do agree, I did forget to add I also backup onto DVD's :) The backup onto hard drive just lessens the number of DVD's I need to write :)
You can never irradicate the need to backup sensibly...