How to Prepare a Computer for a Clean Installation of Windows XP
- 1). Take an inventory of the programs installed on the computer and determine where the data is stored for each one that is to be kept. Locate the installation media for each program and keep it readily accessible.
- 2). Connect the external storage device to the computer and ensure that it appears in My Computer as a new drive letter.
- 3). Click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools," then "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard."
- 4). Click "Next," select "Old Computer," then click "Next" again.
- 5). Wait for the preparation routine to finish. Select the "Other" option then click the "Browse" button.
- 6). Select the drive letter representing the external storage device from the list under My Computer and click "OK." Click "Next."
- 7). Ensure that the "Both Files and Settings" option is selected, check the box next to "Let me select a custom list...," then click "Next."
- 8). Click the "Add Folder" button, browse to any program data located outside of the "My Documents" folder, then click "OK." Repeat for each program previously identified.
- 9). Click "Next" and the utility will proceed to copy the files and settings to the external drive. This process could take a while, depending on the amount of data stored on the computer.
- 10
When the clean install is complete, launch the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and select the "New Computer" option. Browse to the external storage device to restore the files and settings to the new computer.
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