XPost: comp.os.ms-windows.misc, alt.windows95, alt.windows98   
      
   DaveC wrote:   
   >   
   > I've upgraded W95 to W98 only to find that on this 2 GB drive "barely" 20 MB   
   > remains free.   
   >   
   > I've trashed all the applications (plan to reinstall from Office 2000 CD   
   > later) but didn't uninstall them. Which is why, I think, so much disk space   
   > is still unavailable -- all the numerous associated files for those apps are   
   > still on the HD.   
   >   
   > So, I'm thinking the easiest thing to do is to initialize the HD and install   
   > W98 from scratch.   
   >   
   > But a friend is warning me away from this decision saying that things like   
   > the drivers that are already on the HD will be a pain to add back. Other than   
   > the keyboard and mouse, all that is in this PC is a common 10/100base-T LAN   
   > card, the original CD-ROM drive, and a new-ish HP DJ932 printer. I've got the   
   > drivers for the printer and LAN card on CDs, but not the keyboard, mouse, and   
   > CD-ROM drive (which are all original).   
   >   
   > Original CDs for this PC are gone.   
   >   
   > Can anyone help me decide if it is going to be straightforward to wipe the HD   
   > and install W98 and the few drivers needed? Will I need to add new drivers   
   > for the CD drive and keyboard and mouse? Shouldn't these be included in the   
   > W98 install?   
   >   
   > This is on an old HP Vectra P1(?) PC.   
   >   
   > Thanks,   
   > --   
   > DaveC   
   > me@privacy.net   
   > This is an invalid return address   
   > Please reply in the news group   
      
   Dave,   
      
   Been there, done that.  (See the thread in this NG at "MEMSYS.CPL/CDEX   
   PROBLEM--LONG"--you may have to do search in Google Groups if your news   
   server doesn't have the articles any more.)   
      
   Shep posted several suggestions there, and referred me to a page of his   
   that talked about repair installs vs. fresh installs.  I tried the   
   repair install, and it didn't help--left too much garbage around.   
      
   His suggestions re: fresh install were essentially: save some specific   
   folders from within your Windows directory.  These folders don't contain   
   program or executable elements.  Rather, they contain user information   
   which, if you save them, you won't have to reinstall all your   
   applications, unless you WANT to.  I believe the folders were: All   
   Users, Application Data, Desktop, Favorites, Local settings, Profiles,   
   SendTo, and Start Menu--particularly this one, to avoid reinstalling   
   apps.  Then, you can delete your Windows folder, and do a fresh install   
   of Windows.  Once done, copy the saved folders back to Windows   
   (overlaying any created during your install) and your system looks like   
   it did before, but is clean!   
      
   Your concern about drivers is well founded.  There is a little freeware   
   program called WinDriver Backup (I think) that can save all your   
   drivers, to be restored after a new install.  BUT, if your system has   
   been around for a while (as was mine) you are well advised to go load   
   NEW drivers for your more critical hardware, such as the video card and   
   sound card, also any unique hardware you might have.  As pointed out by   
   another poster, mouse and CD-ROM drivers from Windows will work for the   
   most part (once again, any unique hardware such as an optical/wheel   
   mouse or CD burner will require the maker's drivers/software).   
      
   Now, I did a wipe clean format and reinstall of W98FE in a bit over 2   
   Gig on a 3.5 Gig partition on a 5 Gig drive.  I still have almost 1.4   
   Gig spare room!  I had some of my apps on other partitions, however.   
   But, things such as Windows, IE, OE, Netscape, Mozilla, Winamp, Winzip,   
   Irfanview, software for my CD burner, Spybot, Norton AV, and apps for my   
   scanner and digital camera are all on the 2 Gig C:\ drive.   
      
   Sorry about the long answer, but what you want to do IS possible.  You   
   might even consider Win98Lite--I used their free package, and put W98FE   
   on an 800 MB drive.  No apps much, but it ran Netscape and a dialup   
   connection!   
      
   Hope this helps.   
      
   Lakeside   
   --   
   "Intelligence is a myth; competence is real."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)