Old XP machine needs refresh?

[davidm71]

Hi,

I have a 5 year old XP machine that now is really slow. Certain applications that once worked crash now occasionally and I get a lot of visual studio debugger error crash reports poping up. So I was wondering is it a good idea to reinstall .net framework? Do I have to install version 2 or is it good to just install 3.5 sp1? Any other suggestions besides complete reformat?

Thanks.

Dave.

 

[rush24t3]

You could use a program like CCleaner to clean up files and old registry entries, but I'd back up the data and give it a format. Old hardware can feel completely revitalized on a junk-free XP install.

EDIT: If formatting, download the latest versions of your drivers, programs, big patches (OS, Office, etc.) beforehand, so the process is easier.

 

[davidm71]

I tried running Raxco's Perfectspeed. Didn't help with the stability issue. I don't want to reinstall XP fresh because then I would lost an install of a favorite software of mine that I lost the install CD to. So I'll have to tough it out and learn how to fix it!

Thanks.

 

[jockovonred]

another option would be to image the drive, move the image to another drive (machine) and then do a clean install (format, install, etc). (i also make a backup of the registry before wiping a drive. that way i have any information stored by programs that aren't available in the program's folder structure. )

having to refresh the OS is just a fact of life sometimes to get past errors. and yes, it's a bummer when loosing the installation media (sometimes if find i never used most of the programs installed anyway). most of the vendors make available nowadays there programs online, so it should be a hopefully easy find.

i just completed a clean install. i used a second drive to move all my programs onto it before wiping the drive. after the install i have all my old programs and those that require reinstall, i just look to the backed up registry keys to help massage it into working correctly (or i just reinstall and apply any necessary registration info).

a clean running OS is very snappy. to help make the process complete in 30 minutes, i slipstream all hot fixes, security patches and service packs every month for XP. it makes dropping and installing a new installation qucik and easy. i also use sun virtual box to setup a second instance of XP to test out any programs or other items i don't want junking up my good host.

my two cents.

 

[jockovonred]

Hi,

I have a 5 year old XP machine that now is really slow. Certain applications that once worked crash now occasionally and I get a lot of visual studio debugger error crash reports poping up. So I was wondering is it a good idea to reinstall .net framework? Do I have to install version 2 or is it good to just install 3.5 sp1? Any other suggestions besides complete reformat?

Thanks.

Dave.

to help answer your .NET questions, 3.5sp1 contains 2 and 3. you could remove all version of .NET and just install 3.5sp1. at the end of the install, 2, 3 and 3.5sp1 will all exist on the machine. if you need 1.0, it will be necessary to install 1.1 (as it contains 1.0).

what happens with a clean boot? do you have the error messages available? is it all applications or only certain ones which use .NET? if only certain apps are affected, have you been able to check to see if an update for the program exists?

 

[rush24t3]

another option would be to image the drive, move the image to another drive (machine) and then do a clean install (format, install, etc). (i also make a backup of the registry before wiping a drive. that way i have any information stored by programs that aren't available in the program's folder structure. )

having to refresh the OS is just a fact of life sometimes to get past errors. and yes, it's a bummer when loosing the installation media (sometimes if find i never used most of the programs installed anyway). most of the vendors make available nowadays there programs online, so it should be a hopefully easy find.

i just completed a clean install. i used a second drive to move all my programs onto it before wiping the drive. after the install i have all my old programs and those that require reinstall, i just look to the backed up registry keys to help massage it into working correctly (or i just reinstall and apply any necessary registration info).

a clean running OS is very snappy. to help make the process complete in 30 minutes, i slipstream all hot fixes, security patches and service packs every month for XP. it makes dropping and installing a new installation qucik and easy. i also use sun virtual box to setup a second instance of XP to test out any programs or other items i don't want junking up my good host.

my two cents.

IMHO, copying old programs back into a fresh OS install and then "massaging" the registry seems counterproductive. Might as well just keep the current install.

 

[bigdogchris]

Hi,

I have a 5 year old XP machine that now is really slow. Certain applications that once worked crash now occasionally and I get a lot of visual studio debugger error crash reports poping up. So I was wondering is it a good idea to reinstall .net framework? Do I have to install version 2 or is it good to just install 3.5 sp1? Any other suggestions besides complete reformat?

Thanks.

Dave.

Usually after 2-3 years, the honest to goodness fix for XP is just to reinstall the OS. It would make a world of a difference!

You can try to completely uninstall the framework since it's not needed unless you run programs that require it. A lot of IE errors can also be fixed by repairing or reinstalling it. Finally, make sure that system is Malware free. I just recently fixed a system that was popping up with a lot of system crash errors and such, all caused by being full of Malware.