Doing a clean install - What is the best guide

[jrak]

I have a two year old computer that has been operating erraticaly - a program take 4 minutes to load, computer crashes when inserting a CD, a program won't load because of a runtime error. While I've been able to remedy these issues (with the exception of 4 minute load time for a particular program), I believe that the time has come to do a clean install of my Windows XP Home operating system. I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information available on the net. What's the best guide for doing the clean install?

Please note that one of the issues that I had was a few bad sectors on my C drive. These were fixed with Scan Disk. Would it be advisable to replace my C Drive with a new one? And if I do, what would be the best way to install the new drive and operating system in my computer? My computer specs are provided below.

Thanks for the guidance!

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Speed : 3.00GHz
L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous ATC

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI USB FireWire/1394
MP Support : 1 CPU(s)
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 1016.001
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P4C800-E
Chipset : ASUSTeK Computer Inc Unknown (2578)
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 1023MB

Video System
Monitor/Panel : NEC MultiSync 70
Monitor/Panel : NEC MultiSync 70
Adapter : RADEON 9600 SERIES
Adapter : RADEON 9600 SERIES - Secondary

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : Maxtor 6Y120L0 (114.5GB)
Hard Disk : ST3200822A (186.3GB)
Hard Disk : ST3300831AS (279.5GB)
Hard Disk : Promise 1+0 Stripe/RAID0 SCSI Disk Device (233.8GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : TSSTcorp CD/DVDW SH-S182D (CD 48X Rd, 48X Wr) (DVD 6X Rd, 6X Wr)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (ASmile : N/A
Hard Disk (CSmile : 114.5GB (40.8GB, 36% Free) (NTFS)
Disk4_vol1 (DSmile : 233.8GB (95.9GB, 41% Free) (NTFS)
Disk2_vol1 (ESmile : 186.3GB (134.1GB, 72% Free) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (FSmile : N/A
New volume (GSmile : 279.5GB (212.5GB, 76% Free) (NTFS)

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 3 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D2
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D4
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D7
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 24DD
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24DE
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse (IntelliPoint)
Human Interface : HID-compliant device
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Communication Device(s)
Device : Intel(R) 536EP V.92 Modem

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Home Version 5.01.2600 Service Pack 2

Network Adapter(s)
Network Drivers Enabled : Yes
Adapter : Intel(R) PRO/1000 CT Network Connection

 

[infinity111]

what i always do is put in my windows xp cd to install but select "do not format" to install over top of the old windows system and this way you can save all your files and delete stuff you don't want after, like program files.

i don't know if a format brings the bad sectors back, but a lot of people prefer to format because it is totally fresh. you don't have to buy a new hard drive but it is a good idea. if your hd has bad sectors then there may be more on the way.

 

[jrak]

I also suspect that more bad sectors may be on the way. Given that the cost of a new drive is relatively low, that's the way I'm going.