Reinstall info

[robroy55]

Given:
1. Copy all my Folders&Files (F&F) (Set O) from a C: HDD to a CD or DVD
2. Format and reinstall WinME
3: Copy the Set O files from the DVD back to C:

What critical files (Set A) from the reinstall will get screwed up?

What critical files should I not copy over (Set B) so the reinstall is ok?

What critical files (Set C) contain the info about the installed apps?

If I copy back the Set C files will it run ok?

How does Sets A, B and C differ?

Thanks

[Steve R Jones]

What does Set A etc mean?

[robroy55]

What does Set A etc mean?

Set A is the set of critical files that would be affected if I copy all the original F&F (Set O) to the newly OS reinstalled drive.

Set B is the set of critical files that I should not copy over.

Set C is the set of critical files that contain the information about the installed apps.

Are all the critical files in C: root and c:\Windows?

[Sterling_Aug]

There is no Set A, B, and C.

1. Copy all my Folders&Files (F&F) (Set O) from a C: HDD to a CD or DVD
2. Format and reinstall WinME
3: Copy the Set O files from the DVD back to C:

This process works fine.

[robroy55]

Thanks. You are saying that when I copy all the original files (including C:\ root and C:\Windows back from the DVD to the Formated and reinstalled WinME drive there will be no problem running WinME and all the originally installed apps from that C: drive.

Is this like doing XP's "System Restore" only also bringing back all the files?
Do you know what "critical files" are stored in XP's System Restore?

[Steve R Jones]

NOPE!!!
The only files you need to and "can" copy are files your created. Email, docs, favorites etc....

Coping the windows folder would defeat the purpose of doing a clean install;)

[Sterling_Aug]

Only copy the "My documents" folder. All other files and applications (programs) will need to be reinstalled from the CDs or downloaded.

[Rocketmech]

And you will need to run Windows Update also .