How do I save desktop settings during a reload?

[chuckiechan]

Wow, talk about timing...

My son and I are going to do a reload on his HDD, due to conflicts too numerous to mention here. He has customized his desktop along the lines of some of these illustrated.

My question is how can he save it for reloading? What file(s) is it.

I need to retain my "walk on water" standing with him and his "Buds".

[grunt]

Not sure exactly what you mean by desktop settings. Do you mean wallpaper and the like or are there actual files/folders on the desktop that need to be saved?

If you just reload 95/98 over itself without formatting, the desktop settings should all be retained - as long as you tell setup to load into "c:\windows" and not "windows.000"

[BFlurie]

Like Grunt asks, what kind of "reload" are you doing? If "overtop", you won't lose anything. For a "clean" install, the Themes.exe program for Win9X is a great utility that saves many parts of your desktop "scheme". Additionally, if you save the c:\windows\desktop, c:\windows\Start Menu, and c:\windows\sendto folders somewhere safe & then put them back after the reinstall, you'll save almost everything. Been that, done there. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[chuckiechan]

We are going to do a complete re-format, including going away form fat 16, to fat 32.

The saving of files is not the problem, just the physical looks and customized colors and icons, etc. Also, I don't want to use the old registry since he has quite a few problems, most traceable to a CD Rom problem.

Thx Flurie, I'll save those for sure...!
What is themes.exe & where can I get it? Is it part of Win 98, or and add on?




[This message has been edited by chuckiechan (edited 08-27-2000).]

[BFlurie]

Yup, it's on the W98 CD. I don't know if it's installed by default or not -- go to Control Panel & see if Desktop Themes is listed. If not, might try Control Panel/ Add-Remove Progs/ Windows Setup & see if you can install it. This saves your "Theme" as a Name.theme file -- save this on floppy or anywhere safe then put it back on the HD afterwards, run Themes and open your saved theme to restore it.

[jjsole]

Don't know anything more about desktops but KUDOS to you for your relationship with the kids! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[spark25]

Just to make sure it looks the same, it's nice to have a picture of it now. Use the *Print Screen* key on your keyboard,open up paint--edit,paste then file--save as *any name* and put that somewhere too.

[This message has been edited by spark25 (edited 08-28-2000).]

[jim.t]

Don't forget to save his PAL/buddylists if he has any. I reloaded my OS last weekend and forgot his lists. He's still grumbling under his breath while he rebuilds the lists http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[chuckiechan]

Got it! Plus, thanks for the reminder on buddy lists I would have forgotten that for sure. Plus that reminds me to add his Netscape bookmarks..

Great info, thanks x 3...

[BFlurie]

And your Favorites folder if you use Internet Explorer.