Vista Forums - View Single Post

Pete B · 05-04-2008

I already tried all that but thanks for trying.

All I really want to know now is what I'm going to lose if I do a clean Vista install and what I need to backup. I haven't had to do a clean install of an OS to fix a problem since I was running Windows 98.

I seem to recall that, back then, it would not format the HD and delete everything but your stuff like My Documents and what not would be erased. All the software you installed would still be there but all the registry entries go poof so it needs to be reinstalled.

That's what I'm wondering about now. If anybody can confirm or deny those things, I'll get started on doing this reinstall.

05-04-2008	#4 (permalink)
Pete B Newbie	Re: Can't get Vista SP1 to install I already tried all that but thanks for trying. All I really want to know now is what I'm going to lose if I do a clean Vista install and what I need to backup. I haven't had to do a clean install of an OS to fix a problem since I was running Windows 98. I seem to recall that, back then, it would not format the HD and delete everything but your stuff like My Documents and what not would be erased. All the software you installed would still be there but all the registry entries go poof so it needs to be reinstalled. That's what I'm wondering about now. If anybody can confirm or deny those things, I'll get started on doing this reinstall.