[KarenSeb]

Oh but I do believe it! It's a wonderful feeling knowing you've helped someone isn't it? I used to fix computers back when they were a bit more simpler - heh. I lost my touch along the way because I haven't kept up on things :( Some of the time, I would walk away with no cash in hand. A sincere "thank you" was sometimes enough payment. :)You're a good man Mr. Moderator, I can tell ;)

[mphenterprises]

:oops: Thanks Karen. Yeah, to be honest, desktop PCs are relatively simple to build, upgrade, troubleshoot, and repair. The biggest thing I tell people is to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. If one does that, one can't go wrong.

[KarenSeb]

Hmmmm I rarely read instructions/manuals unless I'm really, really stuck, like now - LOL.Of course online referencing is a big help :) I learned all I know "hands on" - I never really was a big reader :shock:Simple to us yes, because we basically know what we're doing. To a Newb however, it can seem overwhelming.

[rgreen4]

Karen - while we are waiting on materials, go ahead and try to use the Recovery DVD (although you said CD, I think it may be a DVD) and see if you can restore Vista onto the 80Gig drive. It might save us a step, it would be a good test of the recovery, and it won't hurt the 80Gig. If if fails, then we have other means to restore.The other means is cloning. The previous common term was Ghosting, however, Symantec did not keep Ghost up. I used Ghost from the time it was on diskette and swore by it. I upgraded to Ghost 2003 when I went to Windows XP on my old HP Desktop. I tried to use it on my new HP Media Center and it wouldn't even install. So I upgraded to Ghost10, but it choked on the Intel ICH8 chipset for Raid and SATA. It is now off the market.I now use Acronis True Image 10, and as other forum members will tell you, a big proponent of cloning. There is a comfort knowing that you have a full image drive available to pop and get you back up and running with just taking the cover off the machine and swapping drives. Then later when its quiet and you have time you recover the original ( or reclone it, as I never run off the master). There;s also a comfort knowing that if the installation of the latest and greatest do all, save all utility scrambles your files, you have a fall back position. For the same reason, I never keep any data on the system drive. (Because I have 3 machines I use at the house, I have moved to network storage attached to my router - but that is an expensive option).

[KarenSeb]

Okay Wiz :) I'll do what I can over the weekend to recover Vista. Question? Please explain to me, when you have time, how imaging works. I know how to burn files, but what is burning an image? Have a wonderful weekend, and I will be in touch to let you know how the recovery went.

[rgreen4]

The best way I can explain it is what happens when you copy a data CD or DVD. I have both Roxio and Nero, but recently have used mostly Nero. When copying a disc, Nero creates an image, and you have the option of saving that image. I have used this many times when burning multiple copies of of a disc. It only takes about 5 minutes to burn a DVD from an image file, but much longer if you have to general the copy each time.OEM Manufacturers have a program to generate an image that is used to burn the recovery disc, but I don't know much about it other than it takes less time to reinstall the OS from the recovery disc than it takes to install from scratch.The problem comes about in that the image file cannot be accessed in the normal way, sort like the old cabinet (.cab) files used to be.

[KarenSeb]

Ahhh ok now I see.The re-install of Vista went flawlessly. Now what? :)

[rgreen4]

Ok, you have reinstalled Vista onto the 80 GB from the recovery DVD's, you also have an OEM Vista installation on the 160 GB. Is this correct?Where are the XP Drivers located?Where is your data that you want to retain located?

[KarenSeb]

Yes to the reinstallation. Yes to the OEM on the 160G,The XP drivers are located on the XP Professional CD/DVD. Let me correct this!! I'm supposed to list my devices, then d/l the drivers and put them in a folder on my desktop right? I haven't done that yet :(The data that I retained is on DVD.Refresh: I want to install XP on the 160G. Keep Vista on the 80G. And Restore my burnt files that were on the 80G and move them to the 160G with XP installed on it.Is there a way I can install XP on the 160G along with Vista then remove Vista? I'm so confused, this is very confusing..... lol... :)

[rgreen4]

When you download the drivers, save them on your Vista Desktop or burn them onto a CD (DVD if you don't have a CD). Once you have that done, then go ahead and install the 160GB. You may want to go ahead and intialize the drive and see if there are any differences between this installation and the 80GB installation.If you are comfortable with the stability and completeness of the Vista install on the 80, you can go ahead and sttempt to install XP on the 160.