Do I need to reformat?

[linda828]

Some of my Windows processes have become degraded. My Java Virtual Machine half works. There's some goofy prompt that wants me to keep reinstalling my CD drive. Whatever file kept track of the programs I have installed, to help me uninstall them, is gone. Some of my programs no longer run.

Some of these problems seem to have arisen when I attempted to re-install Windows last week (the option where you leave existing programs alone.) I'm getting ready to try the next level, where I will be wiping out the old programs as well. Should I bother with this? Should I go straight to a reformat? Or are there some specific fixes to these problems that would eliminate either of those choices?

 

[robinluo]

I had the same bad experience with reinstalling Win os over the top of a previous installation. Last time when I did so (re-install w2k), even MS Outlook stopped working, let alone other none-microsoft s/w.

If I were you, I would b/up everything and start from scratch.