Member Avatar for JohnnyT

I can't boot Windows 2000 due to a kmode exception error (see earlier thread) so I wondered about the possibility of doing a fresh install but in a seperate directory.

The computer has a C drive (FAT32) and a D drive (NTFS) and I wondered if it would be possible to do a clean install of Win 2000 on the D drive and then at least I could get into windows. Would this compromise any of the software applications on the computer at all? Or would everything still function ok?

Is it better to install it on D drive or in a temporary folder on C drive?

My main priority is not losing any of the information off the computer.

Thanks for any help you can give me on this.

Cheers

JT

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Quick practical summary for : with one physical disk split into C (FAT32) and D (NTFS) you can install a fresh copy of Windows 2000 to the D partition — but only after you secure your data. A mistaken format or picking the wrong partition during setup will erase files, and a clean Windows on D will not magically restore programs and drivers that were installed under the old Windows on C.

Safe, ordered approach:

  • Backup first. Copy everything in C:\Documents and Settings\<your‑user> (Desktop, My Documents, Favorites, mail stores) and any data from C:\Program Files you care about to an external drive, CD or another PC. If the system will not boot, use a bootable rescue disk/USB or attach the drive as a slave/external to another machine.
  • Try cheap repairs before reinstalling: F8 -> Safe Mode or Last Known Good, then the Windows 2000 Recovery Console to run chkdsk. KMODE_EXCEPTION can come from drivers or bad RAM, so test those if possible.
  • If you proceed with a fresh install on D: during setup pick the D partition deliberately and do not select format unless you intend to wipe D. Give the new installation its own folder (the installer will handle this) so the old C remains untouched.
  • Collect drivers beforehand (network, chipset, video) so the new installation can get online and recover files.

What to expect about applications: most desktop programs register settings and COM/driver entries in the registry and place critical files in the system folder. A new Windows instance will not have those registrations, so many applications will need reinstallation to work properly. Portable/single‑exe tools and plain data files will usually be fine to copy and use.

As suggested, the safest path when data is the priority is to use a separate drive for the fresh OS, then copy your files across. If anything here is unclear, stop before proceeding — one wrong click at the partition prompt can be permanent.

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

Best safety you can give your data?

Borrow a different drive. Bung it in there as master and install windows to it. then afterwards pop your other drive(s) in as slave and copy your data across or to CD. That safeguards your data files completely, and is the safest way to approach the job.

Installing Windows to a different drive won't retain your installed programs. the program files will still be in there but Windows won't recognize them. That only happens if you install 'over the top' of the current installation, i.e. to the same drive or partition.

Are they actually two drives you have, or two partitions on the one drive? which one is Windowws currently installed to?

Member Avatar for JohnnyT

Best safety you can give your data?

Borrow a different drive. Bung it in there as master and install windows to it. then afterwards pop your other drive(s) in as slave and copy your data across or to CD. That safeguards your data files completely, and is the safest way to approach the job.

Installing Windows to a different drive won't retain your installed programs. the program files will still be in there but Windows won't recognize them. That only happens if you install 'over the top' of the current installation, i.e. to the same drive or partition.

Are they actually two drives you have, or two partitions on the one drive? which one is Windowws currently installed to?

Catweazle

It is one hard drive that is partitioned in C and D.

C drive contains the windows installation.

There is room on D for a windows installation so that was my plan..?

As I said though, my main priority is not losing the functionality of the software thats on the drive, would installing on D drive stop the software working?

Thanks for your help, if you need any more info just ask mate.

Cheers

JT

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