Suppose I copy the Program Files and Windows folder (especially the Windows\system32\config folder), format the HDD, and reinstall Windows.
Now, as soon as Windows finishes copying the files, instead of booting into Windows to continue the installation, you would boot into an other OS, and copy back the files you previously copied. Then, you would boot into Windows and it should be pretty much the same before formatting.

Would that work?
It should work, I can't see why it wouldn't work

Btw, this would be done one the same computer, not two different computers.

Yeah, why not. It just the same unless your drive letter has changed.

What about registry settings.

Even if it worked, what would be the point of it? When you copy your old folders back to the new installation, you would copy all the maybe faulty registry settings and files back aswell.

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Originally posted by Nathan
What about registry settings.

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you could end up with some dodgy problems in the end...
eg. drive letter problems because of the \DosDevices\* entries in HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices\ (that is, if you repartition your hdd) and missing user settings (Local Settings, Application Data, HKCU registry, etc.) unless you copy the Documents and Settings folder too, but that would make the format even more pointless.

If you really wanted to do anything like that, you've chosen the wrong OS
Windows is just way too cluttered and messy by design to let stuff like that work without any problems.

What would this achieve anyway? Seems pretty pointless.

What you just described is called "restoring a full backup".  Instead of copying files yourself and screwing around with another OS, you could just use backup software designed for this purpose -- ntbackup.exe that comes with XP, Backup Exec, etc.

Anyway, if you are trying to solve an actual problem, it might work better if you can tell us what the problem is...

It wouldn't work at all....

Thanks for the information guys

Not trying to fix anything, I was just wondering if it was possible

However, it may come in handy, since I have to format my laptop every few months due to that faulty HDD...

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Originally posted by Mike
However, it may come in handy, since I have to format my laptop every few months due to that faulty HDD...

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Originally posted by NiteMare

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Originally posted by Mike
However, it may come in handy, since I have to format my laptop every few months due to that faulty HDD...

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theres an easier fix for that: replace the hard drive

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Originally posted by Mike

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Originally posted by NiteMare

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Originally posted by Mike
However, it may come in handy, since I have to format my laptop every few months due to that faulty HDD...

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theres an easier fix for that: replace the hard drive

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Buy me a hard drive and I'll happily do that

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IIRC if you are using windows Vista, you can do a thing called Special Copy (not too sure on the name i have to go back into my pc magazines and search for it), basically it moves everything to the designated folder, correcting all settings and registry files connected to that folder, then after your done you can run it again and put it back in its rightful place. i'll put up more info when i can be bothered going and digging out my mag.

It could work, if you were lucky. But I don't see the point in it since all you'd be doing is replacing the Windows files, which can be done with a repair install anyway.

If you're trying to get a base system every time you re-format, the best way is to make an image of your base install using something like True Image, and then burn that to a DVD. Every time you need to reinstall, just restore that image.

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Originally posted by andrey
Even if it worked, what would be the point of it? When you copy your old folders back to the new installation, you would copy all the maybe faulty registry settings and files back aswell.

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Originally posted by Nathan
What about registry settings.

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Registry settings would be stored in the Windows\System32\Config folder.

But tbh I doubt this would work anyway.

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Originally posted by Mike
Suppose I copy the Program Files and Windows folder (especially the Windows\system32\config folder), format the HDD, and reinstall Windows.
Now, as soon as Windows finishes copying the files, instead of booting into Windows to continue the installation, you would boot into an other OS, and copy back the files you previously copied. Then, you would boot into Windows and it should be pretty much the same before formatting.

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Originally posted by ShawnZ

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Originally posted by Mike
Suppose I copy the Program Files and Windows folder (especially the Windows\system32\config folder), format the HDD, and reinstall Windows.
Now, as soon as Windows finishes copying the files, instead of booting into Windows to continue the installation, you would boot into an other OS, and copy back the files you previously copied. Then, you would boot into Windows and it should be pretty much the same before formatting.

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you wouldn't even need to reinstall windows, because you'd just be replacing every file it installs with the old versions. you could just format and copy everything back, and you'd have the same effect. though, if you're doing it because of a failing hard drive, why not just run chkdsk?

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I wasn't talking about replacing files that already exist, but just merging the directories.

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Originally posted by Mike
I wasn't talking about replacing files that already exist, but just merging the directories.

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Originally posted by Mike
I wasn't talking about replacing files that already exist, but just merging the directories.

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JBut just make a ghost image. That's the most easiest and fastest way to put Windows back as it was. Much faster than formatting, reinstalling, merging, etc... and fix your drive, or buy another one