All of this can be summed up in one word: BACKUP!
No, I'm not trying to be smug here, but the price of an external hard disk has become so low, that it really a shame not to buy one - AND use it!
As for backup software, well XP has it built in (almost - you have to find it on your install disk and install it from there). You can also find backup software at reasonable prices on the Net. I use Paragon, and am quite happy with it!
So whenever you are about to install *anything*, take a backup first - it may save you hours of grief and hard work, since doing a System Restore may not always do the trick.
BRGDS
Sven
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