Windows Woes - Windwoes

[BlackCat]

I've got an old Dell Dimension with Windows ME that's become so bogged down with crap that it's just crying out for a re-install. The problem is that I have a few essential programs installed that I no longer have the disks for and therefore can't install again. Is there any way I can re-install Windows without losing these installations?

Oh, and on a completely unrelated note, can someone upload that fabulous chord.wav from Windows 95? The original one, not the stupid watered-down one that comes with Windows ME.

[Dr Lobster*]

if you reinstall windows me again over the top of the old installation, this will *usually* work and keep your exisiting programs and settings intact.

or, the hardware would be to findout exactly what files and registry entries your applications require, and copy/create those manually on the new installation. very time consuming, but it can be done.

what software specifically dont you want to loose? can you not get it from p2p, or download a demo and make it a full version with a keygen etc?

[BlackCat]

Wouldn't a reinstall replace the old registry files?

And besides, I *want* to ditch the registry, as I highly suspect that that's what's clogging up the system.

I already attempted to pluck out the registry keys I need, but that's way too complex for this particular program.

The software is Microsoft Office XP, which I installed off a disk that I borrowed from someone who I lost contact with, hence why I can't reinstall it.

[Cheese Head]

Office XP?

cough cough http://www.astalavista.us cough cough

With regards to the win 95 tune, find it here:

http://www.winhistory.de/more/winstart/winstart.htm

It's easy to find considering its in german.

[BlackCat]

Do those naughty download sites actually work (or at least without downloading spyware and other nasties), and is there any chance of "getting done" for using them?

EDIT: That's not even a download site, is it?