Reinstall XP?

[gaffer]

I have an old XP installation that is so messed up that I would like to
start over and do a clean installation. Can I copy the register and all of
the NON windows file to another drive and then reformat C:
Then install windows and copy the NON windows files back onto C:, then
restore the old registration file to the new installation of XP?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have an old XP installation that is so messed up that I would like to
start over and do a clean installation. Can I copy the register and all of
the NON windows file to another drive and then reformat C:
Then install windows and copy the NON windows files back onto C:, then
restore the old registration file to the new installation of XP?

You might be able to do that, but it would likely be a very poor choice.

Part of what makes your current XP install "messed up" is the registry, so
if you reinstall and put the old registry back in, you are importing
problems.

It will take you less time and be more reliable to do the clean install,
immediately apply SP2 if necessary, then all other updates, install your
apps, and copy your data back.

HTH
-pk

 

[Dave B.]

That would make no sense at all as you could very likely be importing the
problems back into your fresh install. Reinstall everything from scratch.

 

[NewScience]

Are you talking about the Windows Registry or the Windows registration file
support (wpa.dbl)?

 

[gaffer]

thank you for the reply. I figured that what you said would be the case. I
was hoping to find a way of avoiding the time consuming task of re
installing all of the program applications.

 

[Elmo]

I have an old XP installation that is so messed up that I would like to
start over and do a clean installation. Can I copy the register and all of
the NON windows file to another drive and then reformat C:
Then install windows and copy the NON windows files back onto C:, then
restore the old registration file to the new installation of XP?

Try these first:

Click Start, Run, type SFC /SCANNOW, click OK. If any are damaged or
missing files, they'll be replaced. You may need to reboot afterwards
so damaged files will be replaced.

To do a repair install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm