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I agree that caution is necessary, along with backing up files. I
have repaired Windows on my computer several times with no problems
and without a hitch. I wanted to make sure that XP Home also needs
the Repair option to be chosen the second time, not the first.
The first link that you provided, 'How to Perform a Windows XP
Repair Install,' would scare the bejesus out of anyone thinking
about performing a Repair of Windows if they've never done one
before. The worst that could happen, and this is a longshot, is
that a format would have to be done, with the time consuming
installation of all the programs that were previously
installed/wanted. It won't kill a computer. In the case of a
complete format, the first thing that should be done would be to
install an anti-virus program, files from the motherboard disk,
then Microsoft updates. If additional drivers were installed prior
to the format, they also need to be re-installed.
It is POSSIBLE for a Repair installation to completely kill your computer.
In fact - it is possible to be sitting there and permanently and
unrecoverably lose all your data. I'm not trying to scare *anyone* - just
giving you facts and experience. Everything you do on a computer should be
done carefully - as there is *no reason* anyone should lose data (or much of
it) on a computer - ever. There are few other things in life that can be as
easily backed up (or as completely) as computer data.
As for a clean install - the first thing I would *not* do is install an
antivirus program. The first thing I would do is make sure the system
firewall is on before reconnecting the machine back to the Internet
connection and then ensure the machine is 100% up-to-date with security
patches and the likes. No surfing the internet, checking your email, etc -
of course. Just finish the install. Actually - I would probably either
have integrated all the patches into the CD so they were these already or
have them on a CD ready to be installed.
When the Windows disk is placed in the DVD drive, the computer will
automatically ask if the computer should boot from the disk so
that, either way, a Repair or a format is that easy. If a Repair
is all that is needed/wanted, chosing Repair the second time will
not change/remove existing programs. If Repair is not an option,
anyone with a brain would stop right there unless the feel they
that they want to do a format.
And all that is said in both links I gave. Doing a repair option should
*not* be presented as you have (in my opinion) in such a cavalier fashion.
It is something people should take seriously - it can (and has) lost data in
the past because of an incorrect decision that was preceded by poor backup
actions. They should read and understand what they are doing.
I don't like it when people scare novices. It makes them take their
computers to PC repair shops that charge a minimum of $100.00/hr for
something they can easily do themselves. A Repair is no harder than
downloading and installing a new program. The key is to chose
Repair the second time, not the first, and all will be well.
Microsoft even sends notifications that updates are available, so
that all updates will be downloaded and installed with the click of
the mouse. Nothing could be easier.
Repair installs are easy - yep. But you have to consider that there are
people that cannot find saved files on a computer when you install their
Office application afresh or have to wipe out their profile settings (not
files) and the list of recently opened files (in any location) is gone.
You, my friend, are not a novice and just because you once were and now can
do this with ease does not mean everyone else will ever share your comfort
level with doing this. Better they be warned and take the extra precautions
with a little more care than you might because it is second nature than to
just jump into an instruction set and mess things up unnecessarily.
While I agree it is sad that there seems to be more and more people out ther
who lack some common (now everyday) skills and an ability to learn - no one
is trying to take advantage of them with instruction sets freely distributed
on the web. Nothing in the instruction sets I linked to (I did not write
either one, BTW) was *meant* to frighten - but to inform and inform in a
noticable fashion.
If someone does get nervous and decides to take their computer to someone
who will not get nervous - so be it. I try to do everything myself at least
once - from home repair, car repair, computer repair, you name it - not
everyone is so inclined. For example - I decided long ago - anything beyond
minor plumbing was not my thing. For me, too little return for too much
effort. Someone else might decide the same thing about computers.
I mean - look at your own posting. Your daughter does not have the
knowledge to repair it (your words) and I bet she is a bit nervous about
trying to fix it... So were you in verifying the instructions. And
legitimately so. No scare tactics needed - you were genuinely worried that
you might inform someone wrong so you checked your facts. That's great - I
applaud your initiative and hope your daughter has the same tendencies - as
they are lacking in so many people (or it seems that way to me) in the world
today.
Now you can make the semantic argument and say you weren't nervous/worried -
just making sure you had your facts straight (I suppose) - but something
kicked you into asking instead of searching for the answer which would have
likely come up with the same two links I gave at the top of the list. ;-)
http://www.google.com/search?q="Windows+XP"+repair+install
I wish you luck and hope that you - like me - don't have to take as many
things to others to have them repaired and continue to enjoy learning how to
do them on your own (and that you passed this onto your daughter.)
If you ever stop learning - you're already dead.
