XP Prof over XP Home?

[WannabeSwede]

My inlaws compaq presario has the dreaded "File Damaged
\system32\config" problem. They cannot find their XP Home CD. If I
boot my XP Prof CD will I be able to do the recovery console to do the
rename config to config.bak fix?

If not can I just have them buy XP Prof and install that over their XP
Home leaving all their data intact?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Follow Compaq's procedure to perform a "standard, non-destructive recovery".

Compaq Presario Desktop PCs - How to Perform a System Recovery
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/famiDocument?product=89327&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c00007689

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| My inlaws compaq presario has the dreaded "File Damaged
| \system32\config" problem. They cannot find their XP Home CD. If I
| boot my XP Prof CD will I be able to do the recovery console to do the
| rename config to config.bak fix?
|
| If not can I just have them buy XP Prof and install that over their XP
| Home leaving all their data intact?
|
| Thanks,
| Kevin

 

[WannabeSwede]

Tack (Swedish for Thanks),
Kevin

 

[CS]

My inlaws compaq presario has the dreaded "File Damaged
\system32\config" problem. They cannot find their XP Home CD. If I
boot my XP Prof CD will I be able to do the recovery console to do the
rename config to config.bak fix?

If not can I just have them buy XP Prof and install that over their XP
Home leaving all their data intact?

Thanks,
Kevin

The reason they can't find their XP Home CD is because they probably
never received one. Compaq provides a way to create recovery CDs
(that will reinstall the OS and programs) and one CD for using the
recovery console. The recovery image is included on a hidden
partition of the hard drive. A small program that can be run from the
"system" menu will create the CDs. (6 for reinstallation, 1 for
recovery console)

Usually the entire recovery process can be run from the hard drive by
pressing F10 during the POST and responding yes to "run recovery".
Caution here! Running the automatic Compaq recovery will wipe the
hard drive clean and reinstall everything just as it was when the
computer was new. All data will be LOST.

To answer your question: You can not use your XP Pro CD to repair the
damaged system registry. It is possible to purchase a retail copy of
XP Home or Pro and install it over the damaged XP Home OEM Compaq
version. But there are considerations: Compaq machines are
proprietary and usually require special drivers, such as for video and
sound as both of them are integrated on the motherboard.

I would contact Compaq tech support first before attempting to update
the machine with a retail copy of XP.

 

[Alex Nichol]

My inlaws compaq presario has the dreaded "File Damaged
\system32\config" problem. They cannot find their XP Home CD. If I
boot my XP Prof CD will I be able to do the recovery console to do the
rename config to config.bak fix?

Probably will work

If not can I just have them buy XP Prof and install that over their XP
Home leaving all their data intact?

Or just a Home CD and use it for a repair

 

[WannabeSwede]

Sorry I should have said they have a laptop model 700, does the link
still apply?

Thanks,
kevin

 

[WannabeSwede]

As you stated I was going to have them buy XP Pro. As to contacting
Compaq Tech support they no longer support the Presario Laptop and want
$$$ just to talk to you on the phone.

Thanks for the info

 

[steven]

The reason they can't find their XP Home CD is because they probably
never received one. Compaq provides a way to create recovery CDs
(that will reinstall the OS and programs) and one CD for using the
recovery console. The recovery image is included on a hidden
partition of the hard drive. A small program that can be run from the
"system" menu will create the CDs. (6 for reinstallation, 1 for
recovery console)

Usually the entire recovery process can be run from the hard drive by
pressing F10 during the POST and responding yes to "run recovery".
Caution here! Running the automatic Compaq recovery will wipe the
hard drive clean and reinstall everything just as it was when the
computer was new. All data will be LOST.

To answer your question: You can not use your XP Pro CD to repair the
damaged system registry. It is possible to purchase a retail copy of
XP Home or Pro and install it over the damaged XP Home OEM Compaq
version. But there are considerations: Compaq machines are
proprietary and usually require special drivers, such as for video and
sound as both of them are integrated on the motherboard.

I would contact Compaq tech support first before attempting to update
the machine with a retail copy of XP.

I had major problems recently upgrading a brand new HP desktop that
originally had XP Home installed to XP Pro.

After many hours on the phone, HP said the problem was with the MS XP
upgrade program. While MS said the problem was the HP computer that
had MS XP home installed. BTW, HP bought Compaq.

To make a long story short, I had to update the drivers (which were
only a few weeks old) for the modem, video card, and sound card.
Afterwards, the XP Pro upgrade finally worked.

Steve

 

[Plato]

As you stated I was going to have them buy XP Pro. As to contacting
Compaq Tech support they no longer support the Presario Laptop and want
$$$ just to talk to you on the phone.

Weird eh that they have to pay the folks who answer the phone.