Application recovery after XP reinstall

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Guest

I recently changed my motherboard and CPU. I was told that I had to
reinstall XP. I did this using the replace existing XP. Everything seems to
have worrked fine. All of my previous data and applications were saved. Is
it possibe for me to recover the previous installation user settings and data
(all folders exist under documents and settings). Is it possible to
re-register all of the applications without reinstalling them?

Windows XP Professional - current with all updates
Intel Motherboard
Intel Pentium D CPU
 
RichSr said:
I recently changed my motherboard and CPU. I was told that I had to
reinstall XP. I did this using the replace existing XP. Everything seems
to
have worrked fine. All of my previous data and applications were saved.
Is
it possibe for me to recover the previous installation user settings and
data
(all folders exist under documents and settings). Is it possible to
re-register all of the applications without reinstalling them?
Click to expand...

You will need to reinstall your apps...
what you should have done was to have performed a "repair" installtion
 
Hi,

If you did a new install to a new folder, then you will need to reinstall
your applications. A repair installation would have preserved the user
accounts, settings, and installed programs. If they are not present in your
current installation, then you did not do a repair installation but rather a
regular installation. You'll likely find your old user profiles under
C:\Documents and Settings, you may need to "take ownership" (see Help &
Support) to access the old profiles and recover the data.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Thanks for the answers. I did try a "repair" install but I experienced some
problems that indicated a complete re-install was necessary.
 
I did a "repair" and then a complete new install to the same folder. As a
result I do have all of my old user data. However when I accessed the
properties for those folders in explorer there was no "security" tab only;
general, sharing and customize. Based on my understanding I have a few more
specific questions.

1. If I re-install an application can I just move the files and folders
pertaing to that application contained in (Documents and Settings\user.old)
to (Documents and Settings\user.new)?? If the answer is yes and no (some
you can some you cannot) how do I tell which is which.

2. I have an application such as Nero already installed in (Program Files)
pre-XP reinstall. I would guess that I cannot use it because the registry
settings do not exist. Is this guess true?? Can I reinstall a partial
backup registry file? Is there a tool to create the registry settings??
 
answered inline


RichSr said:
I did a "repair" and then a complete new install to the same folder. As a
result I do have all of my old user data. However when I accessed the
properties for those folders in explorer there was no "security" tab only;
general, sharing and customize. Based on my understanding I have a few
more
specific questions.
Click to expand...

if you have XP "home" ..the security tab is accessable in safe mode
1. If I re-install an application can I just move the files and folders
pertaing to that application contained in (Documents and
Settings\user.old)
to (Documents and Settings\user.new)?? If the answer is yes and no (some
you can some you cannot) how do I tell which is which.
Click to expand...

it should install by default to your current profile (new) ...about the only
thing you would be able to salvage is your email , address book and a few
other things at this point (if I skimmed correctly :>)

2. I have an application such as Nero already installed in (Program Files)
pre-XP reinstall. I would guess that I cannot use it because the registry
settings do not exist. Is this guess true?? Can I reinstall a partial
backup registry file? Is there a tool to create the registry settings??
Click to expand...

you would be much better off just re-installing the app. it would install to
the same program files folder (if there is only one :>)

mucking about with bits and pieces of your registry would more than likely
give you a headache (I know it gives me one when i have to :>)

hth
 
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