Can I through away a number of msp files?

[DJW]

Can I through away a number of msp files dated 2000 in a fat32 partition named System_save 1.28 GB as disk F? I have an emachines W4885 computer a friend gave me and it should have XP home on it but it now has XP Media centeredition version 2002 sp3. The partition is a FAT32 and I think was from the old system. I have no disks for a reinstall those he could not find and Iknow if I have a problem I need to reinstall the OS will be out of luck for I see no recover files on the computer so figure they either came with CDs or you were to make them back when it was new. I would just like to uses the 1.28 GB for storage of some of my files. Also could I rename it? And isthis a Home edition or pro of XP I read about it as sort of an OS with addons but are they added on to a Home or pro edition if you get my drift?

 

[Paul]

Can I throw away a number of msp files dated 2000 in a
fat32 partition named System_save 1.28 GB as disk F?

I have an emachines W4885 computer a friend gave me and it
should have XP home on it but it now has XP Media center edition
version 2002 sp3. The partition is a FAT32 and I think was
from the old system. I have no disks for a reinstall those
he could not find. I know if I have a problem I need to
reinstall the OS I will be out of luck. For I see no recover
files on the computer so figure they either came with CDs or
you were to make them back when it was new.

I would just like to uses the 1.28 GB for storage of some
of my files.

Also could I rename it?

And is this a Home edition or pro of XP I read about
it as sort of an OS with add ons but are they added
on to a Home or pro edition if you get my drift?

Using the new backup drive you bought, you back up
the existing hard drive.

Then, you throw away the 1.28GB of files. Did anything
break ? Did the Microsoft Office installation stop working ?

If it did, you restore the machine from the backup you made.

A program like Macrium Reflect Free, can backup the C:
partition on the hard drive. And then, you can experiment
as you see fit. If you don't have recovery CDs, don't
have a means to reinstall the OS, then, you should have
a large backup disk, and make a backup.

(Download link, on the lower left)
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

(A randomly selected backup disk...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145873

Then, you can experiment all you want, with deleting stuff.
Because you have a backup.

*******

Microsoft has a recipe for figuring it out here, but
I like my recipe better.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/274533

Paul

 

[Don Phillipson]

Can I throw away a number of msp files dated 2000 in a fat32
partition named System_save 1.28 GB as disk F?

Simplest test:
1. Copy the whole partition (folder) somewhere else.
Rename the partition as xSystem_save and reboot.
2. If your PC runs as normal for the next week, you
can delete both the backup copy and the folder xSystem_save.
If you have any OS trouble, rename the partition (and delete
its copy) and reboot.

 

[JJ]

Using the new backup drive you bought, you back up
the existing hard drive.

Then, you throw away the 1.28GB of files. Did anything
break ? Did the Microsoft Office installation stop working ?

If it did, you restore the machine from the backup you made.

A program like Macrium Reflect Free, can backup the C:
partition on the hard drive. And then, you can experiment
as you see fit. If you don't have recovery CDs, don't
have a means to reinstall the OS, then, you should have
a large backup disk, and make a backup.

(Download link, on the lower left)
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

(A randomly selected backup disk...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145873

Then, you can experiment all you want, with deleting stuff.
Because you have a backup.

*******

Microsoft has a recipe for figuring it out here, but
I like my recipe better.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/274533

Paul

Microsoft Office or other softwares that have Install-On-Demand
features/components option during installation, would likely need the
MSI/MSP files since the software may need to access those files at specific
point of usage.

For these softwares, if the MSI/MSP files are missing, a Windows Installer
may pop up to ask the user for one of the files. This would pause the
installed program execution until the correct file is given. In some cases,
it can be canceled to proceed using the installed program, but it'll pop up
again.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>, Paul <[email protected]>
writes:
[]

Then, you can experiment all you want, with deleting stuff.
Because you have a backup.

[]
NO NO NO!

The solutions you've suggested (and which I've snipped) may in fact
cover this, but the above statement is dangerous, since it can be taken
out of context.

You can only experiment all you want if you have a backup AND A WAY TO
RESTORE FROM IT, TO A SYSTEM THAT WON'T BOOT - AND YOU KNOW HOW TO USE
IT. Just having the backup is no good if you don't know how to restore
from it if your system won't boot.

 

[DJW]

Can I through away a number of msp files dated 2000 in a fat32 partition named System_save 1.28 GB as disk F? I have an emachines W4885 computer a friend gave me and it should have XP home on it but it now has XP Media center edition version 2002 sp3. The partition is a FAT32 and I think was from the old system. I have no disks for a reinstall those he could not find andI know if I have a problem I need to reinstall the OS will be out of luck for I see no recover files on the computer so figure they either came with CDs or you were to make them back when it was new. I would just like to uses the 1.28 GB for storage of some of my files. Also could I rename it? And is this a Home edition or pro of XP I read about it as sort of an OS with add ons but are they added on to a Home or pro edition if you get my drift?

You replies have brought up another question not really related to my first question .Can I make a disk image and or clone of C drive and use it as another bootable drive if I were to change the boot order in the BOIS or unplug C the master and plug the cloned slave in as master (they are both jumped as cable select). Or could I install a slave and clone it to C remove itput it on a shelf in my closet and be secure in the knowledge that it is there in case the present OS on C goes to hell?
In other words is this a way I could make a copy of the bootable OS (XP) that I could use if the current running OS gets screwed up?
When one wipes a hard drive does the formatting application such as FDISK have to put files on the hard drive to let it be a bootable hard drive even before an OS is installed? And cloning or making a disk image does not include those files needed to make the drive bootable?

 

[Paul]

You replies have brought up another question not really related to my first question .Can I make a disk image and or clone of C drive and use it as another bootable drive if I were to change the boot order in the BOIS or unplug C the master and plug the cloned slave in as master (they are both jumped as cable select). Or could I install a slave and clone it to C remove it put it on a shelf in my closet and be secure in the knowledge that it is there in case the present OS on C goes to hell?
In other words is this a way I could make a copy of the bootable OS (XP) that I could use if the current running OS gets screwed up?
When one wipes a hard drive does the formatting application such as FDISK have to put files on the hard drive to let it be a bootable hard drive even before an OS is installed? And cloning or making a disk image does not include those files needed to make the drive bootable?

You can use something like a Partition Manager to copy
the OS from one disk to another. My Partition Manager is
careful to make the new OS disk sit on the same partition
entry in the MBR, as the old one. That way, there is no need
to edit boot.ini, to make sure the path is correct.

When the clone is first booted, you should have the
original disk unplugged for that event. Once the clone
disk has booted just the one time by itself, then no
further special treatment is needed. You can mix and
match disks as you see fit. It is just the first time
a clone boots, it should boot by itself. Otherwise,
it will "become confused". You can do this procedure,
right after you clone it, so it will be ready at any
future time, without you forgetting to do it.

WinXP activation, is affected by hardware configuration.
There is a small chance, that a cloned disk could be
considered to be enough of a new hardware configuration
to trigger re-activation. The details, such as they are,
can be found here. (I would prefer Microsoft to write articles
like this, so we can be sure of the details. But this at
least gives some hints as to what is considered.)

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

WinXP can be run from a flash drive, but the hack to do
that (change USB to boot bus extender status), is fairly
complicated. Without a hack, WinXP resets the USB bus
in the middle of the boot, which causes a failure.

Paul