clean install of XP Pro w/out formatting hard drive

[tiamzy]

Before replacing my motherboard
1. I have Service Pack 2 installed

After replacing my motherboard...
1. I repaired my OS (Windows XP Pro) using the original XP disk (no
SP2)
2. But I can't connect to the Internet, and Office 2003 failed to run
so I borrowed my friends Win XP "WITH" Service Pack 2 (because I lost
SP2 disk)
3. I upgraded to SP2 but then I realized that it was not the final
version, it's a beta version! So things aren't running well.
4. I found my SP2 disk and tried to install it. But Windows says that I
have to uninstall the previous version of SP2 in my system.
5. The problem is that it is not listed in the Add/Remove program so I
head to the Windows Help online and found out that I have to install
the original XP CD.
6. When I reinstall the original CD, problems arise. Windows can't
complete the Setup.
7. I tried to delete the folders System32 and System under the Windows
directory. I knew there was a problem in 'updating' the system files.
8. I install the original XP CD but this time, I specified where to
install Windows. I chose "C:\WIN"
9. Installation was a success but when I logged on (after creating new
user accounts), my old files were not recognized as "My Documents" but
it is still on the "Documents and Settings" folder.
Also, the programs installed are not recognized yet it is still on the
Program Files folder.

How can Windows recognize those documents and programs? Do I have to
reinstall ALL OF THEM?

Pls. help...

 

[GTS]

To access your documents see HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421

You will have to reinstall your programs.

 

[tiamzy]

I have two OS installed. The one with C:\WINDOWS and the one using
C:\WIN.
How can I delete the other OS? Can it recognize my programs and
documents after deleting the other OS or renaming C:\WIN (default OS
directory) to C:\WINDOWS?

 

[GTS]

Firstly, DO NOT rename your C:\WIN directory. That will cause serious
problems with that installation of Windows and, to boot it at all, would
require modification of boot.ini.

Your summary is confusing and contains a few seeming contradictions. I
think you should get some professional help or at least find a knowledgeable
friend to help you at this point. If you fool around with ideas like the
above you're probably going to trash the system completely and ultimately
lose your data. At.this point it is would be best to back up documents and
other data (like favorites, email files, etc.) to an external source,
reformat the drive, install Windows, restore the data and reinstall
programs. It is VERY rare advice for me to suggest a reformat but with two
problematic installations of Windows apparently on the same partition, the
purported beta service pack, etc. it might really be best in your case.

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

Firstly, DO NOT rename your C:\WIN directory. That will cause serious
problems with that installation of Windows and, to boot it at all, would
require modification of boot.ini.

Your summary is confusing and contains a few seeming contradictions. I
think you should get some professional help or at least find a knowledgeable
friend to help you at this point. If you fool around with ideas like the
above you're probably going to trash the system completely and ultimately
lose your data. At.this point it is would be best to back up documents and
other data (like favorites, email files, etc.) to an external source,
reformat the drive, install Windows, restore the data and reinstall
programs. It is VERY rare advice for me to suggest a reformat but with two
problematic installations of Windows apparently on the same partition, the
purported beta service pack, etc. it might really be best in your case.

1) It is not possible to do a "clean" installation without formatting
at least 1 partition, on which XP will be installed.

2) My advice to you is to stop messing around with your computer when
you know absolutely nothing about it. Take it to a professional, or
to someone who is truly knowledgeable about computers in general, and
XP specifically, to have it cleaned up. To do this, at least one
partition on the HD need to be deleted, then recreated and formatted.
Make sure that the one who prepares your HD does a FULL format of the
partitions he creates, and not "Quick" formats.

3) Before you delete all partitions, back up the data you will need.
It goes without saying that ALL your programs and data will have to be
reinstalled, since a clean install of XP will destroy all programs and
data. Also, make sure you have backups of the installers of each
program, and make sure you have access to needed installation keys for
each program which uses them. And make sure you have access to the XP
drivers for each device on your computer, including the motherboard,
video card, sound card, etc. If you do not have original installation
CDs for each device, go to the device manufacturer's web site and
download its latest XP driver, and burn them all to a CD.

Donald L McDaniel
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