Clean install

[Iain]

I am unable to boot to Windows and need to reinstall
Windows. When I've reinstalled Windows over the top of an
existing installation from within Windows, critical info
(ie Outlook Express) in my C:\Documents and Settings\Iain
McPhee\Application Data\Identities folder wasn't
affected, as I was able to open Outlook Express
afterwards and find all my Identities, emails, settings
etc exactly as they had been before the reinstallation.

I have tried booting fom the CD and the repair option
hasn't solved the problem. If I select the other option,
of a clean install, would that be the same as
reinstalling Windows over the top of an existing
installation from within Windows? In other words, would
my Outlook Express info be retained?

Thank you

Iain

 

[Randy Byrne [MVP]]

After you pick clean install, setup will look for an existing Windows install. When
it find one, it will offer to repair it. This is a different type of repair. It's
work more like an upgrade that refreshes the Windows setting back to gold code, but
leave the installed apps settings alone.

--

Randy Byrne
Microsoft MVP (Windows Technologies)
http://support.microsoft.com/support/mvp
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Do not email me, please use the newsgroup so that everyone benefits.

 

[Iain]

Thanks for your reply, but I had already tried he repair
option.