How do I repair install XP on an HP netbook?

[mm]

After some malware made Windows unstartabele, and after running
anti-virus programs and its deleting some files, I have a damaged
version of WinXPSP3 on my HP Mini 1000 netbook (1030NR, to be exact).

I have the Operating System CD that came with the computer, also for
XPSP3. And I also have a USB CD drive and can boot from the USB port.
(I also have the application and driver DVD that came with the
computer, fwiw.)

Is it possible with this CD to reinstall Windows *OVER* the
installation that is there, in order to retain user files and
settings?

Most software can be reinstalled like this, but I don't remember the
what works in this particular case.

If I can, how do I do it?

Thanks.

BTW, the ony message I get refers to svchost.exe, something about the
memory could not be "written". I can't read my handwriting but I'll
go find it again word-for-word if it will help.

 

[mm]

After some malware made Windows unstartabele, and after running
anti-virus programs and its deleting some files, I have a damaged
version of WinXPSP3 on my HP Mini 1000 netbook (1030NR, to be exact).

I have the Operating System CD that came with the computer, also for
XPSP3. And I also have a USB CD drive and can boot from the USB port.
(I also have the application and driver DVD that came with the
computer, fwiw.)

Is it possible with this CD to reinstall Windows *OVER* the
installation that is there, in order to retain user files and
settings?

Most software can be reinstalled like this, but I don't remember the
what works in this particular case.

If I can, how do I do it?

Thanks.

BTW, the ony message I get refers to svchost.exe, something about the
memory could not be "written". I can't read my handwriting but I'll
go find it again word-for-word if it will help.

BTW2, I had already looked at the "Step by Step Setting up MS windows
XP file on the CD that came with the computer, and couldnt' find how
to do what ask about above. This time I was more thorough, and I
found all of 10 words about how to "Repair a Windows XP Installation".
The words in quotes were five of them, and this contains the other:
"If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you will be
prompted to repair it. Press ESC (do not repair)."

I wonder if "Repair a Windows XP Installation" will be the Recovery
Console, which I don't want, or an actual overlay install.

 

[Raoul Watson]

After some malware made Windows unstartabele, and after running
anti-virus programs and its deleting some files, I have a damaged
version of WinXPSP3 on my HP Mini 1000 netbook (1030NR, to be exact).

I have the Operating System CD that came with the computer, also for
XPSP3. And I also have a USB CD drive and can boot from the USB port.
(I also have the application and driver DVD that came with the
computer, fwiw.)

Is it possible with this CD to reinstall Windows *OVER* the
installation that is there, in order to retain user files and
settings?

Most software can be reinstalled like this, but I don't remember the
what works in this particular case.

If I can, how do I do it?

Thanks.

BTW, the ony message I get refers to svchost.exe, something about the
memory could not be "written". I can't read my handwriting but I'll
go find it again word-for-word if it will help.

If you start your PC with the XP installation CD you should be able to
reinstall the OS. And yes, you have to select repair an XP installation
because if you reinstall, you will lose your profile.

Unfortunately, WIndows rely so much on the registry that you probably do
want to wipe out the whole thing if you have had some serious problem.

My suggestion is just spend some extra time reinstalling the
application, etc. but start clean. If you have data files on your hard
drive they should not be touched unless they are located inside your
user profiles (my documents, my pictures, my music). If that is the
case, you should copy those files first before reinstalling.

Depending on your technical comfort level, there are several ways to
copy the files. The easiest would be to simply connect your hard drive
as an additional hard drive on a functioning PC. Boot up, and copy the
files to a thumb drive. If you're not comfortable, you can bring your
hard drive to a computer store and just pay a little something to copy
the files.

 

[mm]

It depends on how much the set-up process was modified by the vendor.
In the default set-up process as it comes from Microsoft, after the
system has booted from the CD one of the first prompts asks if you'd
like to repair an existing installation. That is the repair console,
which you've indicated you don't want. Just skip that one and continue
on as if you were doing a fresh install. The set-up program will find
your installation and ask if you'd like to reinstall (repair) it.

That worked. Thanks. It's running now.

I think this is unnecessarily cryptic, especially since both the
Recovery Console and the Repair require you to use an R. I know both
words begin with R, but still.

And that there was really nothing in the instructions on the CD about
how to do this.

Same thing when I put in XP when I had 98. I ran the XP installation
from within 98, and it was clear, maybe it said so, that it was going
to overlay my 98 and I wouldn't have it anymore, but not a hint how to
install it side by side. It would have been so easy to mention
bootting with the same CD, but I saw not a word of that. I had to ask
here probably.

Thanks and thanks to Raoul.

 

[Bob Villa]

That worked.  Thanks.  It's running now.

I think this is unnecessarily cryptic, especially since both the
Recovery Console and the Repair require you to use an R.  I know both
words begin with R, but still.  

And that there was really nothing in the instructions on the CD about
how to do this.

Same thing when I put in XP when I had 98.  I ran the XP installation
from within 98, and it was clear, maybe it said so, that it was going
to overlay my 98 and I wouldn't have it anymore, but not a hint how to
install it side by side. It would have been so easy to mention
bootting with the same CD, but I saw not a word of that.  I had to ask
here probably.

Thanks and thanks to Raoul.

May be useful: http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp/

 

[Bob Villa]

That worked.  Thanks.  It's running now.

I think this is unnecessarily cryptic, especially since both the
Recovery Console and the Repair require you to use an R.  I know both
words begin with R, but still.  

And that there was really nothing in the instructions on the CD about
how to do this.

Same thing when I put in XP when I had 98.  I ran the XP installation
from within 98, and it was clear, maybe it said so, that it was going
to overlay my 98 and I wouldn't have it anymore, but not a hint how to
install it side by side. It would have been so easy to mention
bootting with the same CD, but I saw not a word of that.  I had to ask
here probably.

Thanks and thanks to Raoul.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

May be helpful: http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp/

 

[Bob Villa]

That worked.  Thanks.  It's running now.

I think this is unnecessarily cryptic, especially since both the
Recovery Console and the Repair require you to use an R.  I know both
words begin with R, but still.  

And that there was really nothing in the instructions on the CD about
how to do this.

Same thing when I put in XP when I had 98.  I ran the XP installation
from within 98, and it was clear, maybe it said so, that it was going
to overlay my 98 and I wouldn't have it anymore, but not a hint how to
install it side by side. It would have been so easy to mention
bootting with the same CD, but I saw not a word of that.  I had to ask
here probably.

Thanks and thanks to Raoul.

Helpful? http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp/

 

[mm]

Helpful? http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp/

It may indeed be useful and helpful, but I haven't read it yet I
think. Very busy. Plan to catch up when it's cold out.

 

[knuttle]

It may indeed be useful and helpful, but I haven't read it yet I
think. Very busy. Plan to catch up when it's cold out.

I did did the recovery on my laptop, when McAfee had their problem with
their update. While I got my computer back and every thing worked, I
lost about 10 gb of disk space. Is there a way to recover it.

lost in the sense that the repaired installation was about 10gb more
than the installation immediately before the lockup by McAfee.

 

[Rich Greenberg]

[...]

I did did the recovery on my laptop, when McAfee had their problem with
their update. While I got my computer back and every thing worked, I
lost about 10 gb of disk space. Is there a way to recover it.

lost in the sense that the repaired installation was about 10gb more
than the installation immediately before the lockup by McAfee.

Make a backup, then defrag the disk.

 

[Ben Myers]

I did did the recovery on my laptop, when McAfee had their problem with
their update. While I got my computer back and every thing worked, I
lost about 10 gb of disk space. Is there a way to recover it.

lost in the sense that the repaired installation was about 10gb more
than the installation immediately before the lockup by McAfee.

The 10GB of "lost" disk space could be due to any one of a number of
factors.

First, you have all kinds of restore points on the system, perhaps even
some from prior to the restore. If and only if you are 100% sure that
your system is free of viruses, worms and other critters, delete all the
restore points except the last one. The Windows XP
go-back-to-a-known-good-restore point is very poorly done, because it
gives you no idea why a restore point was taken. In a typical clean
install of Windows XP from scratch, after all the updates, Acrobat, Java
and AV software are installed, there are nearly 2GB of useless restore
points left behind.

Second, junk files and more junk files. Delete all the crap from your
%temp% folder. Delete all the crap from the %windows%\temp folder.
Install and run CCleaner and let it delete all the hotfix crap. There
are other places to find junk files, such as Dr Watson system dumps. I
could write a book about how badly most Windows software is written,
especially Microsoft products, because to programmers do not manage the
temporary files needed when their software runs.

Third, did the sizes of the Windows swap file (virtual memory) or
hibernation file change?

Finally, download and install defraggler, and defrag your hard drive.

.... Ben Myers

 

[Bob Villa]

The 10GB of "lost" disk space could be due to any one of a number of
factors.

First, you have all kinds of restore points on the system, perhaps even
some from prior to the restore.  If and only if you are 100% sure that
your system is free of viruses, worms and other critters, delete all the
restore points except the last one.  The Windows XP
go-back-to-a-known-good-restore point is very poorly done, because it
gives you no idea why a restore point was taken.  In a typical clean
install of Windows XP from scratch, after all the updates, Acrobat, Java
and AV software are installed, there are nearly 2GB of useless restore
points left behind.

Second, junk files and more junk files.  Delete all the crap from your
%temp% folder.  Delete all the crap from the %windows%\temp folder.
Install and run CCleaner and let it delete all the hotfix crap.  There
are other places to find junk files, such as Dr Watson system dumps.  I
could write a book about how badly most Windows software is written,
especially Microsoft products, because to programmers do not manage the
temporary files needed when their software runs.

Third, did the sizes of the Windows swap file (virtual memory) or
hibernation file change?

Finally, download and install defraggler, and defrag your hard drive.

... Ben Myers

Ben is there a possibity that instead of a repair...there is a 2nd OS
installed (accounting for the space lost)? Just curious, bob.

 

[Paul]

I did did the recovery on my laptop, when McAfee had their problem with
their update. While I got my computer back and every thing worked, I
lost about 10 gb of disk space. Is there a way to recover it.

lost in the sense that the repaired installation was about 10gb more
than the installation immediately before the lockup by McAfee.

Use Sequoiaview to examine the structure of the disk. That may help
you determine whether there are two copies of the OS present, or some
other large file taking up the space.

http://w3.win.tue.nl/nl/onderzoek/o...sualization/sequoiaview/download_sequoiaview/

The tool uses colored rectangles to represent files. You can hold your
mouse over one, to see what file it is. The tool makes it easier to
spot things that don't belong.

http://w3.win.tue.nl/typo3temp/pics/736444cb4d.jpg

The tool needs time to scan the partition, and get names and file
sizes. And then, you'll see the graphical display of the results.

Paul

 

[Bob Villa]

Ben is there a possibity that instead of a repair...there is a 2nd OS
installed (accounting for the space lost)?  Just curious, bob.

Notice my posting time is before Paul's...this has been happening a
lot lately.

 

[Ben Myers]

Ben is there a possibity that instead of a repair...there is a 2nd OS
installed (accounting for the space lost)? Just curious, bob.

Yes. A second installation could account for the difference, altho
Windows XP itself typically sucks up no more than 5GB... Ben Myers