How: install XP on top of itself?

S

sdlomi2

Running Win XP Pro & it has 1 or more corrupt files. How do I
re-install the OS on top of itself--without formatting-- and not lose data
files? Thanks, s
 
D

djs0302

sdlomi2 said:
Running Win XP Pro & it has 1 or more corrupt files. How do I
re-install the OS on top of itself--without formatting-- and not lose data
files? Thanks, s

Insert your Windows XP installation cd. Restart your computer; make
sure your computer is set up to boot from the cd first. Choose to
install Windows. Choose repair installation.
 
S

sdlomi2

Insert your Windows XP installation cd. Restart your computer; make
sure your computer is set up to boot from the cd first. Choose to
install Windows. Choose repair installation.

Thank you for the help. s
 
M

Michael Hawes

Insert your Windows XP installation cd. Restart your computer; make
sure your computer is set up to boot from the cd first. Choose to
install Windows. Choose repair installation.
You can also try CMD prompt, 'sfc /scannow'
Mike
 
D

DaveW

Boot from the XP install CD. Let Setup run to the point where it asks you
if you want to Install XP of Repair it. Select INSTALL. The CD will
install some files, then will ask you if you want to do a new Install or a
Repair of an existing copy. NOW Select Repair. Follow the instructions.
 
D

David Maynard

Praxiteles said:
After you do that you will need to get all the Windows updates and
service packs again.

Yes. And I'd suggest first downloading the 'full' service pack 2 (IT
version with all files) so you don't have to depend on the system working
to get updates because a 'reinstall' will usually result in a myriad of
things complaining about needing to be reinstalled as they expect the now
missing service pack files to be there.
 
S

spodosaurus

David said:
Yes. And I'd suggest first downloading the 'full' service pack 2 (IT
version with all files) so you don't have to depend on the system
working to get updates because a 'reinstall' will usually result in a
myriad of things complaining about needing to be reinstalled as they
expect the now missing service pack files to be there.

Slipstream that SP2 into a new install cd...makes things easier for the
future, too.

Ari

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/
 
D

David Maynard

spodosaurus said:
Slipstream that SP2 into a new install cd...makes things easier for the
future, too.

Ari

You could but it's only 'easier' if the person knows how to slipstream a CD
and, IMO, for the average person it's easier to just keep a copy of SP2 for
the rare times it's needed.
 
A

Anna

(All responding to a query re re:installing Windows XP)...


David Maynard said:
You could but it's only 'easier' if the person knows how to slipstream a
CD and, IMO, for the average person it's easier to just keep a copy of SP2
for the rare times it's needed.


David, et al:
Don't know if you're familiar with the (freebie) AutoStreamer program. It's
designed to create slipstreamed versions of XP, i.e., XP including SP1
and/or SP2. It's become enormously popular as the program of choice for many
users to create slipstreamed copies of XP, and rightly so, because of its
simplicity & effectiveness in doing so. I believe the latest version is
1.0.33. Take a look at it at:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562
Anna
 
P

Praxiteles Democritus

David, et al:
Don't know if you're familiar with the (freebie) AutoStreamer program. It's
designed to create slipstreamed versions of XP, i.e., XP including SP1
and/or SP2. It's become enormously popular as the program of choice for many
users to create slipstreamed copies of XP, and rightly so, because of its
simplicity & effectiveness in doing so. I believe the latest version is
1.0.33. Take a look at it at:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562
Anna
Thanks for the link - looks very handy to have.
 
D

David Maynard

Anna said:
(All responding to a query re re:installing Windows XP)...









David, et al:
Don't know if you're familiar with the (freebie) AutoStreamer program. It's
designed to create slipstreamed versions of XP, i.e., XP including SP1
and/or SP2. It's become enormously popular as the program of choice for many
users to create slipstreamed copies of XP, and rightly so, because of its
simplicity & effectiveness in doing so. I believe the latest version is
1.0.33. Take a look at it at:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562
Anna

Nice program.
 
E

Ed Medlin

David Maynard said:
Nice program.

One thing to remember about slipstreaming SP2 is that there will no longer
be an uninstall for SP2 in the "Add, Remove program area. If you have an XP
version, either original or SP1, you will need to uninstall SP2 before an
in-place repair install or it will just tell you that the version on your
system is newer than the version you are installing and refuse to go
further. If you slipstream XP, make damn sure you have a good copy before
you begin or you will end up in a DaveW situation.....(format and
reinstall)......:)

Ed
 
D

David Maynard

Ed said:
One thing to remember about slipstreaming SP2 is that there will no longer
be an uninstall for SP2 in the "Add, Remove program area. If you have an XP
version, either original or SP1, you will need to uninstall SP2 before an
in-place repair install or it will just tell you that the version on your
system is newer than the version you are installing and refuse to go
further.

This is something I haven't run into yet. Are you saying a slipstreamed SP2
won't repair install itself or that you can't 'fix' it with the pre SP2
copy you'd likely have?
If you slipstream XP, make damn sure you have a good copy before
you begin

That's one reason why I still say that simply keeping a full copy of SP2 on
a backup CD is 'easier' than making a slipstreamed XP CD.
or you will end up in a DaveW situation.....(format and
reinstall)......:)

DaveW's 'universal solution' to all ailments: start over.
 
E

Ed Medlin

David Maynard said:
This is something I haven't run into yet. Are you saying a slipstreamed
SP2 won't repair install itself or that you can't 'fix' it with the pre
SP2 copy you'd likely have?

The latter. You can never uninstall SP2, so the pre SP2 disk will never work
for repairing.
That's one reason why I still say that simply keeping a full copy of SP2
on a backup CD is 'easier' than making a slipstreamed XP CD.

That is what I do. I have a slipstreamed copy, but used it one time a couple
years ago (whenever SP2 came out.....forget) and just decided it was not
that difficult or time consuming to just uninstall and reinstall SP2.

DaveW's 'universal solution' to all ailments: start over.

Yep. There are few situations that an in-place repair will not work. I am on
my 3rd MB and processor replacement right now without having to do a
complete reinstall.... I like easy......:)

Ed
 
D

David Maynard

Ed said:
The latter. You can never uninstall SP2, so the pre SP2 disk will never work
for repairing.

OK. That's what I would expect.

That is what I do. I have a slipstreamed copy, but used it one time a couple
years ago (whenever SP2 came out.....forget) and just decided it was not
that difficult or time consuming to just uninstall and reinstall SP2.





Yep. There are few situations that an in-place repair will not work. I am on
my 3rd MB and processor replacement right now without having to do a
complete reinstall.... I like easy......:)

How did you ever manage to avoid those "nasty ongoing registry errors ;)"

Btw, me too (multiple changes with perfectly fine repair reinstalls).
 

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