How to do a "repair installation job" on XP?

[George]

Hi

I have got the full installation disc of XP, I have a few problems with AVG,
it hangs when I go to cancel an update download, and I wondered if this was
some problem with my installation.

Is there a way that I can do a "clean sweep" reinstall or a clean sweep
system reinstall so that it will detect and correct anything that it finds
wrong?

 

[Rich]

Hi

I have got the full installation disc of XP, I have a few problems with
AVG, it hangs when I go to cancel an update download, and I wondered if
this was some problem with my installation.

Is there a way that I can do a "clean sweep" reinstall or a clean sweep
system reinstall so that it will detect and correct anything that it finds
wrong?

Try "sfc /scannow" from the run with the installation CD in the tray. This
will do a System File Check and repair any damaged files it finds.

Rich

 

[George]

Try "sfc /scannow" from the run with the installation CD in the tray. This
will do a System File Check and repair any damaged files it finds.

Rich

Thanks

Do you know how I check for errors on my windows installation?

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, George.

As Rich said, your first step probably should be the System File Checker.

If you DO want to do a repair installation, also known as an in-place
upgrade, see this KB article for the official instructions:
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

Or this version of the same thing by MVP Michael Stevens:
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Note that the repair installation does NOT format your HD and start clean.
It does completely reinstall WinXP itself, but leaves your installed
applications and data and most of your tweaks. It does not "detect and
correct anything", but simply overwrites whatever is in the operating system
space (without worrying about whether it is good or bad) with whatever a
clean install would put there. If your WinXP CD-ROM is the original
("Gold") version, or the version with SP1 included, you will need to install
SP2 again after the in-place upgrade, because the version on the CD-ROM you
use is what you will get.

I use a different antivirus and firewall program and haven't tried AVG.
However, you probably can set it to download from Windows Update
successfully. Any time you "cancel an update download", though, you risk a
hang and other problems.

RC

 

[George]

Hi, George.

As Rich said, your first step probably should be the System File Checker.

If you DO want to do a repair installation, also known as an in-place
upgrade, see this KB article for the official instructions:
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

Or this version of the same thing by MVP Michael Stevens:
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Note that the repair installation does NOT format your HD and start clean.
It does completely reinstall WinXP itself, but leaves your installed
applications and data and most of your tweaks. It does not "detect and
correct anything", but simply overwrites whatever is in the operating
system space (without worrying about whether it is good or bad) with
whatever a clean install would put there.

Hello,
Many thanks for that really helpful reply, I'll keep that for future
reference, it is very valuable to know how to do that. It seems like this is
as good as a
system reinstall except it doesn't wipe all your work. Presumably you only
need to wipe your disc if you think you have got a virus on it or some other
non windows related error.

If your WinXP CD-ROM is the original

("Gold") version, or the version with SP1 included, you will need to
install SP2 again after the in-place upgrade, because the version on the
CD-ROM you use is what you will get.

Yes i've got SP2 as it is brand knew CD from Dell.

I use a different antivirus and firewall program and haven't tried AVG.
However, you probably can set it to download from Windows Update
successfully. Any time you "cancel an update download", though, you risk
a hang and other problems.

RC

Do you think that this "hang problem" is most likely not related to anything
wrong with my windows XP installation? I have not seen any other problems at
all except the problem with AVG

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, George.

Careful!!

Yes i've got SP2 as it is brand knew CD from Dell.

Is this a FULL WinXP CD-ROM? Often, OEMs supply only a "recovery disk",
which is NOT a FULL WinXP CD-ROM. When you run this recovery disk, it
restores your computer to "factory fresh" condition - which means it wipes
out ALL the programs and data that you have added since you got the machine!
:>( And you've said that is NOT what you want.

The first line of your original post said, "I have got the full installation
disc of XP...", and you didn't mention Dell until later, so I assumed you
had a retail WinXP CD-ROM. Be sure to check with Dell before you assume
that your CD is suitable for doing an in-place upgrade. You might want to
check with other Dell users at this Usenet newsgroup: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell

As I said, I haven't used AVG, so I really can't guess about your hang
problem. But, as I said, any time you interrupt any program, you don't give
it a chance to "put away its toys" and clean up after itself, so a hang is
one of the possible results. You could use Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) to
see what it can tell you about the program and about your system state. But
that's a different problem than the one mentioned in your Subject line, so I
suggest you start a New thread on that subject. In that post, be sure to
define "hang" in this case: Does the keyboard still work? The mouse? How
long have you waited to be sure it's not just busy? Exactly what steps led
up to the hang? Remember that you can see your computer, but we can't. All
we know about it is what you tell us.

RC

 

[George]

Hi, George.

Careful!!

Darn it! I got confused with my nickname, sorry for that.

Is this a FULL WinXP CD-ROM? Often, OEMs supply only a "recovery disk",

Yes, I've read in this ng about recovery discs, and it is a full
installation, I was quite amazed at that actually.

which is NOT a FULL WinXP CD-ROM. When you run this recovery disk, it
restores your computer to "factory fresh" condition - which means it wipes
out ALL the programs and data that you have added since you got the
machine!

Yes it is the full one, I've check and actually have done a complete
reinstall minus all the rubbish and trials that dell installed.

:>( And you've said that is NOT what you want.

The first line of your original post said, "I have got the full
installation disc of XP...", and you didn't mention Dell until later, so
I assumed you had a retail WinXP CD-ROM.

Thanks for the warning, but yes it is a complete XP disc, although it comes
with dell so I guess it is officially an OEM version.

Be sure to check with Dell before you assume

that your CD is suitable for doing an in-place upgrade. You might want to
check with other Dell users at this Usenet newsgroup:
alt.sys.pc-clone.dell

Oh thanks, a dell usegroup> I'll sign up to that one...honestly these
newsgroups are an absolute lifesaver.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, George.

Great! Post back when you are done and let us know how it works out for
you.

 

[George]

Hi, George.

Great! Post back when you are done and let us know how it works out for
you.

Hi RC,
I've read in a 24hours support a few posts today about problems with AVG
download therefore as no other part of AVG is having a problem and no other
software I conclude that my new installation that is less than 24 hours old
must be perfect and that the problem lays with AVG.

But will keep the references for future use. Much appreciated and thanks!!

 

[Michael Stevens]

Thanks

Do you know how I check for errors on my windows installation?

That is what SFC does, but you can also look in Computer Management, Event
Viewer for error messages.
Right click My Computer and select Manage from the menu to open Computer
Management.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm