Is a "clean" in-place install possible?

[Guest]

I know that I need to re-install XP-pro as I have a weird problem.

Is there a way to install clean WITHOUT re-formatting?

I have over 100Meg of active data I really don't want to migrate off and
then back on...

Yes it is backed up, did that as soon as the flakiness started.....

The Majority of my programs standalone, and re-installing all of the OTHER
programs with my data still in-place is not a problem...(outlook, frontpage,
Office, etc...)

Its just the wiping the drive(s) (Mirrored 200Gig) will take most of a day
to wipe, re-partition, reformat, and then start the install. (and since I
have an upgrade disk it will want my win2k disk as well)....

There HAS to be a better way....
--
Bob Sisson
Inspections by Bob
(e-mail address removed)
www.Inspectionsbybob.com
(301)540-7812
Don't you wish you knew then what you know now?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Depending on which type of XP CD you have, you can try a 'Repair' install of
XP which will your settings, files and programs in place. Please have a
look at the following article by Michael Stevens:

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I know that I need to re-install XP-pro as I have a weird problem.

Reinstalling is seldom necessary. Why don't you first try describing your
problem here before taking such a draconian step?

Is there a way to install clean WITHOUT re-formatting?

No. "Clean" implies formatting

I have over 100Meg of active data I really don't want to migrate off
and then back on...

Yes it is backed up, did that as soon as the flakiness started.....

Then there's nothing to migrate off. All you have to do is restore it.

The Majority of my programs standalone, and re-installing all of the
OTHER programs with my data still in-place is not a
problem...(outlook, frontpage, Office, etc...)

Its just the wiping the drive(s) (Mirrored 200Gig) will take most of
a day to wipe, re-partition, reformat, and then start the install.
(and since I have an upgrade disk it will want my win2k disk as
well)....

There HAS to be a better way....

The better is way to to address and solve the specific problem rather than
reinstalling.

You might want to try a repair installation, but depending on what the
problem is, that may or may not help you.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I know that I need to re-install XP-pro as I have a weird problem.

Is there a way to install clean WITHOUT re-formatting?

No, that would be a contradiction in terms. By definition, a clean
installation starts on a freshly formatted (clean, in simple terms)
partition.

I have over 100Meg of active data I really don't want to migrate off and
then back on...

Yes it is backed up, did that as soon as the flakiness started.....

Then you've no problem; restoring data files should take only a few
minutes, if all you have is 100 Mb.

The Majority of my programs standalone, and re-installing all of the OTHER
programs with my data still in-place is not a problem...(outlook, frontpage,
Office, etc...)

Its just the wiping the drive(s) (Mirrored 200Gig) will take most of a day
to wipe, re-partition, reformat, and then start the install. (and since I
have an upgrade disk it will want my win2k disk as well)....

There HAS to be a better way....

Not if you want a clean installation.

Alternatively, you might try describing your problem here, and someone
is likely to be able to offer a less drastic solution. A complete
re-installation is rarely truly necessary.


--

Bruce Chambers

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