Need to reinstall Windows xp

[Guest]

I need a fresh of windows xp. I have sp2 but when I run the dell cd it says I
can't install sp1 when sp2 is installed. Any help would be great. Computer is
running slow and I need a clean os start. Please advise and Thanks!

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

I need a fresh of windows xp. I have sp2 but when I run the dell cd
it says I can't install sp1 when sp2 is installed. Any help would be
great. Computer is running slow and I need a clean os start. Please
advise and Thanks!

Uninstall SP2 via the "Add or Remove Programs..." control panel

 

[Guest]

Uninstall SP2 via the "Add or Remove Programs..." control panel

OK, Thanks but will I be able to reinstall sp2 after the clean install of
sp1? I assume sp2 is available via windows update? Would it be a good idea to
back up the drivers and if os how would I do this? Thanks again.

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

OK, Thanks but will I be able to reinstall sp2 after the clean
install of sp1? I assume sp2 is available via windows update? Would
it be a good idea to back up the drivers and if os how would I do
this? Thanks again.

Should be able to. The drivers for your machine should be on the CD/s that
Dell supplied with your machine. If you have lost these got to the Dell web
site and download the crooect drivers for the model Dell you have.

You can either update to SP2 via windows update or down load the file and
burn it to a CD, you will also find there are a lot of updates you will need
to install.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 - Direct Download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en
or http://tinyurl.com/5bobl

 

[Gordon]

I need a fresh of windows xp. I have sp2 but when I run the dell cd it says
I
can't install sp1 when sp2 is installed. Any help would be great. Computer
is
running slow and I need a clean os start. Please advise and Thanks!

Are you trying to run the Dell CD from within Windows?
Boot from the Dell CD instead....

 

[Malke]

I need a fresh of windows xp. I have sp2 but when I run the dell cd it says I
can't install sp1 when sp2 is installed. Any help would be great. Computer is
running slow and I need a clean os start. Please advise and Thanks!

Either boot with the Dell XP CD (put the CD in the drive and restart the
computer, pressing F12 at startup to get the boot order menu) and do
your clean install or slipstream SP2 to create a new installation CD.
After you are finished with your clean install, don't forget to install
all the drivers for your hardware. These normally are found on the Dell
Resource CD that came with your system. If you don't have a Dell
Resource CD, get the drivers for your specific model machine from Dell's
website and save on a USB thumbdrive or burn to CD-R first.

How to slipstream sp2 into XP
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html
- AutoStreamer
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49
http://www.windows-help.net/windowsxp/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows -
What you will need on-hand


Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I need a fresh of windows xp. I have sp2 but when I run the dell cd it says I
can't install sp1 when sp2 is installed. Any help would be great.

You have two choices:

1. Uninstall SP2, do the upgrade, then reinstall SP2.

2. Create a slipstreamed version of XP Professional, including SP2,
and use it. See http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7262
or http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm


I recommend the second choice.

Computer is
running slow and I need a clean os start. Please advise and Thanks!

My advice is to find out why it's running slow and fix it, rather than
reinstalling. Reinstallation should not be used as a substitute for
troubleshooting. If you simply reinstall, you will probably repeat the
behavior that caused you the problem, and quickly find yourself back
in the same situation.

Performance problems are often caused by malware infestation these
days. Before doing anything else, you should make sure you are free of
malware. I recommend that you go to Malke's malware removal site at
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware and
follow the instructions there.

 

[Gordon]

You have two choices:

1. Uninstall SP2, do the upgrade, then reinstall SP2.

Shouldn't a recovery CD just re-image the HDD regardless of what SP level is
on it?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Shouldn't a recovery CD just re-image the HDD regardless of what SP level is
on it?

Yes, and that's true even with an installation CD. Thanks for the
comment. I neglected to point out that if he's getting this message
when trying to do a clean installation, he's doing it wrong.

Msmithr99, it would appear that you are trying to reinstall Windows
from within Windows and you can't do that. Assuming that you have an
installation CD, just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS
boot order if necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts for
a clean installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D"
when prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


If you have a Dell restore CD, follow Dell's instructions for how to
use it.

 

[Gordon]

Yes, and that's true even with an installation CD. Thanks for the
comment. I neglected to point out that if he's getting this message
when trying to do a clean installation, he's doing it wrong.

I've already asked him if he was trying to install from within Windows, but
got no reply.

 

[Guest]

Thanks to all who responded. Very Helpful. These procedures should cover my
needs. Thanks again.