Please help with reinstalling Windows XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ron M
  • Start date Start date
R

Ron M

Should I uninstall existing broken Windows or reinstall over the
existing Windows?

Thanks, Ron
 
Ron M said:
Should I uninstall existing broken Windows or reinstall over the
existing Windows?

Thanks, Ron
Click to expand...

Boot the XP CD. To setup WinXP Now press Enter. Hit F8 for license. Take
New Install. When it asks where, hit ESC; select and delete the C partition
and make a new RAW one. Use NTFS quick format. After format it goes right
into setup.
 
Per Ron M:
Should I uninstall existing broken Windows or reinstall over...
Click to expand...

I'd say it depends on how confident you are that you can back up
all data residing on C: and how severely broken Windows is.
 
Boot the XP CD. To setup WinXP Now press Enter. Hit F8 for license.
Take New Install. When it asks where, hit ESC; select and delete the C
partition and make a new RAW one. Use NTFS quick format. After format it
goes right into setup.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't use the quick format option. Do a real NTFS format. Takes a
lot longer, but it's worth it. With a real format, the disk is checked
for errors (It's not with the quick option) and the real format
overwrites everything on the disk (It's not with the quick option),
including any viruses, etc., giving you a truly clean disk. It's not as
good as a secure "wipe", but is good enough for the OP's purposes.

Stef
 
Thanks, Kernel, Stefan and Pete.

Most of the data is backed up.

Data exists that broken Windows wilI not backup - would like to
reinstall without formating. If that is possible please explain the
best procedure.

Plan to wipe the disk clean if and when I recover the remaining data.
 
To backup your data (I emphasize DATA only} you could try bootingup the
system in Safe Mode and then hooking an external flashdrive or hard
drive via USB port. You will then need to launch your Windows Explorer
to browse your data folders.

If this doesn't work then Acronis and/or Ghost CDs are generally
bootable and so they will allow you to backup your data.

Hope this gives you an idea. There are other ways like using linux live
CDs and all that but I won't bombard you with technicality here.

Finally, it not possible to install Windows without formatting unless
you are looking for trouble down the line.

hth
 
snip
Finally, it not possible to install Windows without formatting unless
you are looking for trouble down the line.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Tester

I am not concerned with trouble down the line for I will format the
disk after I backup a relatively small amount but important data.

So ..... do I delete the existing Windows or install over existin
Windows?
 
Yes that is my personal opinion but you will also get the option to
reinstall it on top of of your existing windows system. I suggest
install it in Windows2 directory so that you will have two options of
logging in to your system at start-up. It will behave like you have
dual boot system except that both Oss will be XP in your case on the
same partition.

When you have copied your data, I would strongly recommend you do
reformat the HD and start everything again so that you have the default
set-up option as recommended by Microsoft. That is, your systems
directory will be Windows (not Windows2 as I suggested above). Please
note that in the second installation on Windows2, you MAY NOT be able to
use your applications (Word, Excel, Email etc) because the registry
entries will be separate from the old entries. You can reinstall them
but as you will be reformatting the HD, there is no point.

hth
Click to expand...

Thanks, Cheng

I have 16.3 gigs empty space on the hard drive. Is that enough to
install a second copy of Windows XP Home?

The current windows installation uses 7 gig, but maybe a new
installation will not use that much space.
 
Ron M said:
Should I uninstall existing broken Windows or reinstall over the
existing Windows?

Thanks, Ron
Click to expand...

Reinstall over the existing Windows if you need to keep your files!

Can you do F8
at start up!
 
No problems. New installation of Windows XP SP3 needs only about 800MB
maximum sometimes even less. Don't update it because you don't need
updates to copy your data which I am assuming you will be doing it
off-line anyway. You should do all these things in off-line mode i.e.
don't connect to the internet. Are you going to backup your data on
Microsoft,s SkyDrive? If so then clearly you need to go on-line in
which case you can stop all updates from Control Panel.
Click to expand...
Thanks again, I really do appreciate your help. 82 year olds always
need help :(

Haven't heard of SkyDrive. Fill me in at your convenience.
 
BD

Why on earth do you have a need to crosspost this thread

CROSSPOSTING REMOVED

--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
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~BD~ said:
On 12/02/2011 06:22, Ron M wrote:
[....]
Thanks again, I really do appreciate your help. 82 year olds always
need help :(

Haven't heard of SkyDrive. Fill me in at your convenience.
Click to expand...

Look here, Ron:

http://explore.live.com/windows-live-skydrive-photos-videos

<aside>

You are probably aware of the plight of the Chandlers at the hands of the Somali
pirates, viz:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...Rachel-Chandler-Were-so-lucky-to-be-home.html

Paul's father was a client/friend of mine and was still emailing me when he was
*98* years of age! Sadly, John Chandler, who lived in Dartmouth, Devon, died
before his son was released, but news of his death was kept from Paul and Rachel
until they were released.

At just 82 ........ *you* are still a youngster! ;-)

Good luck with your computing!

Dave
Click to expand...
 
Ron M said:
Thanks, Cheng

I have 16.3 gigs empty space on the hard drive. Is that enough to
install a second copy of Windows XP Home?

The current windows installation uses 7 gig, but maybe a new
installation will not use that much space.
Click to expand...

If you have the XP CD you need to do a repair
Not a Install!
 
Cheng Heng said:
No problems. New installation of Windows XP SP3 needs only about 800MB
maximum sometimes even less. Don't update it because you don't need
updates to copy your data which I am assuming you will be doing it
off-line anyway. You should do all these things in off-line mode i.e.
don't connect to the internet. Are you going to backup your data on
Microsoft,s SkyDrive? If so then clearly you need to go on-line in which
case you can stop all updates from Control Panel.

hth


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Click to expand...

How do you know he have Windows XP SP3 CD
And not a Windows XP SP1
 
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