questions about reloading WinXP

[rb]

I'm working on our church office Gateway pc, running WinXP. Some OS files
have gotten corrupted, and I want to reinstall WinXP. We have the bundled
software CD that came with the pc.

1. Do I have to reformat the hard drive before reloading WinXP? If so, how
do I do that?

2. Do I need any kind of WinXP install programs that aren't with the OEM
CD?

3. Is it as simple as just putting the CD in the CD drive and then going
from there?

I'm already in process of taking off all My Documents, My Pictures, My
Music, Favorites, address book, and emails to a USB external hard drive so
we won't lose those.

 

[Guest]

Most oem cds have the option to reinstall only or format & reinstall,to
access,
at start up,enter the BIOS,install cd,set BIOS to boot to cd (1st boot
device,or
similiar),save and exit.

 

[Guest]

Choice is yours either you want a Repair Installation or a Clean
Installation. The differece between a repair installation and clean
installation will be that after a repair most of the softwares and settings
will be remain as they were before. If you choose Clean Installation then you
have to install all the other utilities and softwares as well.

The process is easy and need a little attention.

1. The CD you have should be bootable otherwise you have to create the
startup disks to boot from them. The process is explain in the given links.
2. Second step is to change the Boot Sequence from CMOS Setup. To access the
CMOS setup, turn on your PC and press the key directed by your BIOS
manufacturer mostly DEL or F2 key. Here find the entry something like:

First Boot Device - set to CDROM
or
Boot Device Periority - set to CDROM

3. Insert the Windows XP CD. Save the changes and exit.
4. If your CD is bootable then you will direct to press a key to from CD
otherwise create the startup disk as mention in links given below. Rest part
of the installation has been desribed breifly in first link.


http://www.quepublishing.com/articles/article.asp?p=102260&seqNum=2&rl=1
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[Daave]

I'm working on our church office Gateway pc, running WinXP.

What is the model number?

Some OS files have gotten corrupted, and I want to reinstall WinXP.

Do you know which particular files are corrupt? Are you sure you really
need to reinstall the OS? It's possible there's an easier and quicker
solution depending on the specific problem you are experiencing.

We have the bundled software CD that came with the pc.

What is on this CD -- *just* bundled software? Do you have an
installation disk? Do you have a restore disk? These days it's common
for PC manufacturers *not* to include these disks in order to save a
buck or two. The down side is your only option is to restore your PC to
its original condition by using an image placed on a hidden partition of
your hard drive. At any rate, Gateway does provide a way to either
perform a clean reinstall or restore your PC to the condition it was in
when it was brand new. You need to know which method needs to be used.
By telling us the model number, we may be able to assist you there, as
well.

1. Do I have to reformat the hard drive before reloading WinXP? If
so, how do I do that?

If you have an installation disk, it's not necessary to reformat the
hard drive if you wish to perform a repair install (which would allow
you to retain all your programs, settings, and data). This might be the
way to go if all you have are some corrupted files, and if a less
intrusive means to fix your PC doesn't work. (I still think you should
explore alternatives).

Repair Install procedure can be found at:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

If you want to perform a clean install, then by definition, you will be
formatting the hard drive. Make sure you set your BIOS to boot from the
installation disk and follow the instructions at:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

I'm already in process of taking off all My Documents, My Pictures, My
Music, Favorites, address book, and emails to a USB external hard
drive so we won't lose those.

Excellent idea. I would also recommend backing up regularly all the
time.

 

[Sharon F]

I'm working on our church office Gateway pc, running WinXP. Some OS files
have gotten corrupted, and I want to reinstall WinXP. We have the bundled
software CD that came with the pc.

Manufacturers such as Gateway usually have customized "restore" programs.
These work differently than a generic XP installation CD. Also, not all
restore programs work the same - sometimes there are differences between
models from the same manufacturer.

Best advice at this point is to urge you to find the documentation for the
system. If that is not handy, go online to the Gateway site. Look up the
model in their support pages and download the system's documentation. That
documentation will include directions for using Gateway's restore program.

 

[Sharon F]

I'm working on our church office Gateway pc, running WinXP. Some OS files
have gotten corrupted, and I want to reinstall WinXP. We have the bundled
software CD that came with the pc.

Another thought: Keep an eye on the corruption aspect. Sometimes this is a
clue about a hardware problem. If corruption continues to appear, you'll
want to check this out more closely. Usual suspects are bad RAM or a
failing hard drive.

May want to be extra vigilant with backups for a while.

 

[Poprivet]

I'm working on our church office Gateway pc, running WinXP. Some OS
files have gotten corrupted, and I want to reinstall WinXP. We have
the bundled software CD that came with the pc.

1. Do I have to reformat the hard drive before reloading WinXP? If
so, how do I do that?

No. I think Gateways provide an "Operating System" CD, which is the XP
operating system. That will do everything you need to do, including
formatting.

2. Do I need any kind of WinXP install programs that aren't with the
OEM CD?

There is probably a driver CD and possibly an Applications CD. The driver
CD you'll need to install for sure after XP is installed, the Applications,
well, probably best to install unless you know for sure you don't need them.
YOu'll have a chance to selectively choose what you want to install from
that CD, I'm pretty sure.
As I recall it, the XP CD will tell you to go next to the other CDs after
install completes.

3. Is it as simple as just putting the CD in the CD drive and then
going from there?

Just about. You have to be sure to be able to boot from the CD drive,
though.
At boot time, with Gateway's BIOS makers, there is usually a key sequence
listed on the boot screen that says "Press F10 for Menu, Pres F2 for BIOS or
similar to that. The "menu" choice will let you choose the device to boot
from amongst all installed bootable devices.
If the "Menu" choice isn't there, then you have to go into the BIOS (the
F2 key or whatever key it says to use), and set it to be the first boot
device there.

I'm already in process of taking off all My Documents, My Pictures, My
Music, Favorites, address book, and emails to a USB external hard
drive so we won't lose those.

Wise move. While you're at that, you should be thinking about a way to keep
all the important data backed up periodically, too, all the time. And write
up a procedure for it so the next guy after you can follow it too and knows
where to look for it.

I see several responses that suggest you might not have to reinstall as
you're planning to do, but since this is a church computer and time is
probably an issue, it is likely to be fastest to simply install again as you
are doing and set everything up all over again. It's a good hour for the XP
reinstall plus whatever else you have to install, but that's still a lot
faster at times, and surer, than chasingt down the problem to fix it under
pressure. So, I agree with what you're doing in other words.

WHEN YOU BOOT FROM THE CD drive with the XP CD:

-- Before starting, note whether there are one or two drives on the disk.
If there are C and D, note their sizes. If there is only one drive, no
problem.

-- The first thing you do when the CD gets started, is to Delete and
Recreate all the partitions (that's why I said check to see if there was
more than one drive on the disk; each drive needs a partition).
-- If only one drive, no problem; delete, recreate partition and continue,
following the instructions.
-- If there are two drive letters on that drive, delete partitions, then
create two partitions of approximately the same sizes, and continue from
there following the instructions.

These links might help if you want to read up a little on it first:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm

I think the first is best, the other two good but wordy.

HTH
Pop`

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm working on our church office Gateway pc, running WinXP. Some OS files
have gotten corrupted, and I want to reinstall WinXP. We have the bundled
software CD that came with the pc.

1. Do I have to reformat the hard drive before reloading WinXP? If so, how
do I do that?

No.

If yours is an installation CD, just boot from the 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 yours is an OEM restoration CD, follow your manufacturer's
instructions.

2. Do I need any kind of WinXP install programs that aren't with the OEM
CD?

No.


3. Is it as simple as just putting the CD in the CD drive and then going
from there?

You have to set the BIOS boot order to boot from the CD first. How to
get into your BIOS depends, not on Windows, but on what
motherboard/BIOS you have. As a matter of fact, you have to access the
BIOS before Windows even starts to boot. One common way is to press
the Del key when you first power on, but that's not necessarily right
for your computer. Watch the screen carefully when you first boot;
there's often a message there telling you what to do. If not, check
your system documentation or check with your vendor.

Also look here: http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm Or
just try the Del key. There's a good chance that's correct for you.

I'm already in process of taking off all My Documents, My Pictures, My
Music, Favorites, address book, and emails to a USB external hard drive so
we won't lose those.

Good.