Re-install XP Pro

[JagAddict]

I kept getting blue screen errors and now XP won't boot at all. It indicates
it is missing a file or it is corrupted.

I have the original XP Pro disk (not an upgrade) and am thinking it would be
easiest and fastest to just reinstall XP Pro. If installing this version of
XP, will it overwrite any data, documents or settings? I am especially
concerned about not being able to access the current Outlook Express data
file after the re-install, as I am unable to back-up any of the files.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If you reinstall you will lose all files and apps. First I would try doing
a repair install. That will preserve your files and apps. You will have to
update from Window Update again but that is a small price to pay.

 

[Malke]

I kept getting blue screen errors and now XP won't boot at all. It indicates
it is missing a file or it is corrupted.

I have the original XP Pro disk (not an upgrade) and am thinking it would be
easiest and fastest to just reinstall XP Pro. If installing this version of
XP, will it overwrite any data, documents or settings? I am especially
concerned about not being able to access the current Outlook Express data
file after the re-install, as I am unable to back-up any of the files.

You need to back up your data first and then try the Repair Install
(which may or may not work, you haven't given us enough details). It is
completely possible to retrieve data when you can't boot into Windows as
long as the hard drive is physically sound. Here are some suggestions:

1. Pull the drive and slave it in a computer running a working install
of XP/Vista. Depending on the target drive's characteristics, you may
need a drive adapter; i.e., laptop-to-IDE or a SATA controller card,
etc. A usb/firewire external drive enclosure works very well, too. Use
the working Windows Explorer to copy the data to the rescue system's
hard drive and then burn the data to cd or dvd.

2. Often XP/Vista will not boot with a slaved drive that has a damaged
file system. In that case, boot the target computer with either a Bart's
PE or a Linux live cd such as Knoppix and retrieve the data that way.
Here is general information on using Knoppix for this:

You will need a computer with two cd drives, one of which is a cd/dvd-rw
OR a usb thumb drive with enough capacity to hold your data OR an
external usb/firewire hard drive formatted FAT32 (not NTFS). To get
Knoppix, you need a computer with a fast Internet connection and
third-party burning software. Download the Knoppix .iso and create your
bootable cd. Then boot with it and it will be able to see the Windows
files. If you are using the usb thumb drive or the external hard drive,
right-click on its icon (on the Desktop) to get its properties and
uncheck the box that says "Read Only". Then click on it to open it. Note
that the default mouse action in the window manager used by Knoppix
(KDE) is a single click to open instead of the traditional MS Windows'
double-click. If you want to burn CD/DVDs, use the K3b program.

http://www.knoppix.net
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ - Bart's PE Builder

Without having any information other than "blue screen errors", I can't
guess if the issues are caused by hardware or software.

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


Malke

 

[JagAddict]

Repair Install does not seem to be an option, unless I must first click
install and will then be given the option to select repair or new install
once the install starts. Do you know if there is an option to do a repair
install?

 

[JagAddict]

It is a software issue. I corrected (for the most part) the blue screen
errors using PC tools and other registry repair software. The new issue was a
black screen indicating that the SYSTEM file was missing or corrupted.

I have two identical Dell computers, so I could pull the drive that won't
boot and install it in the other Dell as a slave drive, but don't know if I
have to change settings or jumpers to make the master drive a slave drive.
Could you advise?

Alternatively, If I install XP pro using the original CD (not an upgrade CD)
on the drive that won't boot, does it give you the option to do a repair
install rather than a new install? I already tried typiing R to get to the
Repair software, but got nowhere with it, as it just provides DOS access to
the drive.

 

[Xandros]

To perform a Repair Install you should boot with your XP CD. Select the
option to setup Windows XP (press Enter). After you press F8 to accept the
License Agreement the installer will look to see if it can find a previous
version of Windows. It should then inform you that it has found a previous
version and ask if you want to try and repair it. At this time press the 'R'
key and follow the onscreen advice. However if your version of XP is an OEM
version you might not have this option. So be careful.

Personally I'd try doing a backup first. I realize you can't get to the
Desktop but if you use a live CD you should be able to get there. Here is a
link that will teach you how to create a live CD which you can boot to a
desktop from and then hopefully access your hard drive and copy the data off
it to a safe place http://www.ubcd4win.com/

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If it is an IDE drive then yes you will need to move a jumper from Master to
Slave or CS (cable select). If it is a SATA drive no change will be
necessary. IDE drives are connected with a wide, flat ribbon cable or fat
rounded cable. SATA drives are connected with a narrow red cable.

 

[Malke]

If it is an IDE drive then yes you will need to move a jumper from
Master to Slave or CS (cable select). If it is a SATA drive no change
will be necessary. IDE drives are connected with a wide, flat ribbon
cable or fat rounded cable. SATA drives are connected with a narrow red
cable.

Just to add to Colin's good advice - If the drives are IDE, just
temporarily unplug the CD/DVD drive(s) and attach the target drive
there. This way you don't need to mess with jumpers at all. You don't
want to boot from that drive - you're going to boot into the working XP
install and make a new folder on its hard drive for the data from the
"sick" drive. The second drive will be seen in Windows and it will be
easy to just copy off your data. Then if the Repair Install doesn't work
(and they often don't), or Things Go Wrong and you have to do a Clean
Install it will still be a bit of a pain but you'll have your stuff.


Malke