Re-installation of WinXP without loss of data or applications. Advice required.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dick
  • Start date Start date
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Dick

I am having problems with WinXP. I installed it over 18 months ago.
The advice which I received was to re-install it without doing a
reformat. This course of action would, I am told, solve a number of my
problems and leave my applications functioning.
Is this possible and does it work every time? I would appreciate
advice prior to getting this done.
Thanks.
 
That (Re-Install) is generally poor advice. Re-installing Windows is the
"Fallback" or "Universal" answer from ill informed or inept technicians.
Unless the system is unbootable or has so many infectors that removal
is impossible - I would never globally recommend a Repair install to try
and fix performance/operation issues. Maybe if you stated what issues
you are having, someone can offer more directed/effective advice.
 
Dick said:
I am having problems with WinXP. I installed it over 18 months ago.
The advice which I received was to re-install it without doing a
reformat.
Click to expand...


You can't reinstall it without doing a reformat. What the person who gave
you the advice may have meant is to do a repair installation. See "How to
Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

This course of action would, I am told, solve a number of my
problems and leave my applications functioning.
Click to expand...


Maybe. It depends. It might solve some problems. It might solve all. It
might solve none. What problems are you having?

Is this possible

Yes.


and does it work every time?
Click to expand...


Definitely not. It depends on what the problems are.

I would appreciate
advice prior to getting this done.
Click to expand...


Before doing it, please describe your problems here.
 
Before doing it, please describe your problems here.
Click to expand...

I have dual boot, WinXP on drive c: and on d:. I use c: for back-up if
d: gives me any problems. I also have Mandrake 9 which use on a
regular basis. My problem is that after running for about 3 to 4
minutes the picture freezes. I cannot re-boot. I have to switch of and
wait. This happens on WinXP c: and d: on Mandrake and dos. At the
moment it is running fine. It happens intermittently. I can work away
for weeks between bouts. However, I don't feel comfortable running
like this always wondering when this is going to happen again. It also
means I lose whatever I am working on. I defrag my disk at least 3
times a week. I run AVG Antivirus, ZoneAlarm and I am trying out
Avast. I also run Spybot and Ad Aware at least 3 times a week.

I hope this helps.

Dick
 
Dick said:
I have dual boot, WinXP on drive c: and on d:. I use c: for back-up if
d: gives me any problems. I also have Mandrake 9 which use on a
regular basis. My problem is that after running for about 3 to 4
minutes the picture freezes. I cannot re-boot. I have to switch of and
wait. This happens on WinXP c: and d: on Mandrake and dos. At the
moment it is running fine. It happens intermittently. I can work away
for weeks between bouts. However, I don't feel comfortable running
like this always wondering when this is going to happen again.
Click to expand...


Intermittent problems like this are usually hardware problems, not Windows.
The fact that it occurs both on Windows and Mandrake almost certainly
confirms that it's not a Windows problem.

Reinstalling Windows is very likely to accomplish nothing, and you'll be
back where you started. That's likely to be the case whether you do a clean
reinstallation or a repair installation.

I would suspect flaky RAM, and perhaps the power supply.

Another possibility is flaky power from the wall outlet. I've seen problems
like this resolved by installed an inexpensive UPS.
 
Intermittent problems like this are usually hardware problems, not Windows.
The fact that it occurs both on Windows and Mandrake almost certainly
confirms that it's not a Windows problem.

Reinstalling Windows is very likely to accomplish nothing, and you'll be
back where you started. That's likely to be the case whether you do a clean
reinstallation or a repair installation.

I would suspect flaky RAM, and perhaps the power supply.

Another possibility is flaky power from the wall outlet. I've seen problems
like this resolved by installed an inexpensive UPS.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
 
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