Reinstall Windows XP System Files Only

[Guest]

I only have a black screen when turning on my Dell computer running windows
xp. Yes the obvious I've checked. While booting up and hitting F8 I get
"keyboard not detected" error so I can't even get into safe mode. I've
called Dell and they're sending me a Windows XP disc which wasn't included
with my new computer. I was told to change in the "setup" program from HDD
first to CD first then reinstall XP from the CD. As I recall isn't there a
way I can boot into windows from that disc and try a system restore? Or if
necessary would an option be to install only the necessary system files
instead of the entire OS so that I don't lose files I've saved? Also.... not
that I know how to, but is an option to run "repair" from the CD? Suggestions
anyone? Thanks you!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.­com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I only have a black screen when turning on my Dell computer running windows
| xp. Yes the obvious I've checked. While booting up and hitting F8 I get
| "keyboard not detected" error so I can't even get into safe mode. I've
| called Dell and they're sending me a Windows XP disc which wasn't included
| with my new computer. I was told to change in the "setup" program from HDD
| first to CD first then reinstall XP from the CD. As I recall isn't there a
| way I can boot into windows from that disc and try a system restore? Or if
| necessary would an option be to install only the necessary system files
| instead of the entire OS so that I don't lose files I've saved? Also.... not
| that I know how to, but is an option to run "repair" from the CD? Suggestions
| anyone? Thanks you!
|
| --
| Lee Lord

 

[Talahasee]

I only have a black screen when turning on my Dell computer running windows
xp. Yes the obvious I've checked. While booting up and hitting F8 I get
"keyboard not detected" error so I can't even get into safe mode. I've
called Dell and they're sending me a Windows XP disc which wasn't included
with my new computer. I was told to change in the "setup" program from HDD
first to CD first then reinstall XP from the CD. As I recall isn't there a
way I can boot into windows from that disc and try a system restore? Or if
necessary would an option be to install only the necessary system files
instead of the entire OS so that I don't lose files I've saved? Also.... not
that I know how to, but is an option to run "repair" from the CD? Suggestions
anyone? Thanks you!

If you have a real, register able, full version of XP, you
can select the "Install XP" item from the menu WITHOUT
formatting your hard drive (and consequently losing your
data).

If there is too much damage to install a fresh copy of
Windows XP over what you have (and thereby replacing the
damaged/missing files), the install will tell you.

In a dozen attempts to install XP OVER a damaged copy of XP,
I have succeeded something like 25% of the time.

It IS doable, but not likely in many cases.

This is EXACTLY why you have likely heard from many sources
"back up!"

For EXACTLY this reason, I have an EXTERNAL hard drive that
is bigger than my OS. I keep both a copy of my most current
OS AND several backup copies of my data on it.

If I have a HARD crash (frequently), I just turn off my
external hard drive (you need one with an on/off switch)

And I format and reinstall. Once I have everything running
again (you can ALWAYS reinstall software)

I restore my data sets from my external hard drive, and I'm
back where I started, almost faster than I can type this.

A complete system install takes under 3 hours, and I do it
at LEAST quarterly. (I like a CLEAN machine).

I also backup daily.

And here's a backup trick. With my external drive (I'll
call it I ), I open I, I create a folder like, MyDocs
012706 1355.
That gives me the date and time I began my backup, in
military time.
I then drag a shortcut to my Desktop.
I open my MY Docs folder, and begin dragging groups of
folders onto my new shortcut.

In 20-30 minutes, I have a full backup.

Weekly or so, I burn the backup-- or the original on C, onto
a CD RW or two (at this time, I believe I'm using 6 CD RWs).

There may well be automated ways to achieve this, but it
doesn't take long, and I've tried several of the automated
ways, and was not impressed.

If I do it manually, I know it's a good backup.




Tallahassee

 

[Steve N.]

If you have a real, register able, full version of XP, you
can select the "Install XP" item from the menu WITHOUT
formatting your hard drive (and consequently losing your
data).

A real OEM CD (not a lame Restore CD) is capable of doing this. And wtf
is "register able"?

If there is too much damage to install a fresh copy of
Windows XP over what you have (and thereby replacing the
damaged/missing files), the install will tell you.

No it won't. Were do you come up with this? And around here "a fresh
copy of Windows XP" is _not_ a Repair Install.

In a dozen attempts to install XP OVER a damaged copy of XP,
I have succeeded something like 25% of the time.

Then you're doing something terribly wrong and/or dealing with hardware
issues.

It IS doable, but not likely in many cases.

I've done scores of Repair Installs without incident. In fact I can't
think of a single Repair Install that failed me. That is not to say
something can't go wrong.

This is EXACTLY why you have likely heard from many sources
"back up!"

That's always good advice.

For EXACTLY this reason, I have an EXTERNAL hard drive that
is bigger than my OS. I keep both a copy of my most current
OS AND several backup copies of my data on it.

If I have a HARD crash (frequently),

Again, there is something very wrong here. If you get frequent hard
drive crashes look into the cause.

I just turn off my
external hard drive (you need one with an on/off switch)

And I format and reinstall. Once I have everything running
again (you can ALWAYS reinstall software)

I restore my data sets from my external hard drive, and I'm
back where I started, almost faster than I can type this.

A complete system install takes under 3 hours, and I do it
at LEAST quarterly. (I like a CLEAN machine).

Then don't get it dirty in the first place.

I also backup daily.

With a system like you apparently have I would, too. Seriously, you need
to look into what is wrong with your box.

<snip>

Steve N.