Reinstalling Windows XP Home Edition

[Sonsson]

How do I go about reinstalling Windows XP Home Edition? The install disc
that I have is outdated.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

How do I go about reinstalling Windows XP Home Edition? The install disc
that I have is outdated.

No, your disk is not outdated. Set your BIOS so that the PC uses the CD
drive as its preferred boot device, then pop in your WinXP installation CD
and boot from that CD. Now follow the prompts. If you allow the installation
process to format the hard disk then you will, of course, lose all personal
files (including your EMail files).

 

[Andrew E.]

"Outdated",if you have the 2002 xp retail disk,it is'nt outdated,current
production
xp cds have the same version but the SP1,2, & 3 are included.You simply need
to boot pc to xp cd,select "install xp",new copy,delete the
partition,create one,let
xp format & reinstall auto.Once installed,windows update will install the
service
packs for you....

 

[Sonsson]

I already set my bios for the cd being the no.1 source of boot. When I put my
boot disc in I got the response that my computer files were newer than my
boot disc and it wouldn't allow a reinstall.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

I already set my bios for the cd being the no.1 source of boot. When I put
my
boot disc in I got the response that my computer files were newer than my
boot disc and it wouldn't allow a reinstall.

I suspect you're still trying to run the setup process while Windows is up
and running. This won't work. When you select the "Install Windows" option
at boot time then the process is unconditional.

Perhaps you're not booting off the CD at all, either because your CD drive
is marginal/defective or the CD you use is not a Windows installation CD or
it is damaged. Have a good look at its label and test it on another machine.

 

[Ron Badour]

It sounds like you are attempting a repair install with a CD that does not
contain the service packs which you have installed to your system. If you
want to start fresh, select the format option (all files lost) and then your
CD should work. Or, if you have the inclination and a CD burner, you can
try creating a current CD using slipstreaming:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

 

[Mark Adams]

I already set my bios for the cd being the no.1 source of boot. When I put my
boot disc in I got the response that my computer files were newer than my
boot disc and it wouldn't allow a reinstall.

You have to press any key to boot from CD right at the start of the install.
If you miss this the computer will boot off the hard drive, and not the disk.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What Ron Badour said. You'll need to format & do a clean install.

If the clean install leaves you with WinXP Gold (no Service Packs), here's
how to get it fully patched:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

If the clean install leaves you with WinXP SP1(a) or SP2, here's how to get
it fully patched:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
[clean install = a new computer]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

Rogue Security Software - Microsoft Security:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/rogue.mspx

 

[Daave]

How do I go about reinstalling Windows XP Home Edition? The install
disc that I have is outdated.

Do you want to perform a Repair Install or a Clean Install? Also, what
is the reason?

 

[Anna]

It sounds like you are attempting a repair install with a CD that does not
contain the service packs which you have installed to your system. If you
want to start fresh, select the format option (all files lost) and then
your CD should work. Or, if you have the inclination and a CD burner, you
can try creating a current CD using slipstreaming:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

Sonny:
1. We're assuming that when you indicate about "reinstalling Windows XP Home
Edition", your objective is to simply reinstall that OS so that *all* your
programs & data will be retained. In other words, you're *not* interested in
a fresh-install of the OS in which case *all* your programs/data would be
deleted. That's right, isn't it?

2. Assuming it is, it would seem that the reason you want to do this is that
you've experienced one or more problems involving your OS and you believe a
"reinstall" of such will correct the situation, right?

So we'll proceed on the above understanding...

3. What is apparently happening is that when you boot to your XP OS
installation CD and select the "Upgrade" installation type option, XP
detects that the current version of the OS installed on your HDD contains a
SP later than the SP (if any) on your current XP OS installation CD (as you
have heard from a number of responders to your query).

Because of this, you get the "Setup cannot continue because the version of
Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD", etc. etc.
Possibly the version of the XP OS currently installed contains SP3, yes?

4. One way to get around this is to follow Ron's suggestion and create a
"slipstreamed" XP OS CD containing (at least) the SP currently installed on
your present OS or perhaps a later one, e.g., SP3.

If you want to go that route I would suggest using the Autostreamer program.
It's freely available, relatively simple to use, and effective in creating a
slipstreamed CD. To download the program see...
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Autostreamer.shtml
Step-by-step instructions for using AutoStreamer can be found at
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm
and,
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.shtml
(I trust all those links are still active.)

5. Another option would be to undertake a Repair install of the XP OS. This
assumes you're working with a non-branded OEM or full retail version of the
XP OS installation CD that will allow you to undertake such an install. If
you go that route you could use your present installation CD regardless of
the fact that it contains an earlier SP than what's on your present system.
Assuming the Repair install is successful you could then install a later SP
should you choose to.

In any event, whatever process you decide to undertake it would be a very
good idea to first copy any important/crucial files that you need or want
from your present system. Better yet would be to clone your present HDD or
create a disk-image of your system.
Anna

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I already set my bios for the cd being the no.1 source of boot. When I put my
boot disc in I got the response that my computer files were newer than my
boot disc and it wouldn't allow a reinstall.

Then you're doing it wrong. When you do it correctly, it begins by
formatting the drive, and it therefore doesn't at all care what was on
the drive.

Just boot from the Windows XP 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).

 

[Sonsson]

I'm thinking that my disc might be corrupted. How do I get a new disc?

 

[Mark Adams]

I'm thinking that my disc might be corrupted. How do I get a new disc?

For replacement of damaged media, see this link.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

 

[Bill in Co.]

Seems VERY unlikely.

I'm thinking that my disc might be corrupted. How do I get a new disc?

 

[Daave]

As Pegasus, Ron, and Anna have already stated, the explanation for the
behavior you are experiencing is the result of two things:

1. You are attempting to perform a Repair Install, but instead of
booting off the CD, you are booting off Windows (i.e., your hard drive).

and

2. The Service Pack level of the installation CD does not match the
level of your current installation of Windows XP (i.e., the one on your
hard drive).

There is no evidence there is anything at all wrong with your disk.

So once more, do you want to perform a Repair Install or a Clean
Install? Also, what
is the reason?

Reinstalling XP is usually not necessary. If you are able to clearly
describe the specific problems you are having, we will be able to
diagnose your problem and offer an appropriate solution. If it involves
performing a Clean Install, we will guide you. (Keep in mind that a
Clean Install is drastic and takes a lot of time). If you do in fact
need to perform a Repair Install, we will guide you there as well. There
are a number of things you need to do beforehand to perform a Repair
Install, too. Once those things are done, the message you saw will no
longer show.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I'm thinking that my disc might be corrupted. How do I get a new disc?