Reinstalling xp home upgrade

[deb]

I am trying to reinstall my xphome upgrade but the computer is saying that
the disk is older than the current installation. I'm assuming it's because of
the service packs.
I would like to reinstall without losing my files or settings, is this
possible?

 

[JS]

Is there a specific reason why you need to reinstall XP?

JS

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am trying to reinstall my xphome upgrade

Why? It's very rarely the right thing to do.

but the computer is saying that
the disk is older than the current installation. I'm assuming it's because of
the service packs.

Yes. But when you reinstall properly, it doesn't matter, since
reinstalling reformats the drive, thereby deleting everything on it.
To reinstall you boot from the XP CD and follow the prompts. You're
doing it wrong, which is why you are getting the message.

I would like to reinstall without losing my files or settings, is this
possible?

No. Reinstalling means removing everything on your drive. If you want
to reinstall, you need to first backup everything on your drive (if
you're not already doing this regularly, you are living very
dangerously), reinstall, then restore your backup.

There's something called a "repair installation" which will leave your
files intact, but that's a misnomer in my view. It's not a real
reinstallation but just a repair of the existing operating system. It
successfully fixes some problems, but unlike a real reinstallation,
leaves many other problems unchanged.

 

[Nepatsfan]

I am trying to reinstall my xphome upgrade but the computer is saying that
the disk is older than the current installation. I'm assuming it's because of
the service packs.
I would like to reinstall without losing my files or settings, is this
possible?

That's because you're trying to start the repair installation from within
Windows. Boot from the CD and you won't get that message. Take a look at this
article for info.

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

Keep in mind that while a repair install should preserve your installed programs
and data files you should always back up any files you can't afford to lose just
in case something goes wrong. You can also expect to have to reinstall any
updates/service packs that have been released since the version of XP on your
installation CD was released.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[deb]

the reason i want to reinstall my upgrade is so i can do a complete install
and eliminate the win98 info on my computer

 

[deb]

thank you, that sounds like great advice

That's because you're trying to start the repair installation from within
Windows. Boot from the CD and you won't get that message. Take a look at this
article for info.

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

Keep in mind that while a repair install should preserve your installed programs
and data files you should always back up any files you can't afford to lose just
in case something goes wrong. You can also expect to have to reinstall any
updates/service packs that have been released since the version of XP on your
installation CD was released.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Nepatsfan]

In your response to JS you said you wanted to "do a complete install and
eliminate the win98 info on my computer". The advice I passed along to do a
repair install won't accomplish that objective. How about expanding on what you
mean by "eliminate the win98 info on my computer". Exactly what are you trying
to accomplish?

The only way you're going to be able to clear out remnants of a previous
installation is to do a clean install. You can use your XP Upgrade CD for this
as long as you also have an installation CD for a previous version of Windows.
In your case that would probably be a Windows 98 installation CD. You would boot
from the XP installation CD to start the process and then take out the XP CD and
put the Windows 98 CD in the drive when requested early in the process.

Keep in mind that a clean installation will wipe out all your files and folders.
You'd need to backup any data files you want to keep. You'd also have to
reinstall any applications that you wanted to carry over to the new
installation.

Here are a couple of articles on the subject that you may find helpful.

Clean Install Procedure with Illustrative Screen Captures
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[JS]

Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows 9x/Me
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_9xupgrade.asp

It's not the same as a "Clean Install', but if all goes well you can remove
the files saved during the upgrade process to free up some disk space.

All recommend checking that you have XP versions of the drivers (Video card,
Sound card, Network card, Etc.) you will most likely need for either a Clean
Install or using the Upgrade option.

JS