Repair installation of Windows XP question

[Guest]

I have performed a number of repair installations of XP and other versions of
Windows but occasionally the repair option will not be displayed (XP) or not
work (other Windows). Apparently there are some Windows system files that
are not seen during this process so the install occurs as a secondary
installation rather then the repair I was expecting. Does anyone know which
files are needed to effect a repair installation rather then a secondary
installation?

 

[Rock]

I have performed a number of repair installations of XP and other versions of
Windows but occasionally the repair option will not be displayed (XP) or not
work (other Windows). Apparently there are some Windows system files that
are not seen during this process so the install occurs as a secondary
installation rather then the repair I was expecting. Does anyone know which
files are needed to effect a repair installation rather then a secondary
installation?

It could be a matter of the installation CD. Not all OEM CD's and
recovery CD's have the same options.

 

[Michael Stevens]

I have performed a number of repair installations of XP and other
versions of Windows but occasionally the repair option will not be
displayed (XP) or not work (other Windows). Apparently there are
some Windows system files that are not seen during this process so
the install occurs as a secondary installation rather then the repair
I was expecting. Does anyone know which files are needed to effect a
repair installation rather then a secondary installation?

See the warnings on the link below.
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Guest]

Rock,

Good suggestion! I was going to try this as I had a copy of the original
Dell XP disk for this computer and also a copy of a Compaq XP disk. But as I
had run across this problem before I thought I might share the issue with
others in the tech community to see if there was a hard to find fix for this
problem. I guess the real problem is that the computer manufactuers "add" to
the original XP disk.
The repair install is working with the Compaq XP disk.

thanks

John

 

[Michael Stevens]

Rock,

Good suggestion! I was going to try this as I had a copy of the
original Dell XP disk for this computer and also a copy of a Compaq
XP disk. But as I had run across this problem before I thought I
might share the issue with others in the tech community to see if
there was a hard to find fix for this problem. I guess the real
problem is that the computer manufactuers "add" to the original XP
disk.
The repair install is working with the Compaq XP disk.

thanks

John

The OEM CD's are not the problem. There are missing files on the
installation you want to repair, that is the reason the option to repair is
not offered. Follow the warnings in the link below.
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have performed a number of repair installations of XP and other versions of
Windows but occasionally the repair option will not be displayed (XP) or not
work (other Windows). Apparently there are some Windows system files that
are not seen during this process so the install occurs as a secondary
installation rather then the repair I was expecting. Does anyone know which
files are needed to effect a repair installation rather then a secondary
installation?

The most likely is that you have lost the line in boot.ini that points
to the installation. If necessary, rebuild that . Boot the XP CD and,
instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair. Assume any password
requested is blank, and TAB over.
Give:
ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
(thus deleting the old one)
BootCfg /Rebuild