Repair Installation

[Guest]

Hi,

To trace back, I started having problem with XP in 2005. Well it wasn't a
big problem but whenever I played a game, it crashed randomly. Recently, I
fixed the problem by running Windows Memory Diagonostic and found the pieces
of RAM somehow won't work together. It was fixed by adding an additional
piece of RAM.

Now, somehow, whenever I insert a CD into my drive, the "autorun.exe" fails
and I have an intention to repair XP (since its kind of messy now. Can't run
Java, and experiencing many problems). The sad news is, I lost my copy of XP
when I moved from one country to another. Is there an alternative way to
perform an repair installation without the CD (I know it's kind of
impossible) or using other CD to perform the installation? Any comments,
ideas, concerns, suggestions are welcomed.

 

[You Know Who ~]

I think you will have to resort to buying a new copy of XP and doing an
install. I frankly would not do a repair, I would wipe the drive and start
fresh.

 

[Rock]

Hi,

To trace back, I started having problem with XP in 2005. Well it wasn't a
big problem but whenever I played a game, it crashed randomly. Recently, I
fixed the problem by running Windows Memory Diagonostic and found the
pieces
of RAM somehow won't work together. It was fixed by adding an additional
piece of RAM.

Now, somehow, whenever I insert a CD into my drive, the "autorun.exe"
fails
and I have an intention to repair XP (since its kind of messy now. Can't
run
Java, and experiencing many problems). The sad news is, I lost my copy of
XP
when I moved from one country to another. Is there an alternative way to
perform an repair installation without the CD (I know it's kind of
impossible) or using other CD to perform the installation? Any comments,
ideas, concerns, suggestions are welcomed.

To do a repair install you need the CD. You can borrow a CD of the same
type as you have and use that. For example if you have XP Pro retail in
English then borrow that CD. The have to match in the following
characteristics.
Home v. Pro
Retail v. Generic OEM v. Branded OEM v. Volume license
Language

If you find someone that has the same type of CD, then just copy it.

 

[Guest]

Borrow a disc? Wouldn't it be non-genuine then? Btw my activation key is
different apart from the disc borrowed. Will it matter? (I am using a genuine
XP - activated)

 

[Ron Martell]

Borrow a disc? Wouldn't it be non-genuine then? Btw my activation key is
different apart from the disc borrowed. Will it matter? (I am using a genuine
XP - activated)

A borrowed disk will work with your product key provided:

1. Your installed Windows XP is not a "BIOS Locked" OEM version, and
the borrowed disk does not have the name/logo of a computer
manufacturer on it.
2. The borrowed disk and your installed Windows XP match each other
with respect to:
- Edition (Home, Pro, Tablet, Media Center)
- Version (Retail Upgrade, OEM, Retail Full Install, Volume License,
Academic, etc.)
- Language

To determine if your installed XP is an OEM version open Control Panel
- General and look at the Product I.D. code reported as the last line
in the "Licensed to:" section. If the second segment of the Product
I.D. Code reads OEM then you have an OEM version installed.

To determine if your OEM version is "BIOS Locked" look on the Start
Menu in the Accessories - System Tools menu for an "Activate Windows"
menu item. If this item is not present then your installed OEM
Windows XP is BIOS Locked.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Guest]

Thanks. It's indeed very helpful. So as long as I have the same version, same
language, same edition and a not BIOS locked computer, a borrowed disc is
fine. One last question - should I perform a repair installation (not using
the recovery console) or the recovery console?

 

[Rock]

Borrow a disc? Wouldn't it be non-genuine then? Btw my activation key is
different apart from the disc borrowed. Will it matter? (I am using a
genuine
XP - activated)

As I said there is nothing unique about the XP CD. It's not tied to a
particular product key except by type. Any XP CD of the same type as you
have installed will work with your product key.

A repair install is not started from the recovery console. Here is a link
with info on how to do a repair install.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks. It's indeed very helpful. So as long as I have the same version, same
language, same edition and a not BIOS locked computer, a borrowed disc is
fine. One last question - should I perform a repair installation (not using
the recovery console) or the recovery console?

Sorry for the delay in replying to this. I was away for a week.

Based on your original description of the problem you would need to do
a Repair Install as per the link that Rock gave you.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."