Replacing Corrupted/Missing Files On SP2

[Guest]

I have Windows XP Pro with SP2 installed. I've had a problem with disc space
which appears to have resulted in some of the files being corrupted or
deleted in "AdministrativeTools" and the "Search" function. I can't restore
my computer using the System Restore function as all of the restore points
have been deleted, as have the points on Norton Go Back. I have the orginal
XP Pro SP1 disc, but when I try to repair the damaged files, or install the
Recovery Console, I get an error message which reads
"Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is
newer than the version on the CD.

Warning: If you decide to delete the newer version of Windows that is
currently installed on your computer, the files and settings cannot be
recovered."

I could uninstall SP2 and so revert to SP1, but I get a message warning me
that other hotfixes may not run properly.
Can anyone suggest the best course of action? I'd rather not reinstall
everything from scratch, so would uninstalling SP2 and using the SP1 disc to
repair the installation be the best solution, or is it possible to get to the
missing files through SP2? Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

[Rich Barry]

Jules, one course of action would be to create a slipstreamed WinXP+SP2
CD. You can find the instructions here
But you have to make space on your hard drive. Rt click on
MyComputer>select Properties>System Restore>check box
Turn off restore on all drives.


http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm You can download
SP2 here

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

Another would be to Uninstall SP2. After, remove all the $UNinstall$
folders from the Windows Folder to free up space.
You could then go to Start>Run type: sfc /scannow In the end you
may find doing a
Repair Install might work.

 

[Guest]

If you are certain that your hard drive is OK and the errors were not due to
it starting to deterioriate, then it's worth rebuilding the Xp envirnment.

Depending upon your skills level and experience it may take you longer to
build a slipstreamed SP2 installation CD than it would to do a two step
installation.

I would perform a repair installation of Xp. This will NOT change any
settings NOR will it delete your personal files. That said, it is always a
good practice to copy or backup personal data on a regular basis. Right now
is a good time.

Make sure you drop into a PC store and get the SP2 CD [it's free], or copy
it to a CD if you still have the files on your Hard Drive.

Then after repairing from your oringinal installation CD, you can then hook
into the SP2 upgrade.

This way it would add 1/2 hour to the installation / repair process.

Slipstreaming SP2, may take 15 mins to whatever longer for the inexperienced.

 

[Guest]

Thanks to BAR & Rich Barry for your suggestions. I've been able to restore my
missing/corrupted files by using the 'slipstreamed' SP2 installation and now
have a fully working O/S. Many thanks.