what if I install xp on a system that has xp

[dancer]

I've got a major problem with computer. I can't get into
windows. I have the windows xp cd. What if I use it to
reinstall xp so that I can get to some data that is on this harddrive?
Will reinstallation of xp harm data in My Documents folder??

 

[Steve N.]

I've got a major problem with computer. I can't get into
windows. I have the windows xp cd. What if I use it to
reinstall xp so that I can get to some data that is on this harddrive?
Will reinstallation of xp harm data in My Documents folder??

Depends on the XP type and type of install.

What are the specific problems you are having, what lead up to them and
what have you tried to do in order to fix them? There's a chance that
your problems could be fixed without resorting to a reinstallation of
Windows.

Steve

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I've got a major problem with computer. I can't get into
| windows. I have the windows xp cd. What if I use it to
| reinstall xp so that I can get to some data that is on this harddrive?
| Will reinstallation of xp harm data in My Documents folder??

 

[T. Waters]

I've got a major problem with computer. I can't get into
windows. I have the windows xp cd. What if I use it to
reinstall xp so that I can get to some data that is on this harddrive?
Will reinstallation of xp harm data in My Documents folder??

Dancer, as Steve says, your problem could be anything from a corrupted file
to bad hardware. If you are in a hurry, you may want to try a Repair Install
of XP. A clean install will harm your My Documents folder.
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
Author: Michael Stevens MS-MVP

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

If you cannot perform the Repair Install, or it fails to solve your problem,
then please post back here with a detailed, seqential description of what
has hapened so far.

 

[dancer]

Depends on the XP type and type of install.

What are the specific problems you are having, what lead up to them and
what have you tried to do in order to fix them?

xp pro sp1. winsrv is corrupt. I can't get into windows, I can't use the
recovery console. I haven't done anything yet but have only been studying
the problem. Thanks for your time and kindness in trying to help.

 

[dancer]

Thanks Carey. That seems to assume that I can get into windows which
I can't. I can't get into Recovery Console either. I have the xp pro cd
with sp1 that came with computer.

 

[dancer]

Dancer, as Steve says, your problem could be anything from a corrupted file
to bad hardware. If you are in a hurry, you may want to try a Repair Install
of XP. A clean install will harm your My Documents folder.

I read the material but it seems to assume that I can at least get to
start/run.
I can't get into windows at all. winsrv is corrupt. I can't get into safe
mode
or Recovery Console.

What about if I get the software to change the partition and load xp into
another
partition so that I can at least retrieve the data. Of course, if I could
do that,
then I could insert a new winsrv into the os and all should be fine.

 

[Steve N.]

I read the material but it seems to assume that I can at least get to
start/run.
I can't get into windows at all. winsrv is corrupt. I can't get into safe
mode
or Recovery Console.

What about if I get the software to change the partition and load xp into
another
partition so that I can at least retrieve the data. Of course, if I could
do that,
then I could insert a new winsrv into the os and all should be fine.

You might try slaving the drive to another XP box and see if you can
copy a good winsrv.dll file to it that way. Should go into
Windows\System32 and Windows\dllcache.

Steve

 

[RA]

Read this:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[dancer]

Read this:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

I studied this but I can't get to start/run. I can't get into windows at
all.

 

[dancer]

You might try slaving the drive to another XP box and see if you can
copy a good winsrv.dll file to it that way. Should go into
Windows\System32 and Windows\dllcache.

Thanks. I will be doing essentially that but am waiting on an adapter
cable to connect laptop hdd to IDE in my desktop.

 

[RA]

Study it some more. You don't need to go to Start/Run. You boot with the CD.
Go down to the part that says Repair Install and read it.

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks Carey. That seems to assume that I can get into windows which
I can't. I can't get into Recovery Console either. I have the xp pro cd
with sp1 that came with computer.

No it doesn't. Read the instructions again. Here is the first step:

1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot
order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check
your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the
boot order.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[dancer]

Study it some more. You don't need to go to Start/Run. You boot with the CD.
Go down to the part that says Repair Install and read it.

Great, thanks, I was in too much of a hurry. So xp works the same as w2k in
that
way. I am used to doing that with w2k.

Thanks again!!!

 

[dancer]

Thanks, you're right, but I will have to try that on Monday.
Thanks again.

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

Study it some more. You don't need to go to Start/Run. You boot with
the CD. Go down to the part that says Repair Install and read it.

RA, Carey, Ron and T,

Thanks for referenencing my web page, and please note I updated a few
paragraphs I think were confusing the OP.
Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
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