Will I lose data if...

[Guest]

Will I lose data if I reinstall/repair Windows XP. I'm trying to repair the
windows managemant instrutmentation but in order to fix it I have to
reinstall Windows XP but I wouldn't do it if it meant losing all/most of my
files/programs. Also is there anyway way to back up my hard drive without
using a myriad of disk floppies (I can't back them up on any cd's).

 

[Jerry]

IF, big IF, you have the CD for a retail verion of XP then you can do a
repair install without losing data.

The other IF, you have a restore CD which came with a system on which XP was
installed by the manufacturer then you can only do a restore install and it
will return your system to what it was when it left the factory; meaning
everything done after that will be gone; you will lose all changes, updates,
etc.

Further, if you have retail, XP original or with SP1, and you upgraded to
SP2 the original CD will not repair because the CD is an 'earlier version'.
You can slipsteam the original CD and the SP2 download and then burn a new
CD. Dp a Google search on slipstreaming.

 

[Ron Martell]

Will I lose data if I reinstall/repair Windows XP. I'm trying to repair the
windows managemant instrutmentation but in order to fix it I have to
reinstall Windows XP but I wouldn't do it if it meant losing all/most of my
files/programs. Also is there anyway way to back up my hard drive without
using a myriad of disk floppies (I can't back them up on any cd's).

If you cannot backup your hard drive to a CD or DVD then your next
best option is to use another hard drive and save the backup there.

Doing a repair install of Windows XP will normally preserve all of
your installed applications, user data files, and program
configuration settings. However all Windows Updates will have to be
reinstalled. But in order to do a Repair Install you must have a full
installation CD for Windows XP. A "system recovery" disk or a "system
recovery" partition on the hard drive will not do this in most cases
although some manufacturers do make a provision for "repairing".

Also remember Murphy's Law - "if anything can go wrong it will" - and
be prepared for problems. It also often helps to remember that all
computers are female. Doing a repair install without adequate
backups is an invitation to disaster and I hesitate to recommend doing
so unless all other options have been exhausted.

What is your exact problem with Windows Management Intrumentation and
where were you told that a reinstall was necessary to fix the problem?
There may be another way to fix your problem.

Good luck


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

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Guest]

Well my version of Windows XP home edition/SP2 is a retail purchase. I
originally had Windows 98 SE but later on upgraded to windows xp. I doubt
that I'll be able to backup my files to another hard drive since i don't own
another hard drive but my problem with the WMI is that everytime I try to
access system information (msinfo32.exe) it says that the WMI is either
corruptted or missing. So the only way that I haven't tried to fix this is to
make a repair of Windows XP. The link that I got this solution from is
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823775.

 

[Ron Martell]

Well my version of Windows XP home edition/SP2 is a retail purchase. I
originally had Windows 98 SE but later on upgraded to windows xp. I doubt
that I'll be able to backup my files to another hard drive since i don't own
another hard drive but my problem with the WMI is that everytime I try to
access system information (msinfo32.exe) it says that the WMI is either
corruptted or missing. So the only way that I haven't tried to fix this is to
make a repair of Windows XP. The link that I got this solution from is
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823775.

Here is a web site with a possible fix for your WMI problems.
http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/40267/40267.html

This page has the same info about WMI plus several items relating to
MSINFO32. Search the page for MSINFO32 - there are several items.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm

Good luck


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

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."