Win XP SP2 Re-Install

[Guest]

I need to reinstall Win XP from CD as I can't boot up.When booting after the
DELL Screen, it asks me to start Windows Normally, In SAFE, or from Last
Known Config. When I choose one, it just shuts down and restarts
autimatically 1000 times. Can I reinstall from CD (I don't have a recovery CD
- just the Install CD) and can I reinstall without losing my files/info?

 

[Guest]

Reinstalling XP will delete your registry, causing you to have to reinstall
programs over themselves in order for them to be seen as installed by
windows, but you will not lose anything outside the windows directory. You
will lose your settings, but not your files. Note that if you do not have
the Dell recovery CD, the correct drivers may not be installed when you are
finished. You should check under optional updates in the windows update
website for driver updates. Also check the websites of various vendors.
There is a utility called WinDriverBackup that will backup all your drivers
if you can boot to safe mode (although it sounds as though you are unable to
do this).

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I need to reinstall Win XP from CD as I can't boot up.When booting
after the DELL Screen, it asks me to start Windows Normally, In SAFE,
or from Last Known Config. When I choose one, it just shuts down and
restarts autimatically 1000 times. Can I reinstall from CD (I don't
have a recovery CD - just the Install CD) and can I reinstall without
losing my files/info?

A clean reinstallation from the CD means the loss of *everything* on your
drive.

 

[Guest]

How is that - you can just reinstall to the windows directory without
reformatting your drive. Granted that this is not considered a "Clean"
install, but it is a reinstall.

 

[Gordon]

How is that - you can just reinstall to the windows directory without
reformatting your drive. Granted that this is not considered a "Clean"
install, but it is a reinstall.

That's called a REPAIR install.....

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

That's called a REPAIR install.....

And is a confusing term, in my view. I wish it were just called a "repair,"
and not a "repair installation.

 

[Gordon]

And is a confusing term, in my view. I wish it were just called a
"repair," and not a "repair installation.

But without all these confusing terms where would we support people be? ;-)