WIN XP SP2

[skip]

Is it possible to wipe out just the Windows directory and reinstall XP
SP2 back on the hard drive with out wiping out the other programs on
the C drive.
I have tried the repair process several times and it isn't working for
me. If I have to as a last resort, I can wipe the hard drive out or
partition it to install the XP Program. The only other solution I can
see is to delete all the programs that I have loaded and defrag,
scandisk and then reload from the beginning. However, I will still
have a bad registry. I am trying for a clean install without removing
the other programs. There are to many problems to list here.
Thanks for any input.

Dan (Still going in circles)

 

[Tony]

Is it possible to wipe out just the Windows directory and reinstall XP
SP2 back on the hard drive with out wiping out the other programs on
the C drive.
I have tried the repair process several times and it isn't working for
me. If I have to as a last resort, I can wipe the hard drive out or
partition it to install the XP Program. The only other solution I can
see is to delete all the programs that I have loaded and defrag,
scandisk and then reload from the beginning. However, I will still
have a bad registry. I am trying for a clean install without removing
the other programs. There are to many problems to list here.
Thanks for any input.

Dan (Still going in circles)

No it is not. The programmes will modify the operating system e.g.
registry, dll files that won't be restored when you reinstall XP.

Only way is to wipe the had drive and reinstall everything. Deleting
programs, running scandisk and defrag will not repair a corrupt registry.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Dan.

I have tried the repair process several times and it isn't working for
me.

"The repair process"? Do you mean "repair install", also known as "in-place
upgrade"? That should do exactly what you want: completely reinstall WinXP
itself, but leave all your installed applications and data intact. It
corrects the system parts of the Registry but leaves all or most of your
tweaks. It restores WinXP to the version on the CD-ROM that you use, so you
will have to visit Windows Update (or Microsoft Update), as soon as you get
your firewall and anti-virus back in place, to get all the post-SP2 fixes
again.

For Microsoft's official instructions, see KB article 315341:
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

Many users find MVP Michael Stevens' version easier to follow:
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Many users misread the obscure instructions after booting from the WinXP
CDROM. Do not press "R" the first time it is offered; this starts the
Recovery Console, which is NOT what you need for this project. Press
"Enter" here, then press F8 to accept the EULA. Press "R" in the next
screen to "install" or "setup" Windows - this is the step that performs the
repair install.

This will take about as long as a clean install, plus the updates, so better
set aside a couple of hours for the whole project.

If this doesn't work, post back and tell us exactly what you did and exactly
what results you saw. "I have tried the repair process" doesn't tell us
enough, and neither does "it isn't working for me". Details help us to help
you.

RC

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Is it possible to wipe out just the Windows directory and reinstall XP
SP2 back on the hard drive with out wiping out the other programs on
the C drive.

Yes, it's possible, but doing so would be rather pointless. You'd
still have to reinstall each and every application and game anyway, in
order to recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of registry entries
and to replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of essential system files
back into the appropriate Windows folders and sub-folders.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[skip]

Is it possible to wipe out just the Windows directory and reinstall XP
SP2 back on the hard drive with out wiping out the other programs on
the C drive.
I have tried the repair process several times and it isn't working for
me. If I have to as a last resort, I can wipe the hard drive out or
partition it to install the XP Program. The only other solution I can
see is to delete all the programs that I have loaded and defrag,
scandisk and then reload from the beginning. However, I will still
have a bad registry. I am trying for a clean install without removing
the other programs. There are to many problems to list here.
Thanks for any input.

Dan (Still going in circles)

Gentleman,
Thank you for getting back to me. I am thinking (bad thing for an old
man) that I just may partition my drive into about a 15 gig size and
load windows xp into that and then I will still have the old system
(not working) available so I know what I need to reload. Once all the
programs are reloaded I can delete the old partition.
Thanks again for the in site.

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH
This I can understand after 21 years active with the men and women in
BLUE.. USAF

Dan (Still going in circles)