xp reinstalled, can see previous programs, can't access

[SJ]

Just had to reinstall xp, the install said it would overwrite & I would
lose all data - but apparently I did not. I can navigate to all my
previous files in win explorer - but some of the software won't work,
such as microsoft office software, such as Word. Error says 'microsoft
word is not installed for current user, please install setup. I think
I understand the problem is I am logging into the newly installed xp
instead of the original xp where office is installed. Could I have 2
xp oper systems installed side-by-side on the drive (laptop - have only
one hard drive). I have only about 25% free disk space now, less than
before crash & burn. The previously installed programs are not listed
under Programs on the start menu, but do show up in Win Explorer. I
can open some of the files, such as photos - but the word files are
shown as text files instead of word docs.
Is there a way to resolve this & access programs without re-installing?
Do I have to somehow delete the 1st xp install to recover disk space?
I don't want to lose my files & programs.

 

[Walt G]

After reinstalling XP, the registry entries that were previously there for
your programs no longer exist, so as far as Windows is concerned these
programs are no longer there. The answer is to reinstall the programs again.
For this you will obviously need your original installation disks. To see if
this approach solves the problem, take one program, reinstall that, and see
what happens, and if it works, reinstall everything else. You will also need
to reapply updates.

 

[SJ]

Actually, I've done more poking around since I posted. The original
registry still exists! I can get to it through RUN: regedit. I can get
to the original programs through Windows Explorer, but they aren't on
the Programs list in the start menu.)
Some of the programs do open, some don't. I'm surmising the original
registry exists in the original xp installation and the new
installation is residing on the same drive but not interacting with the
original registry in all instances. It may be a user conflict. Logging
in to the new XP, I'm a different user than previously logged in to the
old XP. Does this make sense?
I'm not a tech - just trying to deduce rational explanation. Also,
there is the issue of the greatly reduced free space on the hard drive,
which also makes me suspect I have 2 separate XP's installed! (one
good, one bad).
What led to this is, the computer froze (blue screen of death) after
checking disk, I could not even start in safe mode. I tried running
restore & repair from XP CD and that wouldn't work either, so I ended
up doing a compete re-install - which I expected would overwrite but
now am wondering if it didn't actually overwrite! thanks for the help.
I'm trying to avoid re-installing because of the hard-drive free space
issue & fear that something might not just over-write - especially if
there are in fact 2 operating systems on here.