XP repair optiion- How

[Blair]

I have found that Autoexec.bat and config.sys are shown as blanks on sysedit
and there are no ports listed on device manager but I can still connect to
the Internet OK
I though I would use XP system repair but when I looked at the contents of
the reinstallation CD I could not find any reference to repair
Do I reinstall XP over the existing XP to correct this? And if so will it
affect any of the other installed software?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Blair

Depending on what type of XP CD you have, please try the following article
by Michael Stevens:

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

 

[The Prophecy]

And No, doing a repair install will not affect any of your installed
software.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

It is normal for Autoexec.bat and Config.sys to be blank. Look for How To
Run A Repair Install here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

 

[Blair]

Thanks Harry for your help.Very helpful
Regards
Blair

It is normal for Autoexec.bat and Config.sys to be blank. Look for How To
Run A Repair Install here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have found that Autoexec.bat and config.sys are shown as blanks on sysedit
and there are no ports listed on device manager but I can still connect to
the Internet OK
I though I would use XP system repair but when I looked at the contents of
the reinstallation CD I could not find any reference to repair
Do I reinstall XP over the existing XP to correct this?

XP makes no use whatever of those files. They are only present so that
old software on installing can write to them, XP *may* check on
autoexec.bat to see if there are new SET or PATH additions, which it
would then transfer to the registry, but that is all - anything there
would then be deleted

They were for setting up the DOS Environment for Win9x machines. XP has
no DOS, and the emulation of it gets some settings from
windows\system32\config.nt and autoexec.nt. But *not* any old real mode
drivers or TSR programs, which will be rejected

'Ports' in Device manager would normally be present if the ports (COM
or Printer ones) are enabled in the machines BIOS. But both are very
much going out of use in favor of USB connections

 

[Blair]

XP makes no use whatever of those files. They are only present so that
old software on installing can write to them, XP *may* check on
autoexec.bat to see if there are new SET or PATH additions, which it
would then transfer to the registry, but that is all - anything there
would then be deleted

They were for setting up the DOS Environment for Win9x machines. XP has
no DOS, and the emulation of it gets some settings from
windows\system32\config.nt and autoexec.nt. But *not* any old real mode
drivers or TSR programs, which will be rejected

'Ports' in Device manager would normally be present if the ports (COM
or Printer ones) are enabled in the machines BIOS. But both are very
much going out of use in favor of USB connections

Thank you very much Alex for your clear explanation. It is much appreciated.
I have just moved from 98 on my old machine to XP on my new machine and am
still learning
My printer has a USB conection.
Thanks again
Blair