re-installing programs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Becky Harris
  • Start date Start date
B

Becky Harris

After having a major virus attack, I had to re-install
WinXP Pro. All my programs are still on the hard disk,
but they don't show up under the /Start/Programs tab.

How can I access these programs without re-installing all
the programs from their original disks?

Thank you,

Becky Harris
 
If these program were standalone exe's, you'd have no problem. But, the
installation writes registry entries indicating dlls and so forth in
relation to the programs, and much more for the programs to work.

The prudent thing to do is use caution on the internet, even if you have a
AV program and firewall and bugcleaner. Same with email. Same thing with
software installs. Backup your entire system on regular basis (not the
local backup program used in XP). Keep your personal files on separate
partition, backup too.
 
Hi Becky,

If you reinstalled, rather than doing a repair install, then your programs
will need to be reinstalled from the original installation media. This is
because those programs rely on system registry entries and files placed in
system folders to operate correctly. Until you install the software under
the current installation, those things will not exist.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
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