reinstalled XP and lost user settings

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Reinstalled XP to new folder then repaired origional. Operating from repaired
OS now but user/program settings were changed. Origional folder was saved to
"default" and all settings look to be safe. Restored outlook manually but
would like to change back to origional setting now in "default". System boots
up using "main" folder (all under documents and settings)
 
ush-one said:
Reinstalled XP to new folder then repaired origional. Operating from
repaired OS now but user/program settings were changed. Origional
folder was saved to "default" and all settings look to be safe.
Restored outlook manually but would like to change back to origional
setting now in "default". System boots up using "main" folder (all
under documents and settings)
Click to expand...

WHAT are you talking about?! If you "installed" XP, then ALL data within
that partition is gone.
 
I installed a second copy of windows to a folder named windows 2. Next I went
back and repaired the origional copy, installation disk gave me the choice of
windows or windows2. I don't think the partition is gone, maybe it contains
two versions of windows in folders windows and windows2? I DON"T KNOW what
I'm talking about, that's why I am seeking help.
 
ush-one said:
Reinstalled XP to new folder then repaired origional. Operating
from repaired OS now but user/program settings were changed.
Origional folder was saved to "default" and all settings look to be
safe. Restored outlook manually but would like to change back to
origional setting now in "default". System boots up using "main"
folder (all under documents and settings)
Click to expand...

Why did you parallel install?
There seems to be more to this story... and you aren't sharing.

This is a repair installation:

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

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

What you seem to have done is a new installation - which means you would
lose all user settings, all installed applications would have to be
installed again, etc. It's a clean install on the same machine without
formatting. In other words - you will not be using the old profile with any
certainty - but you can take ownership and copy things like the favorites,
etc over to the new profile.

Only if you boot up to the old copy of Windows will you have the installed
applications and such - otherwise you *will be* installing the applications
you wish to use on the new copy of Windows XP.
 
Shenan I hope you can help me with a simple back up of xp home when I've got
no original cd (kids destroyed it)... sorry but I'm not ITsavvy.
 
Shenan,
I parallel installed because I did not know what else to do when having
difficulty with repair, then I went back and repaired origional installation.
None of it was smooth, took several times to repair because of problems
reading from CD after reboot near beginning of repair, but solved. Now there
are several folders in c:\documents and settings. My old settings are in
"default" and the system boots using "main". I want to boot to "default" I
think. I understand that normally old user settings are repalced but I think
they may still be on my system under "default". So first, how can I tell if I
have my old setting under "default"? IF they are still there, how can I use
these settings again?
I obviously used a bad approach; ready ... fire ... aim. Sorry to be
confusing, appreciate any help.
 
lazy said:
Shenan I hope you can help me with a simple back up of xp home when
I've got no original cd (kids destroyed it)... sorry but I'm not
ITsavvy.
Click to expand...

You wish to backup the system 'as is' completely - in case you have to
restore it because of some catastrophic event?

I recommend an inexpesive external hard disk drive (best if it is several
times the size of your used space now) and an imaging application (Ghost,
TrueImage, BootItNG, etc...)... Then following the directions of whatever
product you choose - make a complete image of your system to the external
HDD - to a restorable/compressed file(s). What that will do is allow you
(if you got one several times the size of your used space) to make several
copies - say... one every couple of weeks - and keep other copies as you go
alone. That way you have a periodic snapshot of exactly how your system
looks at any time and you can restore to the one that was working and
perhaps - get the data from the later but perhaps unused (in as far as a
full restore goes) images afterwards.
 
Back
Top