Reinstalling XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Netman
  • Start date Start date
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Netman

reinstalling will not affect your applications. Your data files will remain
intact as long as you dont format the drive. It will ask you if you want to
reinstall the OS when you get to the startup screen.
 
I have a very basic question - can I reinstall xp without
loosing applications and data files?


I have a problem with the spooler subsystem and the
recommended fix requires me to go into the registry. If
I botch it I want to know that a reinstall will work whle
still saving apps and files.

Many thanks
 
Hi, Marc.

See this KB article:
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

Note that this is NOT intended as a time-saver on reinstalling WinXP itself;
it will take about as long as a clean install. But, it should preserve your
installed applications and data - and most of your tweaks. As soon as you
get your firewall and antivirus working again, get online and go to Windows
Update to get SP1 (unless it is included in your WinXP CD-ROM) and all the
later fixes that protect you from the latest viruses and worms. The
reinstall will take an hour or two, and downloading and installing the
updates will take an hour or two (even with broadband), so you'd better plan
on half a day for the whole project.

If the problem you are having is in the WinXP files, you might want to try
the System File Checker first. At the Run prompt, type: sfc /scannow

SFC will compare each WinXP file with the "known good" copy held in your
on-disk cache and replace any missing or damaged ones. It takes a while,
but not as long as a reinstall. Have your WinXP CD-ROM handy; SFC probably
will need to see that.

RC
 
Netman said:
reinstalling will not affect your applications. Your data files will
remain intact as long as you dont format the drive. It will ask you
if you want to reinstall the OS when you get to the startup screen.
Click to expand...

Netman,

"Reinstalling" WILL affect the applications and they WILL need to be
reinstalled. It WILL also wipe out the My Documents folder and all it
contains.
A "Repair Install" will not affect the applications and leave the data
intact.
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
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