Contact Forum Editor

Send an email to our Forum Editor:

PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the Forum Editor know who sent the message. Both your name and email address will not be used for any other purpose.

Tech Helproom

It's free to register, to post a question or to start / join a discussion

View Forum Rules | Contact Forum Editor

 

Reinstall Windows XP

jja244

Likes # 0

Posted January 27, 2012 at 10:43AM

Friend has quite an old computer running XP (SP3). It works - just. There are obviously some missing/corrupt files. The system file checker doesn't work and various other bits are very slow to work or come up with errors. Time to reinstall Windows I think. She has no recovery disks etc. but I have an XP disk (retail) plus an SP2 disk and SP3 on a USB stick. Can I use my disk to reinstall Windows using the COA number on her computer?

Like this post
onthelimit1

Likes # 0

Posted January 27, 2012 at 10:46AM

Yes, but only if your disk is the same version - ie, XP Home or whatever.

Like this post
onthelimit1

Likes # 0

Posted January 27, 2012 at 10:47AM

P.S. - when you run the setup, I've found it's best to opt for Full Format rather than Quick

Like this post
jja244

Likes # 0

Posted January 27, 2012 at 11:05AM

Thanks for that 'onthelimit1'. It is the same version (XP Home). I'll need to backup all her documents etc before I do it.

Like this post
Fruit Bat /\0/\

Likes # 0

Posted January 27, 2012 at 11:10AM

OPTION 2 - to save losing all her data and settings

Repair XP by install over the top of existing system

  1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.

  2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

  1. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.

To setup Windows XP now and Repair Install , press ENTER.

DO NOT choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console).

  1. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.

  2. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.

  3. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot.

Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears.

Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.

Repair XP http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Like this post
jja244

Likes # 0

Posted January 27, 2012 at 4:22PM

Many thanks Fruit Bat. I've printed off your instructions and I'll see to it next weekend.

Like this post

Reply to this topic

This thread has been locked.



Check out PC Advisor's other tech forums

Send to a friend

Email this article to a friend or colleague:

PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.