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poof · 04-23-2003, 01:30 PM

If you do reinstall to repair, there are two repairs in XP. The first repair offered upon reinstall is the recovery console,

<i>"What do you do if you can’t start Windows in normal or Safe Mode? Don’t give up hope. You may be able to get back to work by using the Recovery Console, a stripped-down command-line environment that provides a limited set of tools you can use to diagnose and repair problems. The Recovery Console is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re experienced with working outside a graphical environment, it can be tremendously useful."</i>

Skip that. Wait for XP to start installing, it will detect your old install and offer to repair that one. Do that.

<i>Repairing and Reinstalling Windows
When all attempts to repair your system fail, you may be able to repair your Windows XP installation using the Windows Setup program. As a last resort, you can reinstall Windows over an existing installation and hope that the new installation will recover enough of your old settings to allow you to retrieve your data files.

The repair option is quick and painless and typically does not adversely affect user settings. To exercise this option, start from the Windows CD as if you were going to do a clean install. It’s easy to become confused during this process, because the word repair appears in two different places when you start your computer using the Windows CD. At the Welcome To Setup screen, do not choose the option to repair your installation using the Recovery Console. Instead, press Enter, which starts the Windows Setup program. After you accept the license agreement, Windows searches your system for existing Windows installations. When you reach the screen that lists your current Windows installation, select it from the list and press R to start the repair process. The remainder of this procedure requires the same steps as if you were performing a clean installation; when Setup finishes, your system files should be refreshed and your existing data and settings should be accessible again.

In cases of severe disk damage or registry corruption, a repair installation will not be effective; the only alternative is to reformat the disk and install a clean copy of Windows." </i>

I have changed many things and have had to reactivate because of this. It was no big deal really, I have a legal registered copy, so, I just reactivate. Whats the problem with that? Oh, once you reinstall, if you feel the need to goto Windows Update, don't. Get sp1, but be very judicious about all the "critical" and "security" updates. When it offers a driver, get it from the manufacturer.

I have had printing on my network stop, because OfficeXP sp1 was installed, yet XP sp1 wasn't. Error message told me to access the KB, which told me to get sp1. They don't need to know that much (no paranoia, just arrogance on my part) about what I have installed, and what I need/want. They (MS) damn sure don't need to shut me down because I didn't get all their "recommended" updates either!

On an older machine I worked on, WinMe demanded I install OfficeXP disk 1, after just two of the forty updates available were installed for the OS. I stopped the updates, returned the computer and advised them of the problem. They inserted the disk, all was cool, but it still stinks.

I digress somewhat. Just don't do MSWindows Updates, and dont use the console unless you are well versed in how to do it! Let XP do it itself after it finds your existing install, and offers to repair the proper install on the screen menu (don't click on your new install, fix the old one).

Now, before the "I use Linux" stuff starts, I have Redhat 9.0, and am developing the "rules of engagement" before the fresh install on it's own partition/drive/computer, haven't decided which.

I look back on this post, and see I was really trying to say, what's the problem? Reactivate.

04-23-2003, 01:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
poof Psycho	If you do reinstall to repair, there are two repairs in XP. The first repair offered upon reinstall is the recovery console, <i>"What do you do if you can’t start Windows in normal or Safe Mode? Don’t give up hope. You may be able to get back to work by using the Recovery Console, a stripped-down command-line environment that provides a limited set of tools you can use to diagnose and repair problems. The Recovery Console is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re experienced with working outside a graphical environment, it can be tremendously useful."</i> Skip that. Wait for XP to start installing, it will detect your old install and offer to repair that one. Do that. <i>Repairing and Reinstalling Windows When all attempts to repair your system fail, you may be able to repair your Windows XP installation using the Windows Setup program. As a last resort, you can reinstall Windows over an existing installation and hope that the new installation will recover enough of your old settings to allow you to retrieve your data files. The repair option is quick and painless and typically does not adversely affect user settings. To exercise this option, start from the Windows CD as if you were going to do a clean install. It’s easy to become confused during this process, because the word repair appears in two different places when you start your computer using the Windows CD. At the Welcome To Setup screen, do not choose the option to repair your installation using the Recovery Console. Instead, press Enter, which starts the Windows Setup program. After you accept the license agreement, Windows searches your system for existing Windows installations. When you reach the screen that lists your current Windows installation, select it from the list and press R to start the repair process. The remainder of this procedure requires the same steps as if you were performing a clean installation; when Setup finishes, your system files should be refreshed and your existing data and settings should be accessible again. In cases of severe disk damage or registry corruption, a repair installation will not be effective; the only alternative is to reformat the disk and install a clean copy of Windows." </i> I have changed many things and have had to reactivate because of this. It was no big deal really, I have a legal registered copy, so, I just reactivate. Whats the problem with that? Oh, once you reinstall, if you feel the need to goto Windows Update, don't. Get sp1, but be very judicious about all the "critical" and "security" updates. When it offers a driver, get it from the manufacturer. I have had printing on my network stop, because OfficeXP sp1 was installed, yet XP sp1 wasn't. Error message told me to access the KB, which told me to get sp1. They don't need to know that much (no paranoia, just arrogance on my part) about what I have installed, and what I need/want. They (MS) damn sure don't need to shut me down because I didn't get all their "recommended" updates either! On an older machine I worked on, WinMe demanded I install OfficeXP disk 1, after just two of the forty updates available were installed for the OS. I stopped the updates, returned the computer and advised them of the problem. They inserted the disk, all was cool, but it still stinks. I digress somewhat. Just don't do MSWindows Updates, and dont use the console unless you are well versed in how to do it! Let XP do it itself after it finds your existing install, and offers to repair the proper install on the screen menu (don't click on your new install, fix the old one). Now, before the "I use Linux" stuff starts, I have Redhat 9.0, and am developing the "rules of engagement" before the fresh install on it's own partition/drive/computer, haven't decided which. I look back on this post, and see I was really trying to say, what's the problem? Reactivate.