u mean reinstalling XP will not erase the settings and programs on my PC using the reinstall option on XP?

Question

I need to be very discrete with this course i have some programs i dont want to be erased, i understand if i boot with XP and select option one it will inform me if i want to reinstall XP i should press enter, i just want to be sure that that wouldnt erase any data or settings. Becuase i have tried safe mood and all that i still get the blue screen. for VIVEK

Answer 1

There are two separate and distinct XP installations. One is a full install. The other is a repair install. If you choose the repair install option, you will NOT lose your personal settings and programs. You WILL lose any Windows updates, hot fixes and patches that came out after your XP disk was manufactured. That would also include SP2 if your XP disk does not include it.

You didn't say why you need to repair XP. If you want to repair certain files you can always do a System File Check first:

Start > run > type in "sfc /scannow" without the quote marks and note the space between the c and / > click OK

If any missing or corrupt system files are located, you will be prompted to insert your XP disk and clean files will be extracted from the disk. Many times this will solve what's ailing your computer. The repair install option is still available if the SFC doesn't correct the problem.

One final caution: if you choose the repair install, at some point you will be asked to select which drive you want to repair. That will usually be drive C: and should be highlighted (if you have only one installed XP.) You will then press R to indicate that's the copy of XP you want to repair. As the repair process proceeds, you will get a screen that says "Press any key to reboot". YOU MUST IGNORE THAT REQUEST. LET THE COMPUTER BOOT FROM THE HARD DRIVE. If you "press any key" at this point you will reboot from the disk and you dont want that.

This link will give you some additional info about repair installs and full installs:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/

Answer 2

Here is the problem though with this option. Your programs won't work after you reinstall windows. Doing a reinstall removes and replaces the system folder along with resetting the registry to factory defaults.

If your program stores any information in either the registry or in the system folder it won't run. The program will need reinstalled. Just backing up the registry and restoring it won't work either as that's only 1/2 the solution.

Answer 3

When setup starts, press Enter at the first screen...do not go to Recovery Console. It will search for other versions of Windows and if it finds them, will ask if you want to Repair it. Repairing Windows will not erase any data, it just reinstalls Windows on top of itself. And do not format!

Answer 4

insert XP CD. when setup load all drivers and wait for your input, Press Enter (don't Press R).

Windows will search for previous Windows that was installed on your Hard Disk.

if windows found it, Select it and press Enter to Repair it.
if windows could find it, i am sorry :( you cannot repair your old XP

Answer 5

There is no other option for it ,u may loose most of the program installed because actually the Winxp installation will format C drive automatically and copy new files to it. so the older files of other programs will lost