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back2thefutura · 02-23-2004, 01:38

Sorry to be bothering you guys yet AGAIN with computer questions, I just need to know one thing and I should be set to fix my computer as it's being a right little b!tch at the moment.

Is it possible to reinstall XP without losing any of the data already on the PC? I have loads of stuff on here I dont want to lose (and itd take a lot of CD's to burn it), but seeing as Windows Explorer looks to have packed it in, I need to reinstall Windows. I'm assuming its just a matter of hooking up 2 computers, transferring the data to the other one, installing Windows on mine then putting all the data back on - that right?

RaceCraft · 02-23-2004, 01:44

you can do that, its the long way around though.. Insert your XP cd and instead of reformatting click on the repair option.. It will save your data and settings etc and just replace the corrupted XP files

back2thefutura · 02-23-2004, 01:48

cheers for that, ill try it now. if this doesnt fix it ill just chuck the computer at the wall

.

MaD_WoG · 02-23-2004, 01:53

DONT THROW IT AT THE WALL
i had to fix my mates computer after the MS BLASTER worm... hte front case was cracked.. i wonder why....

jmartion · 02-23-2004, 01:53

or do a complete reinstall(by booting from cd etc), but in the format options there should be something like 'leave file system intact'

if you dont make a choice there you can cancel the windows install without any changes being made, just be careful not to accidentally format.

wild-XR8-ute · 02-23-2004, 02:00

There is a much easy way.

start/All programs/Accessories/System tools/System restore

Once you open System restore, just follow the easy options.

What it does, is give youthe option to rest XP to when it was
running good, so if you know when the trouble started, just
set the date a week back befor that.

Lets use know how you go, if you need any more help
you can email, if you like.

seano14 · 02-23-2004, 02:00

'repairing' often isnt best. i think there was an option 'perform a clean installation' or something below it.

sounded bad to me at first, but all it does it erase everything in the /windows/ directory.

and dont format during the install!!

back2thefutura · 02-23-2004, 02:07

yeah there is no 'repair' option, there is an 'upgrade' one which reinstalls windows but does it with the newest files it downloads.

The System Restore option wont work, tried it a few days back.

Phat XLS-ute · 02-23-2004, 02:33

haha dads monitor has a massive crack down the side of it
all i can say is
"CAGE THE RAGE"

pauljh74 · 02-23-2004, 04:31

Maybe with the help of a mate for temporary storage, or burning CDs, clear your drive, format it and partition the drive to 10GB for the system drive, then the rest in 1 or more partitions. So next time you need to re-install, move what you want to keep across to the other drive(s), then format C drive and do a clean install. Copy the data back into the relevant directories on the C drive after re-installing the programs required and it should be sweet. For example, you would need to back up your e-mail data, then when you have re-installed, copy the e-mail data back into the e-mail directory. The small system partition also helps in the event of a crash and the C drive needs to be checked after the reboot - small partition = quicker scan time.

Install all your apps/utilities on C drive, and games etc which are usually much larger onto another partition. MP3s/media can go on the non-system partitions too.