What would happen if I just reinstalled XP Home?

[GrreatRon]

I installed XP Home a couple of months ago and probably because I mess around and do some stupid things, I have lost the ability to do some things, such as, going to Start, Programs; when I place the cursor on the list of programs and right click, nothing happens. So, I can't delete or rename or sourt, etc. I think something is screwed up in the registry.

What would happen if I just stuck the XP CD in the computer and re-installed it?

Thanks!

[Max Powerz]

It would fix it... do it.

[Adrynalyne]

Originally Posted by Max Powerz

It would fix it... do it.

Very big assumption, with a very large margin of error.

A for effort, C- for execution.

Its unsafe to speak of things as fact on a forum such as this, where not everyone is a power user or guru.



Repair install, as Abby suggested, is the same thing as an upgrade (reinstall) over the OS. (Just a tidbit of info )


Upgrading over a broken OS, ends up in about 70% of the time, a broken OS.


A repair/upgrade over itself (in place upgrade if you will) is excellent if a file or files or drivers are corrupted.

Certain services are replaced/fixed, some (very few!) registry entries are replaced, drivers are returned to default levels (that includes not installed if a version is not included in XP), and system files and programs that came with XP are reinstalled, and returned to their dfault levels.

In addition, all system restore points are nuked, and all hotfixes, service packs are removed.

The registry barely gets touched.

As such, a repair will not always fix a messed up registry, and will NOT ever fix a corrupted registry.


Just some information to be aware of.

I only forewarn, because I have green techs that do it without thinking and really fubar customer's systems.

One more thing. If this is OEM (came with the computer), and you do a repair, there is a chance you will lose your data if you do a repair/upgrade reinstall.

Let me know if you need more details regarding this.

[GrreatRon]

Thanks to Abby Sue and Adryalyne. I will try the Repair route and let you know what the results are!!

[Adrynalyne]

Best of luck to ya, hope it works out

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by Adrynalyne

Very big assumption, with a very large margin of error.

A for effort, C- for execution.

How many kittens were killed in this execution?

[GrreatRon]

Originally Posted by AbbySue

If you have your CD-Rom drive set to first boot in BIOS you can insert your XP disk, reboot and then choose to do a repair of XP. Just follow the prompts and select "R" when you have the option. This will most likely fix your problem and you won't lose any data.

You might also want to try going to start > run and type (without quotes) "sfc/ scannow"...this is system file checker for XP....you will need your XP disc in the drive.

OK, Abby Sue. I went through the process, selected "R", got a message "which windows installation would you like to log onto?, by trial & error I clicked on "1" and hit Enter, it asked for my administrator's password which I didn't have since I never set one up, proceeded in Safe Mode and created a password, went through the whole process again and after accepting my password, I got a c:\windows prompt. What do I do now? I typed Help and got a list of files like Ckdisk, RD, etc. but that was no help.

Now what? Also, I went to start> run> and typed "sfc/scannow" and got a message that the file could not be found.

Boy, I am at a standstill and await an outpouring of your wisdom and techie knowledge.

Thanks!

[Adrynalyne]

Ok, we are a little off track. You actually ended up at the Recovery Console.

To do a Repair install, when you boot to CD, you will want to press 'enter' to install Windows XP.

Press 'F8' at the EULA (license agreement), and you will be presented with an option to repair your current installation.

Should be straightforward from there.

Also

sfc/scannow is not a valid command.

Do this:

start > run > cmd.exe
click 'ok'
at the command prompt, type:

sfc /scannow
press 'enter'

Its important you put that space in there

[Adrynalyne]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

How many kittens were killed in this execution?

None, but he made my kitties cry

[GrreatRon]

Originally Posted by Adrynalyne

Ok, we are a little off track. You actually ended up at the Recovery Console.

To do a Repair install, when you boot to CD, you will want to press 'enter' to install Windows XP.

Press 'F8' at the EULA (license agreement), and you will be presented with an option to repair your current installation.

Should be straightforward from there.

Also

sfc/scannow is not a valid command.

Do this:

start > run > cmd.exe
click 'ok'
at the command prompt, type:

sfc /scannow
press 'enter'

Its important you put that space in there

Thanks, Adryalyne, for the detailed instructions; very easy to follow. I was able to accomplish the processes even though it did not correct my problems. I can live with them.

[HankO3]

Originally Posted by GrreatRon

I installed XP Home a couple of months ago and probably because I mess around and do some stupid things, I have lost the ability to do some things, such as, going to Start, Programs; when I place the cursor on the list of programs and right click, nothing happens. So, I can't delete or rename or sourt, etc. I think something is screwed up in the registry.

What would happen if I just stuck the XP CD in the computer and re-installed it?

Thanks!

Try this to be able to get back your right-click options. Start-Settings-Taskbar and Start Menu-Start Menu-Customize Check the box to Enable Dragging and Dropping

[GrreatRon]

Originally Posted by HankO3

Try this to be able to get back your right-click options. Start-Settings-Taskbar and Start Menu-Start Menu-Customize Check the box to Enable Dragging and Dropping

BINGO!! That did it. I really appreciate the info. Major Geeks rides again!!!

[HankO3]

Originally Posted by GrreatRon

BINGO!! That did it. I really appreciate the info. Major Geeks rides again!!!

Great. I'd hate to tell you how long it took me to discover the fix after i did the same to mysel.