I need Serious help reconfiguring my programs

I did somethng I shouldn't have done. Or I did it in the wrong way.

I was running Win XP Pro (AMD 2400+, master and slave HD, 768 MB PC400 RAM). The person who built my computer used the same copies of Windows OS's (including key codes) on every computer he built. Added to that, he 'lost' my administrator password. It wouldn't have been critical had I not wanted to set up a home LAN using my backup computer. I have a Netgear router and a D-Link wireless USB receiver. But obviously without admin privileges I could not give my second computer permission to access files on my first computer.

(Please excuse the typos - I've taken a lot of antianxiety medicine tonight, as thing just continue to go wrong).

An IT friend said that with Win XP Pro I simply could reinstall the OS without a headache over the old install. I should mention that I bought a legit copy of Win XP Pro from AGSolutions not long ago to try and work around my problems. I read the Win XP Pro KB article on Reinstalling Win XP by using Win XP. My friends whole point was that I wouldn't have to reinstall the 150+ programs I currently was using if I reinstalled a new installation over the old installation. I don't know where I went wrong precisely.

An annoyance is that I installed the new OS over top of the old OS into the same C:\Win folder, even though I was warned not to do during installation. I suppose I could have chose different destination directories, but the point was to update the faults in the initial setup. The result is I now have a multiboot system, even though I don't want one. Both choices are Windows XP Professional, but I doubt that they are identical. And I don't know how to eliminate the one I was trying to replace (once I am sure which is which so I don't delete the wrong one, if I can delete one).

Another, much greater annoyance is that my C:\Program Files Folder is unchanged, but I cannot not launch some programs unless I uninstall them and reinstall them. As I supected, I changed the registry, and overwriting the Win folder I deleted lots of *.dlls that were installed by specific programs when they were installed. The reason I listened to my friend in the first place was that while my data was secure, I didn't want to have to reinstall every program file that I like. Is there a utility of any sort that can scan the system and determine which program files are still viable and which need reloaded? Unless the program file has a "UNINSTALL" module, I'm going to have to just delete the program folder and assume that when the registry was changed that references to the program were removed (though I've seen from an experince with using Irfanview 3.95 as a screensaver that that isn't neccessarily true). But going into the Control Panel - > Add/Remove Programs screen, everything that once populated the list is gone save for a few drivers I've loaded and a hotfix I downloaded from Windows Update. I was going to load ZoneAlarm, but it is missing a .dll and says that it needs reinstalled to work properly. I can handle that. Its only the other hundred programs that I'm going to have the same problem with that will start to get on my already fragile nerves. I don't even know if the "UNINSTALL" module that comes with many apps will work if it is missing vital components. And while there is some freeware especially for uninstalling programs, it normally requires that it is running when the programs are being installed so it can make a log for each installation.

That's all I have to say for now. I must have a ton of problems, But the problems (and the tranquilizers) are wearing me down fast. I doubt now's the time to search for freeware that will help. The best thing to do is probably to go back to Windows Updates and start d/ling and installing all the patches I need, besides getting a firewall and an antivirus app running. At least I hav a router, which is some very small relief for the moment.

Please help. My 'friend' is supposedly an IT professional. Who unfortunately wasn't home when I was getting into all this trouble. I don't know where I went wrong. But I should probably forget about that for the moment and look to make things right, instead of focusing on how screwed up everything is now. I'm going to fix things slowly but surely now as much as possible, and hope to get the most important services running before going to sleep. Its 5 am in my time zone now.

Thanks, everyone. I doubt there are any miracles out there. But whatever you can tell me would be nice.

 

My Sympathy to you
I am not a Pro but if I were where you are now I would recommend a complete format and start from scratch with the Version of XP that you purchased. The guys and girls on here that follow with advice will give you further pointers about that and may even come up with better advice. But like I say I would bite the bullet - and start again! And Hey - Smile - You have found a safe haven !
Cheers
Robert

 

now you have two versions on there in the same folder a format - reinstall is the only option. make sure to back up any files you need. also check you have the install disks for your programs. Did you get any driver disks with the computer?

If Not, make sure you get whatever you need to connect to the internet on a disk. (Modem drivers, or network card driver if you connect via a Lan) the others you can download the other side of your re-install if you have to.