windows xp repair option is bad????

Hey guys,

On another non IT related forum, a wiseguy is trying to convince people that repairing windows xp is actually a bad idea. That when you have a problem, format, re-install windows and any other software and you're done.

I tried explaining the whole repair concept to him (as in the second R option ..) he insists that its bad... before going any further though, i wanted to ask my Geek friends :major in here if this is ... by any chance... true? does repairing Windows cause any damages?

I have been in the business for 10 years now, and I always use this to get out of problems, and it worked for me 95% of the time. (the remaining 5% are related to problems where you just need to format).

Any replies fast would be quite helpful, especially if i was wrong and that this option does ruin things for you rather than help (which really doesnt make sense to me)

Cheers
WK

 

Repairs when people want to do them, and the reason why they want to do them, ARE usually a bad idea.

Reviewing what a repair does:

1. Cements your registry hives, with all of their problems to be your only copy. The default copy is deleted, and the current hives become your default copy. System restore points are purged and removed.
2. All patches and service pack levels after initial install are removed. This means that anything implicitly relying on them is now broken. It also decreases your chance to be able to even boot.
3. Malware will not be removed, and will complicate the crap out of things, if it doesn't destroy your OS with the repair.

A repair will not:

1. fix registry errors
2. Fix malware problems.
3. Fix third party apps.
4. Improve performance.

A repair will:

1. Return drivers and file versions to their defaults for a new install.


Pretty limited use. It can help. More often than not, it will not.

In summary, a repair is nothing more than an upgrade of an OS over itself. Given the history of Windows, upgrades are rarely a good idea, and upgrades over a broken OS? Unthinkable. Common sense says a repair is an emergency last ditch effort to save your data,backup and reinstall.

 

The only use I've ever found for the repair option is when a system file has become corrupt (which often happens after trying to remove malware). Other than that, it tends to have little to no effect.