PCA Forums

Hey guys, here's my series of issues. I recently upgraded to SP2, which went 'okay'. I then installed some 'security updates' after that, which promptly bluescreened during the install. After that, I rebooted, tried to go back to a system restore point, and that bluescreened, and I lost all my restore points before that.

I then forged on, and installed a new CPU cooler, which I needed to remove the m/b for, and installed a new wireless PCI card ( i was using a usb adapter that was giving me all sorts of problems). Now I'm having issues keeping my soundcard recognized. I keep having to uninstall the hardware, and let windows re-detect it.

Basically, I just want to reinstall XP. Can I reinstall overtop of the current install, so I don't loose everything, like you used to do in 98? What are my options? Thanks!!!

Larry

Yes, you can do a "Repair Install". Boot from the WinXP CD, hit ENTER at the first menu, agree to the EULA, then at the 2nd menu select the "Repair" option (do not confuse this with the "Reapir from Recovery Console" option in the 1st menu.

This will wipe your device manager and re-install all the WinXP core files. You will not lose any apps or settings, but some things will be reset to factory defaults.

You will lose all security updates and service packs (unless the WinXP CD you use has a Service pack slipstreamed onto it). So you'll need to install the latest service pack and updates afterwards. You may also need to re-install your anti-virus app (Noton, for instance, rarely survives a repair install).

You will definatly need to re-install SP2 - no avoiding it. SP2 substantially alters Windows and if you do a repair install back to SP1 some things will be a little screwed up until you re-install SP2.

Make damn sure you are TOTALLY spyware free before installing SP2 and you won't have any problems. It's also a VERY GOOD idea to unplug all peripherals (especially the printer) before doing the SP2 install.

You can save yourself some trouble if you use a WinXP CD that's slipstreamed to SP2 when you do the repair. This way you'll already be updated to SP2 when you finish the repair.

Cool, thanks. I'm trying to get myself a SP2 cd as we speak.

Larry

Thought I would post an update. I got an XP SP2 cd, and tried to do a repair install type deal. It finished, but then whenever it would try to start, it would immediately reboot at the XP logo screen. No safe mode, nothing. The only option I had was to do a full overwrite install of XP. I did that, and luckily, I had backed up my system state data, so I was able to restore all of that stuff after the install finished.

Now, of course, nothing is working correctly. I'm missing some necessary .dll's, and I don't know why. I figured anything the programs needed would be installed. One of them I'm missing is MFVCP70.DLL, and ATI70.DLL I think. Also, windows won't recognize my CD drives, both of them! Any ideas on this one? The bios detects them fine, and I've tried shutting the pc on and off, which does nothing. Any help would be appreciated!

Larry

My advice would be to backup all data on another hard drive, or cd. Format, clean install, ALL updates, then move your data back and reinstall apps. It might save you some time.

I have tried to install sp2 on my main rig a couple of times - I though it might be the tv card that was hanging it so i removed that and deleted the software - system scans clean with spysweeper but still hangs at the final reboot - it would boot up in safe mode but that's all - something in there it doesn't like, tho I did have the printer and some external drivees hooked up - don't want to do a fresh install right now b/c I don't want to re-download HL2, etc. I'll live with sp1 for the time being - of course all the other computers i've tried installed sp2 flawlessly......

Yeah, I think I might do the full reinstall, since it deletes the window directory, but not restore the system state data. I also backed up the my documents folder, is that where the desktop and stuff is stored? I'd like to keep my program files and desktop all the same. I'm weak like that, and i fear change.

Larry

You probably had some spyware on your system. Every time I've had an SP2 update that caused the system to fail to boot, it's because there was spyware on it. You need to be 100% clean before installing SP2.

Did you upgrade to SP2 again after the full re-install? The reason you're missing things is because there's traces of SP2 in your registry, but the services aren't installed. There's no goign back you HAVE to install SP2 now.

I don't think I had spyware. I run the usual programs pretty often to keep it clean. The windows cd I have has SP2 integrated into it. I think it was because i installed the system state data from before, that messed things up. I'm reinstalling now, and when its done i might not do the system state data. we'll see. I';ll keep you guys updated.

Larry

Well if you restored the system state data from before the SP2 install, then your registry is going to be really screwed up.

SP2 is a major OS upgrade, not a minor patch.