Question

Re-installing Windows XP Home

Asked by: cullenswood

Hi,

If I re-install Windows XP Home on my PC will my files that I have saved on the PC be wiped or will they still be there after the reinstallation?

Thanks

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Asked On
2004-03-04 at 03:33:45ID20906813
Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
4
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: sirbountyPosted on 2004-03-04 at 03:38:47ID: 10513030

Greetings cullenswood,
If it's a reinstall- your personal data will be left intact.
You will probably have to reapply windows' updates however...
~sirbounty

 

by: sirbountyPosted on 2004-03-04 at 03:47:39ID: 10513078

Ideally though - you're much better off if you back your data up and do a clean format/install.
Whatever issues you're seeing that make you want to reinstall may still linger even afterwards...
Why are you wanting to perform a reinstall?

 

by: eirikurPosted on 2004-03-04 at 04:55:24ID: 10513364

If you completely reinstall the OS, the interface will give you the choice :
- Format through FAT or NTFS (Quick or not)
- or Leave the filesystem as is

but be careful : the "My Documents" folders and your Desktop could be erased, so backup them !

 

by: cullenswoodPosted on 2004-03-04 at 05:11:57ID: 10513467

eirikur,


So do you mean that if I do a full installation it will give me that choice and if I leave the filesystem as is, then all my files bar the ones in My Documents will be kept?

 

by: Billy_NastyPosted on 2004-03-04 at 05:59:54ID: 10513787

if you install windows xp in your windows meaning you don't reboot and just run setup.exe from your cdrom drive. your documents will be saved. but it can happen that your problem is not gone. if you want to do a clean install then you have to reboot your pc boot him from the cdrom and then do a quick format. everything on your c:/ drive will be gone. so be carefull and in the two cases backup your documents that is the safest.

 

by: eirikurPosted on 2004-03-04 at 06:12:30ID: 10513901

cullenswood,

you can try it now. put your cd in your drive and reboot.

after some time, you'll have the choice between formatting through FAT or NTFS (so all your drive will be erased - except if your drive is partitioned)
or you can leave the file system as is, so all your personal datas will be saved, only if they're not
in C:\WINDOWS, in "My Documents" or on "Desktop".

 

by: cullenswoodPosted on 2004-03-04 at 06:15:15ID: 10513927

Thanks eirkur,

Can't try it now though cos I'm in work at the moment!

The reason I want to re-install is that there is something wrong with my IIS and I think if I re-install I'll be able to get it working, as I think I deleted a file in error

 

by: Debsyl99Posted on 2004-03-04 at 10:13:53ID: 10516222


Have you got the option to just add and remove windows components - from add/remove programs in control panel? If so why don't you try unchecking the IIS option in this, let it uninstall and the re-install it the same way. It may save a re-install.

 

by: sirbountyPosted on 2004-03-04 at 14:27:50ID: 10518430

Has IIS ever worked for you under XP Home?  I have yet to find a successful way of getting this working correctly under XP Home edition.

As has been said before, your data is left intact if you're 'reinstalling'.  You can probably get it started by running WINNT32.EXE (with XP loaded) - which is located under your I386 directory of your installation source.

I'm not sure I agree completely, however, with the "My Documents" / "Desktop" (aka Profile) problem.  Although I'd certainly back up all needed data before doing anythiing like this - when you create an account, a SID (security identifier) is created for that account.

Thus your current setup may have an account:

Timothy <S-1-5-21-1085031214-13645891-682003330-1001>

Now, wha'ts considered an 'in-place upgrade' - running winnt32.exe - should retain all user accounts anyway.

If during an reinstallation you overlayed your prior installation - I would feel confident that even if a new user Timothy were created that it would generate a new SID.
By doing that also, once you log in for the first time, that profile has to be created.  
If the Timothy profile already exists, typically the OS will append the workgroup or domain name to the user account.
So then, you would have
C:\Documents and Settings\Timothy
and
C:\Documents and Settings\Timothy.HOME

Long story short - go for the inplace upgrade OR use the System File Checker to correct corrupted/missing system files.

Click Start->Run->SFC

If you are using a OEM CD or system restore CD, you may need to point to the I386 folder.
Read these:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310747
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=222193

In place upgrade: (ref: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xp_in_place_upgrade.htm)
To perform an in place upgrade of XP, follow the steps listed below.
 From  Windows insert the XP CD into the CD player.
 Choose install
 Select upgrade
 Follow prompts and when asked for CD key, supply a valid CD key.
 Continue setup to completion and activate over the internet if necessary.
 All updates and hot fixes will need to be reapplied.  

Or: http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBL/tip5800/rh5808.htm for more than one method...

Good luck!


20120131-EE-VQP-002

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