Question

Repair Great Quality PC OEM XP with Retail XP PRO?

Asked by: wilri01

Has anyone done a REPAIR operation using a retail XP PRO on a Great Quality PC which has OEM HOME XP.  The Retail XP PRO CD is at SP1 level and current system is at SP2.  I'm trying to help a friend who is not technical and wanted to see if anyone experienced any problems doing this before telling them how do to the REPAIR.

The reason for the repair is file associations have been lost.  Can't open MS Works files or .html files on the computer, but Internet Access via AOL 8.0 is okay.  There is an AOL program linked to .htm and .html now.  Also for a while any open on the Start menu would try to install MS Money, but they somehow fixed that already.  AVG virus protection and MS antiSpyware find nothing.  System File Checker (sfc) found nothing.

Of course, REPAIR may not reset file associations and fix this anyway.

Thanks in advance for any help!

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Asked On
2005-09-14 at 13:07:04ID21561713
Tags

quality

,

great

,

pc

Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
2
Points
250
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: Eagle6990Posted on 2005-09-14 at 13:12:00ID: 14884406

Doing a repair with old SP level CDs shouldn't be a problem, you'll just need to reinstall SP2 when you are finished.

I don't think you can use a Retail CD with a computer that has OEM installed, expecially since you are mixing Home and Pro.

You can try recreating the associations,

Windows Explorer>Tools>Folder Options>File Types>Select HTM or HTML>Change>Select IE
Do the same for the Works extension and select Works as the application to open it with.

 

by: wilri01Posted on 2005-09-14 at 13:28:32ID: 14884556

I.E. is not in the list of programs, nor are many others.  I can see on my XP PRO that <"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" %1> is assigned, but I'm afraid to change since she has AOL and an AOL program is currently associated.  Also, all desktop icons don't work - broken link.

Do you know if an UPGRADE would reset file associations?  I'm thinking it wouldn't, but it would be easier in case the REPAIR doesn't find all device drivers.  I'm not sure REPAIR would reset them either, especially since AOL evidently has changed them.

 

by: Eagle6990Posted on 2005-09-14 at 13:35:09ID: 14884611

I think a repair would have a greater chance but when AOL is involved, everything gets fuzzy.

 

by: mld4165Posted on 2005-09-14 at 13:36:19ID: 14884620

>>The reason for the repair is file associations have been lost.  

why not repair the file associations instead?

1. open My Computer
2. Choose Tools and then folder options
3. Select the tab labeled File Types
4. Scroll through list to html and highlight
5. Choose to change application
6. Choose from list or click browse to find the application that you want.
7. Click Apply click OK and that should do it. log in and out if not.

mld4165

 

by: mld4165Posted on 2005-09-14 at 13:37:30ID: 14884633

oops reread your second post. what about system restore?

mld4165

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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