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Corrupted OS on windows XP machine - need to know if i should use sp2 or sp3 disk

I have a DELL optiplex 745 that has windows XP on it with a corrupted operating system. It is telling me to run a repair on windows. I need to know if I should be using a windows xp sp2 or sp3 disk to run the repair. It came with sp2 loaded on it. I saw that on the dell original configuration page, by warranty status. I am not sure if it was upgraded to sp3 though. Is there any way to know, with the recovery console what service pack is on it so I can use the appropriate disk to repair the os? is there any other way to dell without booting into windows. It will not boot into even safe mode.

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BCipollone

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mwochnick

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Mdragga

Either should be fine but I'd recommend using the SP3 disk just so that it is installed once you're done with your work. Using the SP2 disk would just mean additional updating after the fact. SP3 also includes features and compatabilities that you may need to restore the proper working order you had prior to the issue.

If you're terribly concerned about using the matching disk, booting off the Windows CD to the command prompt should allow you to run CHKDSK which may or may not allow you to boot into Windows at least long enough to determine what SP you had installed.

Mohammed Rahman

If we type WINVER in the commmand prompt, it will give a GUI with details like OS and Service Pack on it. Not sure if that works in recovery console. wiki says that VER is used to check the version through DOS MODE and WINVER is used in windows mode (reference link below)
This might be of help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DOS_commands#Ver

PPIHXM

ASKER

Thank you!