Windows reinstall

[scottygio]

I've been informed by an expert that my windows xp home edition is corrupt and that i should reinstall windows. My computer never came with a xp fome cd however it did come with a reload back up cd.

My questions are:

1) if i run this back up cd will that reinstall windows.

2) will reinstalling wipe out all data and programs on my computer.

3) what is the best way to save data. I would like to save photos, email addresses, internet favourites and some programs. I have plenty of cds on which i can save data to.

I would appreciate any advice or tips on this subject,

thanks in advance

scott

[-pops-]

The content of these recovery CDs varies with the supplier. Some are effectively a copy of Windows XP plus other software specific to the computer it is being installed on, others contain files to locate hidden files already on the hard drive and enable them to be accessed and so on.

Do you have the manual that came with the machine or can you access the manufacturers website for specific instructions on how to proceed with that model? Alternatively, can you tell us the make/model and one of the people here who may have a similar machine may be able to help out.

I should say, though, that a reinstall is normally a last resort and there may be several other things that you can do before a reinstall is necessary. Again, can you tell us what remedial measures you have taken already?

[tk27]

I've been informed by an expert that my windows xp home edition is corrupt and that i should reinstall windows. My computer never came with a xp fome cd however it did come with a reload back up cd.

My questions are:

1) if i run this back up cd will that reinstall windows.

2) will reinstalling wipe out all data and programs on my computer.

3) what is the best way to save data. I would like to save photos, email addresses, internet favourites and some programs. I have plenty of cds on which i can save data to.

I would appreciate any advice or tips on this subject,

thanks in advance

scott

ad 3. if you have some access to your windows run file&settings backup wizard ( in your system tools menu) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/s...november12.mspx

but full system backup is always best. most programs that run in windows can't be preserved as their files are not centralized.

pops is very right, i've seen simple recovery cd's that just wipe clean and reimage windows, more sophisticated ones will let you reinstall.

good luck

[styxxxone]

1.answer to: "if i run this back up cd will that reinstall windows."

You did not say what make of computer you had, but good luck if it is an e-machine (You will end up several conversations with Microsoft and the e-machines). Otherwise, unless, you will run into a problem with inputting the Microsoft product key you should be ok re-installing.

2.answer to:2) will reinstalling wipe out all data and programs on my computer."

If you have not transferred your programs and data to another hard drive. you wil have a problem if you can't re-install in safe mode.

3. answer to: what is the best way to save data. I would like to save photos, email addresses, internet favourites and some programs. I have plenty of cds on which i can save data to.

The best but, probably most expensive methods, are to transfer or back them up to a separate hard drive (either internal or external). You can, however, take the time to copy your data to cd's (you can not copy you programs). You have to transfer or back up Programs if possible.

I hope this helps.

[scottygio]

guys,

thanks for the advice.

I have a time machine. The company went bust about a year or 2 back. i've had a couple of problems with it and the pc home engineers that came to my house both agreed that windows is now corrupt.

As mentioned i have no cd of xp home edition. The reload back up cd has 2 files on it, how you run these programs i don't know. One is called bootcat and the other bootimg.The other cd is a system and driver cd. This cd gives you information about the computer etc.

How do i reinstall windows? I do have xp home edition product number stamped on my computer.

I have an ipod and have read that you can transfer computer programs onto that.

What is the difference between transferring programs and data. How do you do both?

Thanks for the advice you have given me and i hope you can help me get my computer back on the road again,

regards

scott

[Alan2273]

Read this.

http://technopedia.info/tech/2006/03/03/wh...d-bootable.html

[y2khardtop]

you can get a cheap external hard drive at WalMart, or ebay. Back up everything in your "my documents" folders, and anywhere else you store things. If you use outlook express, you will want to back up your dbx files to preserve your old messages. Don't forget to export your contacts, as well as your web favorites, as well.

I usually do a "print screen" of my desktop, and also of all of my "run menu" programs, to help me remember to re-install everything.

Most recovery CD's install everything, restoring it to the way it was when you got it. If not, borrow a windows CD from friend, and use the KEY that is on the sticker on the computer.

[AlexKrenvalk]

I heard about program dbx recovery, if you will have problems with Outlook Express, this tool can will help you avoid troubles with Outlook Express folders and fix the problems with Outlook Express folders that you can't open, helps you recover accidentally deleted messages from the Deleted Items folder in Outlook Express, can repair dbx files in a batch mode.