[wannabe1]

I think it's time to replace the registry hive. There are two ways to go about this. Replacing the hive with a batch file...which generally scares the pee-waddin' out of people and requires quite a bit of cleanup, or an inplace upgrade which is actually the way I prefer to do it...less painful...

Read through the tutorial at the link that follows...if you have any questions, ask before you start. This procedure normally takes about an hour to run...you may need the product key, so if you don't have that handy (it may be on the machine somewhere on a sticker) let me know and we'll pull it out of the registry before we start.

REPAIR your installation of XP. This procedure will not damage or change your current files or settings...it will just repair or replace damaged system files. You will be asked for your Installation CD and may be asked for your product key. Follow the instructions carefully...print them out if you can. Note: This option is not always available on OEM Recovery Cd's

Once this repair has completed, you will have to download all Windows Updates again.

What do you think...you game?

wannabe1

[Advertisements]

actually 2 of them, disk 1 and disk 2

[USMCSniper]

actually 2 of them, disk 1 and disk 2

[wannabe1]

Disk one will probably have the operating system on it and will be the one we need. Disk two will have drivers and preinstalled applications...we shouldn't need that one.

[USMCSniper]

Well, seems like a lot of drilling to restore the files. I have done uhhhh 3 or 4 clean re-installs of XP since 2003, more time spent downloading the updates and installing Nortons Internet Security 2006, PerfectDisk 7.0, Adaware, Spybot S&D, bla-bla. The 2 restore CD's I have are from Emachines. I don't have the product key on file. Interestingly enough, I just did a clean re-install of XP on 02 Jan 2006. I can;t understand how in 15 days the file system got SNAFU. Do you think I might as well just do another clean reinstall? Could the DVD-Rom drive itself be screwed up?

[USMCSniper]

Only thing is, I need to copy these files (legal stuff) to a CD before I do a clean reinstali, otherwise they will be lost. I copy them eberytime I add to them.

[USMCSniper]

eberytime=everytime

[wannabe1]

Let's see what the repair does...that way there will be minimal downloading and reinstalling.

Download Magic Jelly Bean and run it...it will pull the product key out of the registry for you...write it down.

There's always the possability that the drive is bad, but yours seems to perform all the other functions you ask of it...that in itself makes me think it's something else.

Edited by wannabe1, 17 January 2006 - 08:21 PM.

[USMCSniper]

OK, but will the files in My Documents be lost

[wannabe1]

They should be fine...just follow the instructions closely. If you get to a screen that mentions formatting, cancel out and start again...you need to start just like a fresh install...it will ask you to press an R at one point to start Recovery Console...that's not the option we want.

Welcome to setup screen...press ENTER

License agreement screen...press F8

Windows XP Setup screen...Press R

Were you able to print the instructions out? You need only print the first 5 pages.

[USMCSniper]

They printed but the right half was not there, lost some of the words

[wannabe1]

If you click the options button in the upper right corner and choose "Print this topic", you'll get a printable version.

[USMCSniper]

OK, printing as I type. If for some reason this does not work what are my options? Is there anyway to copy those file in My Documents b4 I do a clean reinstall? Floppys?

[wannabe1]

Floppies are an option...so is a new CD-R or DVD-R...Let's see how your machine behaves after this repair has run.

Edited by wannabe1, 17 January 2006 - 09:35 PM.

[USMCSniper]

Do you think I will have to mess w/the BIOS?

[wannabe1]

Nope...