Windows XP Pro reinstallation

[Weresmilodon]

I'm about to reinstall Windows again, only this time I’m doing it on the same disk rather then a new one. This has caused me to ask myself several questions, like 'Will everything I have there remain untouched (Like Win98, 95 and such) or will it disappear?' I seem to remember the install program saying something about My Documents being reset or deleted and replaced with empty folders or somesuch. (Additional notice, I do not have the folder in its original place, rather, it’s been placed on its own disk.) What about the rest of the disk? And the settings I’ve made in windows? Replaced or staying?

I should probably also note that the reason for the reinstall is because I’ve gotten a new motherboard, CPU, graphic card and RAM-memory. Will this cause any additional trouble?

Another note; the Boot Disk Record is on an old, barely working disk I plan to remove when I upgrade the hardware. Is it possible to move or copy it to a new disk, or is that done automatically when I reinstall? The old disk has been sitting on the IDE cable, and the newer ones are S-ATA, with S-ATA cables. Will this cause any trouble?

I'm hoping that at least one of you computer knowledgeable people can help me here.

[Fiferguy]

Ok... **deep breath**

When you install any Windows XP or later, it formats the drive. EVERYTHING that you don't have backup'd is going to be gone. Settings, files, etc. So backup anything you want to save.

As for the Master Boot Record (MBR), it's gone as well, and is rewritten during the install. As far as the motherboard, CPU, and others, it shouldn't be a problem, as long as all the hardware is compatible. Not trying to put an Intel chip in an AMD chipset, for instance. Or an AGP video card into a PCI slot.

Now the format only happens on the disk your installing Windows on. So if your My Documents folder is on another hard drive, it'll be fine.

Hope this helps.

Yours,
Fifer

[TStyle]

One note, if you are installing windows on one of the S-ATA drives you might need to load the drivers from a disc that came with the hard drive when the windows installer is loading. It entirely depends on the brand of drives and if windows already has drivers for the disks.

If you load the windows installer and it can't find the hard drive you want to install windows on that is probably the problem. (This assumes the hard drives are connected to the motherboard )

Hope that wasn't too confusing...

TStyle

[freethrow]

I'm about to reinstall Windows again, only this time I’m doing it on the same disk rather then a new one. This has caused me to ask myself several questions, like 'Will everything I have there remain untouched (Like Win98, 95 and such) or will it disappear?' I seem to remember the install program saying something about My Documents being reset or deleted and replaced with empty folders or somesuch. (Additional notice, I do not have the folder in its original place, rather, it’s been placed on its own disk.) What about the rest of the disk? And the settings I’ve made in windows? Replaced or staying?

I should probably also note that the reason for the reinstall is because I’ve gotten a new motherboard, CPU, graphic card and RAM-memory. Will this cause any additional trouble?

Another note; the Boot Disk Record is on an old, barely working disk I plan to remove when I upgrade the hardware. Is it possible to move or copy it to a new disk, or is that done automatically when I reinstall? The old disk has been sitting on the IDE cable, and the newer ones are S-ATA, with S-ATA cables. Will this cause any trouble?

I'm hoping that at least one of you computer knowledgeable people can help me here.

There is a way to install Windows XP again without losing everything. Even your installed programs. It is called a Repair Install. If windows just seems to be missing a few things a repair install could be all you need?

After booting up off your Windows XP CD it will load drivers and files and eventually come to the first screen where you can select an option. DO NOT SELECT "R" here as it will not work. Choose to install Windows XP. Then do the F8 to accept. On the next screen you should see your current installations on your drive. Select the Windows XP installation that exists and then press the R located here at the bottom of the screen. It will install windows overtop of the existing leaving your programs and settings as they are now.

But before you begin, be sure to have your product key information. You will need it again as this is much like a new installation. If you don't have it there are some free utilities you can get to find it for you. Just goole for it.

You will probably have to call Microsoft to reactivate after installation though. I have tried saving the wpa.dll and wpa.bak files but it didn't make any difference. I probably did that step wrong the last time I did a repair install?

[Fiferguy]

I've had more problems with repair installations. Every time I try to do one, it always causes more problems than it fixes. Depending on internet connection speed, I've gotten it to where I can do a full install, including patches and updates, installing an anti-virus, and any extra drivers that I need to make the bells and whistles run in about 3 hours. I guess doing it every day for 2 years helps some.

Yours,
Fifer

P.S. Compiling an install CD that does all that for me also helps.

[Solarstorm]

You can do a mergeide reg to restore your HAL to a default windows install. Then put in the cd with your new motherboard drivers and not have to reinstall windows at all. Go to http://www.technet.com ( microsoft's tech page ). Do a search in the Knowledgebase for 0x0000007b. Select the xp mergeide.reg. There is a list you need to copy to notepad and name mergeide.reg. Before changing your hardware. double click this file and have it merge into your registy. Shut down and swap your hardware. When you first boot up it will detect the new equipment and load defaults. Insert your driver cd and let it go. your all done. Good luck.