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Reinstall XP Home from orig CD - not SP2

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by robfrais, 2005/11/15.

  1. 2005/11/15
    robfrais

    robfrais Inactive Thread Starter

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    Because of some strange things happening on my Dell Dimension 2400 I would like to reinstall XP Home edition. When I put in original XP CD it says can't reinstall because it is an earlier edition - I have SP2 installed and XP Home is the original 2002 edition.

    If I continue will it wipe my whole drive, documents, settings, etc.?

    Does it also delete all the program files and recreate a new registry? This is probably what I need to do anyway, but just want to know up front before I click on proceed.

    If I want to completely wipe the disk and start again, do I just contact Microsoft to register the copy of XP which will be on the same machine that it was originally installed on anyway?

    Thanks,

    RobF
     
    robfrais,
    #1
  2. 2005/11/15
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    "it says can't reinstall because it is an earlier edition"

    It's not going to let you proceed. So you'll either have to deal with the issue that's causing the need to re-install or do a fresh install.

    You could probably uninstall SP2 but I wouldn't do it...

    Is there some sort of issue you're having with the pc?
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #2


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  4. 2005/11/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    You should be able to activate over the internet without the need to phone MS.
     
    PeteC,
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  5. 2005/11/15
    robfrais

    robfrais Inactive Thread Starter

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    You guys are fast! I'm having some graphics issues with certain websites where the pictures won't get downloaded using either Internet explorer or Firefox. I've looked at the registry and run HiJackthis and cannot see anything at fault, but it must be windows centric if both IE and Mozilla have the same problems.

    I know that my kids used to download a lot of stuff and something happened, but the restore points don't seem to work either - so maybe a clean install will be the best bet - I wondered whether you could just re-install over the top like you used to do with Windows 98, but putting in the XP CD won't work because it is pre-SP2.

    RobF
     
    robfrais,
    #4
  6. 2005/11/15
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi RobF!

    To overcome the 'older version issue', you could try following How to Repair Install and do a repair install booted from the XP-CD.

    I did it a week ago on a messed up system. I used an original XP-CD with SP2 slipstreamed. All went well and neither installed programs nor personal data were affected but as a safety measure, I recommend backing up important personal data!

    Since your XP-CD doesn't include SP2, you will have to reinstall SP2 and all updates when the repair install has been completed.

    (I think that you will evade the 'older version issue' but I'm not 100% sure.)

    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2005/11/15
    Christer,
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  7. 2005/11/15
    robfrais

    robfrais Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Christer, I had not heard of slip streaming before but it looks like a good option, which I will try over the next few days.

    RobF
     
    robfrais,
    #6
  8. 2005/11/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    It's true that you cannot do a Repair Install with an SP1 CD of an SP2 install, but you can reinstall if you don't mind formatting the drive ....

    Then you will have to update the installation with SP2 and all subsequent updates (do hope you have Broadband :)) - AFTER you have loaded and updated your anivirus software and set the Windows firewall to ON (OFF by default in SP1) or loaded a third party firewall.

    Remember a clean reinstall wipes everything from your drive so back up your data and check that you have the install CD's for your programs.

    There may be an alternative route here if SP2 shows in Add/Remove Programs. If it does you could uninstall it, repair your SP1 install and then reinstall SP2, etc. This could be risky - I do not know what effect patches installed subsequent to SP2 might have on the ability to repair - not all can be uninstalled. So a case of be prepared for a complete format if you choose to try this route - definitely at your own risk.
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2005/11/15
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    RobF,
    you're welcome ...... :) ...... !

    I actually believe (but I don't know for sure) that you would get away with a non-slipstreamed XP-CD but you would have to install SP2 afterwards, before installing all updates.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #8
  10. 2005/11/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Christer
    Seems you can repair an SP2 install with an SP1 CD - and then reinstall SP2 - see here - under Recent Comments ....

    http://ask-leo.com/can_i_reinstall_windows_xp_sp1_over_windows_xp_sp2.html
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2005/11/15
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi Pete!

    It may be system dependent. I had only one single issue. During the installation, the install CD for the LAN drivers was asked for (to be able to uninstall). I offered the Motherboard install CD and pointed to the LAN drivers and it was accepted.

    This indicates that there is more to it than just the lack of SP2 but if you get away with it, it saves some work and time.

    However, I would personally not be satisfied with such an 'on top repair installation' but would regard it as a temporary solution until I was in a position to do a clean installation.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #10

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