Greetings Donna & list--

------original posts------------
> james berkhimer <[log in to unmask]> said:
>
> > Dose it do that everytime or just that one time if it dose it all the
> > time you might have to re-install windows because there's no way around
> > that I got the same message a few times with an old pc that is no longer
> > with us

> Yes, it does it everytime.If I have to re install Windows XP, do I have to
> delete anything before hand? Thank you for your help.
-----------end original---------

As long as your computer can be set to boot from CD, and you have your
original Windows Installation CD*, you should be able to perform a repair
installation of Windows (I'm assuming XP here).

*Caveat--I run XP Professional, Service Pack 2, and had to do such a repair
installation. I was unable to do so until I created a "slipstreamed" installation
CD with both the 'original' installation files and Service Pack 2. (Fortunately,
I had two other computers at my disposal with the necessary software
and hardware to create a slipstreamed installation disk.) I received an
error message to the effect of "wrong version" when I used just the original
CD. Creating a slipstreamed disk is not terribly difficult if you have the full
version of Nero Burning Rom or Easy CD Creator (basic is sufficient), but this
is grist for other posts.

If your computer is set to boot from CD, place the disk in the drive and allow
the computer to boot to the Windows installation. This is not terribly intuitive,
because when repairing an installation, you still respond to the prompts as
if you are doing a fresh install. There will come a point where the installation
will recognize a previous installation, and you will be prompted to respond
(F3 or C, I think) to whether you want to install Windows to another partition,
or repair the current installation. Respond as appropriate to repair the current
installation, and Setup will reinstall/repair Windows. You should not lose any
data or installation settings of any installed software by following this procedure.

If you Google slipstream installation CD, you should get several relevant hits
at sites with detailed instructions.

Hope this doesn't muddy the waters too much, and good luck.

[If you are running Windows 98, it is also possible to do a repair installation.
Boot to a command prompt only, rename C:\windows\win.com win.old, then
put the CD in the drive (and, if you have the startup floppy for Win98, put it
in the floppy drive), restart the computer, and setup should run, installing
Windows 98 "over the top of itself". Be sure to have the CD Key handy for
when you need to input it. This will not necessarily cure all ills that may be
a result of a corrupt registry, but, again, that is grist for other posts.]

Paul A. Shippert
Library Media Specialist
Margaret Brent Middle School
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