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reinstallation and programs


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Guest Stephen
Posted

If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP, is there any way in which existing

programs can be made to work without also reinstalling them? In some cases,

I do not now have the original install media.

 

Thanks,

Stephen

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Guest John Barnett MVP
Posted

Re: reinstallation and programs

 

Without the original disks you will not be able to use the software. If you

are talking about the software that came pre-install with your PC, then if

you use the PC manufacturer's restore disks or partition then all the

software will be installs just as it was when you first purchased the PC. If

on the other hand you have installed software since you purchased the

machine and you don't have the disks then they will disappear.

 

If you have a full retail copy of Windows XP you would be better doing as

'repair' install. That way you shouldn't loose any of the software you have

on your hard drive. See this link from my website:

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_repair_my_windows_xp_in.htm

 

If you only have restore disks you won't be able to do a repair install.

 

--

John Barnett MVP

Associate Expert

Windows - Shell/User

 

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

 

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any

kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,

reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for

any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the

use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this

mail/post..

 

"Stephen" <none> wrote in message

news:%235pu7y7xHHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP, is there any way in which existing

> programs can be made to work without also reinstalling them? In some

> cases, I do not now have the original install media.

>

> Thanks,

> Stephen

>

Guest Ken Blake
Posted

Re: reinstallation and programs

 

Stephen wrote:

> If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP, is there any way in which

> existing programs can be made to work without also reinstalling them?

> In some cases, I do not now have the original install media.

 

 

No. Reinstalling Windows means the loss of everything on the drive,

including all your programs. Nothing will work unless you reinstall it.

 

Your data will also be gone, so be sure you have a good external backup of

it.

 

--

Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User

Please reply to the newsgroup

Guest Alason
Posted

Re: reinstallation and programs

 

You sound very knowlegable. Could you help me?

 

Error Loading Kernel

You Must Reinstall Windows

 

Help!

Everytime I turn on the computer, it displays that message, then turns off.

I've tried starting it with the restore disk in the CD drive, but still

nothing! I've also tried restarting in Safe Mode, no good. There must be a

way to install from MS Dos or something...Please help me!

 

"John Barnett MVP" wrote:

> Without the original disks you will not be able to use the software. If you

> are talking about the software that came pre-install with your PC, then if

> you use the PC manufacturer's restore disks or partition then all the

> software will be installs just as it was when you first purchased the PC. If

> on the other hand you have installed software since you purchased the

> machine and you don't have the disks then they will disappear.

>

> If you have a full retail copy of Windows XP you would be better doing as

> 'repair' install. That way you shouldn't loose any of the software you have

> on your hard drive. See this link from my website:

> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_repair_my_windows_xp_in.htm

>

> If you only have restore disks you won't be able to do a repair install.

>

> --

> John Barnett MVP

> Associate Expert

> Windows - Shell/User

>

> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

>

> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any

> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,

> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for

> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the

> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this

> mail/post..

>

> "Stephen" <none> wrote in message

> news:%235pu7y7xHHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> > If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP, is there any way in which existing

> > programs can be made to work without also reinstalling them? In some

> > cases, I do not now have the original install media.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Stephen

> >

>

>

Guest John Barnett MVP
Posted

Re: reinstallation and programs

 

The error message you are receiving seems to relate to Windows 98/ME so I'm

assuming, rightly or wrongly, that your PC manufacturer is using Windows

98/ME on your restore disks to start the restore process. If this is the

case then a file is corrupt on the restore disk. I suppose there are two

options.

 

1/ Contact the PC manufacturer to see if you can obtain (they will probably

charge you) a new copy of the restore disk(s). If, on the other hand, you

created them yourself and the original image is still on a hidden partition

on your machine, you could try burning a new set. If the image is on a

hidden partition your PC manual will tell you how to burn a new set of

disks. If the restore disks came with the machine then the restore disks are

the only source of the XP image.

 

2/ All restore disks contain 'images' of the operating system. The

manufacturer usually 'ghosts' the image to the CD using Norton Ghost. You

can check the contents of the first restore disk to see if it contains a

file with a GHO file extension, if this is the case then it was ghosted

using Norton Ghost. You might be able to resurrect the copy by obtaining a

copy of Norton Ghost, creating a DOS copy of the software, running it and

then opening the GHO image to see if it will install from there. Most

imaging software can be used either from within windows or in the

pre-windows (DOS) environment and by selecting the correct file will

install.

 

As an alternative you might contact the PC manufacturer technical support to

see if they have any better options. Either way, as the problem is related

to restore disks, I think you are going to have to contact the manufacturer

and ask if they have a solution.

 

 

--

John Barnett MVP

Associate Expert

Windows - Shell/User

 

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

 

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any

kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,

reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for

any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the

use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this

mail/post..

 

"Alason" <Alason@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:0A913AF9-6A61-4A31-9F22-3C7D37A05A79@microsoft.com...

> You sound very knowlegable. Could you help me?

>

> Error Loading Kernel

> You Must Reinstall Windows

>

> Help!

> Everytime I turn on the computer, it displays that message, then turns

> off.

> I've tried starting it with the restore disk in the CD drive, but still

> nothing! I've also tried restarting in Safe Mode, no good. There must be a

> way to install from MS Dos or something...Please help me!

>

> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:

>

>> Without the original disks you will not be able to use the software. If

>> you

>> are talking about the software that came pre-install with your PC, then

>> if

>> you use the PC manufacturer's restore disks or partition then all the

>> software will be installs just as it was when you first purchased the PC.

>> If

>> on the other hand you have installed software since you purchased the

>> machine and you don't have the disks then they will disappear.

>>

>> If you have a full retail copy of Windows XP you would be better doing as

>> 'repair' install. That way you shouldn't loose any of the software you

>> have

>> on your hard drive. See this link from my website:

>> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_repair_my_windows_xp_in.htm

>>

>> If you only have restore disks you won't be able to do a repair install.

>>

>> --

>> John Barnett MVP

>> Associate Expert

>> Windows - Shell/User

>>

>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

>>

>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any

>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,

>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable

>> for

>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of

>> the

>> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this

>> mail/post..

>>

>> "Stephen" <none> wrote in message

>> news:%235pu7y7xHHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> > If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP, is there any way in which

>> > existing

>> > programs can be made to work without also reinstalling them? In some

>> > cases, I do not now have the original install media.

>> >

>> > Thanks,

>> > Stephen

>> >

>>

>>


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