xp repair installation

vaio

Quick question (I hope)

If I do a XP repair installation does it sort the hardware out?

i.e. could I upgrade motherboard/processor/vid etc, add my existing hard disc, do a repair install and end up with a working machine but without the grief of having to reinstall all my applications?

Johnmcl7

The scope of what a repair install does will vary depending on what Windows thinks needs done, I don't know the exact mechanics behind it but I know in theory the concept is that it simply replaces damaged system files. However I find that this means a repair install can vary from replacing a few system files to basically doing a full reinstall on top of the existing install.

Personally if I was upgrading with a new motherboard/processor/video card I'd go for a clean install as XP can be quite fussy with differing hardware and it can save a lot of grief in the long run starting from scratch.

An alternative which I haven't experimented much with is Acronis which has the option to take an image and restore it to different hardware.

John

-TangleFoot-

There is something you can do... but it's a little complicated.

andy2004

installing xp from scratch is the best bet when it comes to replacing the major components, mainly the motherboard.
if it was a simple processor upgrade, change of graphics card, then what Johnmc17 said about acronis would be a good idea.
I dont personally like installing xp from scratch, but when it comes to the motherboard, its a lot easier and the system would be alot more stable, if it was installed from scratch, due to differing drivers from the old to the new still registered in the registry and causing conflicts.

Basically do a fresh install, and then after xp + drivers + your programs = create acronis image, in a years time, when you want a fresh install, use that and update your programs.

vaio

Whilst I'm inclined to agree that a clean install would be better, to be honest I'd probably struggle to find the installation materials for all my software which is why a repair installation is appealing.

Tanglefoots link looks like it has possibilities if a bit fiddly

Cheers (but any other suggestions welcome)

aerostar

I have changed motherboards a few times, without all the "complicated" bit.

1 Backup the hard disc, all partitions, Not just files, using Acronis (OR SIMILAR), to a USB harddrive and make sure it verifies.

2 change your mboard etc. (If just changing the graphics card, then you can just change it, none of this is needed but you may have to re-activate with MS)

3 before connecting your original hard disc, make sure computer boots OK using a live linux cd (Mint or similar). That will tell you if everything works.

4 Close down Linux and switch off, remove CD, connect hard drive, do not switch on yet.

5 Get prepared to use F8 immediately to get it into safe mode, safe mode is the most important part for this operation. Switch on and keep tapping the F8 key to get to the menu and then choose boot to safemode (NOT Safemode with network), and when desktop appears, check generally. Obviously things that need drivers will not work !

6 restart the computer and let it go to full windows, this will take some time, as it will re-enumerate the devices and motherboard etc.

7 with luck it should come up OK, you will then have to install drivers for any upgrade items, eg graphics, network, sound.

8 If it goes bad, you still have your backed up copy, to go back to your original mboard hardware etc.

If it works all your applications and data will still be there.

As you have done a major change to your computer you will have to re-activate it with Microsoft, using the 25digit key.

The above you do AT YOUR OWN RISK !!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!