How to repair windows xp

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blue-eye-boy

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Hi all, I wanted to format my hdd and reinstall xp, cause somethings wrong with xp. Strange things happen, the latest is I get a lot error messages that Automatic updates cant start, but a lot of them. And the startup is sometimes very slow too. But, if I just think of reinstalling all my valuable programs, and there's a lot, then I would rather try repairing it. So, when I start windows with the cd, and boot from it, then I choose the (R) for repair option. Then it which windows I want to log onto, and I choose mine, C:/ windows. Then what. I typed help, and then I got a lot of strange names. What do I do then, just to repair my windows completely.
 
It sounds like you are opening the Repair Console in XP's installer. Its not easy to fix things in there and its impossible to fix certain errors from there(or maybe im just slightly retarded :D)

Cant remember the exact options but you have to go on as if its a clean install then the XP installer will complain about the existing installation and ask if you want to install a fresh copy in the current partition or repair the existing installation. Pick that option. You will probably have to reinstall some apps anyway and it may not fix things the way you expect it to. It can also screw things up completely so make backups first

Nothing beats a fresh install.

Maybe someone else can help out with exact step by step instructions :confused:
 
jacqvt said:
Hi all, I wanted to format my hdd and reinstall xp, cause somethings wrong with xp. Strange things happen, the latest is I get a lot error messages that Automatic updates cant start, but a lot of them. And the startup is sometimes very slow too. But, if I just think of reinstalling all my valuable programs, and there's a lot, then I would rather try repairing it. So, when I start windows with the cd, and boot from it, then I choose the (R) for repair option. Then it which windows I want to log onto, and I choose mine, C:/ windows. Then what. I typed help, and then I got a lot of strange names. What do I do then, just to repair my windows completely.
Click to expand...

Ummm does your Windows boot up?

If yes....

Safeboot into command prompt and do chkdsk c: /f
Uninstall Apps you don't use.
Use a Spyware and AV scanner to check for rubbish adware and viruses.
Download TuneUP Utilities 2007 Trial and correct errors/defrag your registry
Defrag all your HDDs
Download an MS utility called Bootvis and run that, it will speed up your boot.

If you wanna repair your Windows the way you mention above,
make sure your Windows CD is the same version as your installation,
ie it's Windows XP SP 1 (and you have SP1) or XP SP2 and you
have SP2 otherwise Google how to make a slipstreamed SP2 Windows
CD and REPAIR using that. Don't repair an SP2 WinXP installation with
a SP1 CD.

If you're getting weird errors, its probably not Windows per se but
a bad stick of ram. Download a program called memtest86+-1.65
and burn it onto a bootable DVD/CD, then reboot and have it test
all of your system RAM. OEM branded programs by Nero and others
can usually do this for you (click "make CD bootable").
 
Bear in mind that installing Windows is quite time consuming, and then you have the Service Pack to do (if you haven't slipstreamed).

A faster way of restoring is to backup your drive to an image. Of course you can't have all the games and packages restored, but you can have them handy on, say, a memory stick. Then when you download anything, just put a copy of the install files on the stick in a "PC restore" folder.
 
most of the time repairing windows via botting from cd, does not help the problems are still there

just format and reload

formatting and loading windows, even on slow pc should not take more than 3 hours

windows install plus programs and games

not that long
 
Creating an image of the partition won't help as windows is already giving trouble. reinstalling doesn't take long and if you do an unattended setup you can just leave it until it's finished. Once it's all going well making a backup image is a great idea, it will let you restore you OS back to the state it used to be in (good as a new installation).
 
The only problem i have now is that automatic updates ive error reports, that i encountered a problem and must close. And i cant open my ext hdd in explorer. if i reinstall windows, must i create a image before or after installing the other programs?
 
Image creation should be done after installing your main apps - not everything. I like to have XP, Office, A/V and Nero in my image - the other stuff can be done later, as long as I have my main progs imaged...
 
okay thanks. Thats what I wanted to do if I reinstall windows, but wasnt sure.
 
My way

howardb said:
Image creation should be done after installing your main apps - not everything. I like to have XP, Office, A/V and Nero in my image - the other stuff can be done later, as long as I have my main progs imaged...
Click to expand...
You can also create images in stages:
1. After first boot up of a brand new install
2. After installation of all your drivers
3. After installation of Office, A/V, Firewall, Nero etc.
4. Once a week or once a month thereafter.
5. Use High Compression in all instances. Saves half the space.

Operating System, Drive C, no larger than about 20Gb. Mine is 10Gb.
All other Applications like games are installed to the Drive D partition of the same hard drive.
The best situation imo is to have extra hard drives installed denoted as E, F ... etc.
Optical Devices G, H ... etc.
First thing I do after installation is to Right Click the My Documents Folder on the Desktop and move it to one of the Storage Drives. In my case E. You will just need to create the My Documents in that Drive first to do this.

So to recap.
Hard Drive 1 - C and D:
C - 10 to 20Gb for XP and Office etc
D - Installations. Games, programs etc.
Hard Drive 2 - E:
My Documents
Storage
Music
Pictures
Email Folder - in my case Outlook Express
Hard Drive 3 - F:
All the images of Drive C in it's own folder with descriptions and dates.
Backups of Drive 2 and any other backups you may need from Drive D, for instance I have my Counterstrike Game installed to Drive D, but I keep a backup of the folder on Hard Drive 3.

Also to keep DVD Backups of some of those Images.
Plus all your Documents, Pictures and Music Etc.

I have found it best to keep the windows installation drive, C, as small as possible, not only for easier and quicker image creations and storage thereof, but windows will run better without all the clutter.

There are many other tips to keep your installation healthy and fresh, some mentioned by all the other posters.
Good Luck with your installation.
 
It is ussaly best to backup before a re-format :( you don't want to have the PC all clean and just remeber that you lost 40Gb of data!
 
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