Repair Install Printable version Because of Service Packs, virus, malware, spyware, etc. changes and warnings will be added. Read entire article before proceeding with the Repair Install. It is extremely important that you backup important data that is not available from other media sources. This backup should be located on a separate hard drive, CD, DVD, network storage, etc. that will not be affected by the repair install. Please check out the warning links before attempting the Repair Install. It is to your advantage you follow the suggestions to prevent data loss and especially if you also have the capability to boot into XP, perform the steps listed in the Warning #1 , before proceeding with the repair install. If the capability to boot into Windows XP is still available and the steps listed in the warning did not help the situation, you can use an OEM XP Pro or Home, "retail" full version or upgrade CD of the same version Home or Pro to perform a Repair Install. OEM Restore disks or folders will not work for the Repair Install. A Repair Install will replace the system files with the files on the XP CD used for the Repair Install. It will leave your applications and settings intact, but Windows updates will need to be reapplied. A Repair Install will replace files altered by ad ware and malware, but will not fix an ad ware, malware problem. You can use the In place upgrade option to change a Product Key in the event you entered a key that was already activated. An option I highly recommend is creating a Slipstreamed XP CD with SP1, SP2, etc.. Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) Good http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp Another Slipstream step by step Better http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp AutoStreamer mirror link for AutoStreamer Best!! http://mhtools.knoware.nl/raptor/autostreamer/AutoStreamer.exe Step by Step on AutoStreamer http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- XP REPAIR INSTALL 1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order. 2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer: To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER. To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R. To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3. 3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup. do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you do not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R". 4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations. 5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair. If Repair is not one of the options, read Warning #2 below!! 6. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact. Blaster worm warning: Do not immediately activate over the internet when asked, enable the XP firewall [ http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283673 ] before connecting to the internet. You can activate after the firewall is enabled. Control Panel - Network Connections. Right click the connection you use, Properties, and there is a check box on the Advanced [ http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfirewall1.jpg ] page. 7. Reapply updates or service packs applied since initial Windows XP installation. Please note that a Repair Install using an Original pre service pack 1 or 2 XP CD used as the install media will remove SP1/SP2 respectively and service packs plus updates isssued after the service packs will need to be reapplied. Service Pack 2 link. Copy and paste link into your browser. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E- 4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en An option I highly recommend; is creating a Slipstreamed XP CD with SP1, SP2, etc. . Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) Good http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp Another Slipstream step by step Better http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp AutoStreamer mirror link for AutoStreamer Best!! http://mhtools.knoware.nl/raptor/autostreamer/AutoStreamer.exe Step by Step on AutoStreamer http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html ______________________________________________________________________ Warning! #1 Should you do a repair install; and is it the best choice? A Repair Install is not foolproof, and should not be considered the cure-all fix for non-boot situations. To prevent loss of data or program settings, perform the following before the Repair Install. Manually delete the Undo_guimode.txt file from the Windows\System32 folder before you perform any of the actions that are listed in the "Symptoms" section of this article. To do this in Windows XP, type the following command at a command prompt: del /a /f %windir%\system32\undo_guimode.txt From the Start menu, click Run. Screenshot Image file://Yellowjacket/i/webs/web/Nighthawk/images/cmdpmt.gif In the Run dialog box, in the Open text box, type: cmd. Click OK. Delete the undo_guimode.txt file. In the C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe dialog box, type: del /a /f c:\windows\system32\undo_guimode.txt. Press the ENTER key. Screenshot Image file://Yellowjacket/i/webs/web/Nighthawk/images/undo_guimode.gif KB Q312369 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q312369 Check the link below for an option for recovering from a non-boot event. Windows XP Crashed? Here's Help A salvage mission into the depths of Windows XP, explained by a non-geek by Charlie White http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm Also as a precaution the windows\system32\WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK should be copied to a floppy before doing a repair install. For more information see Alex Nichol's article on XP activation. http://aumha.org/a/wpa.htm More articles to help prevent data loss. http://cquirke.mvps.org/reinst.htm Additional tips to perform before initiating the Repair Install. You should complete the basic requirements of backing up all files and folders that cannot be restored from other media. This includes passwords, applications purchased and downloaded from the internet without CD support, financial records and folders, digital images that cannot be replaced............... Backup copies of your registry files (in the %systemroot%\Repair folder) are also replaced after the in-place upgrade is complete. Copy these registry backups to another location before you perform an in-place upgrade/Repair Install. You may need to use them after the in-place upgrade is complete. It would also be a good idea to run the Files And Settings Transfer wizard F.A.S.T located on the XP CD. If you made unorthodox registry changes with third party software, there is the potential of data loss from a Repair Install. Another consideration of concern would be a power failure during the repair install could render your system unbootable and result in loss of data. The likelihood of you losing the files and folders is probably of minimal risk, but you have to expect the worst and make sure you are prepared for recovery. If you are sure you have explored all other troubleshooting avenues, then proceed with the repair install. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Warning #2!! If the Repair Option is not Available What should I do? Most important do not ignore the information below! If the option to Repair Install is NOT available and you continue with the install; you will delete your Windows folder, Documents and Settings folders. All Applications that place keys in the registry will need to be re-installed. You should exit setup if the repair option is not available and consider other options. I have found if the Repair option is not available, XP is usually not repairable and will require a Clean install. http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html If you still have the ability to access the Windows XP installation, backup all important files not restorable from other sources before attempting any recovery console trouble shooting attempts. Possible Fix by reconfiguring boot.ini using Recovery Console.   1.Boot with XP CD or 6 floppy boot disk set.   2. Press R to load the Recovery Console.   3. Type bootcfg.   4. This should fix any boot.ini errors causing setup not to see the XP OS install.   5. Try the repair install. One more suggestion from MVP Alex Nichol "Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option, and if the CD letter is say K: give these commands COPY K:\i386\ntldr C:\ COPY K:\i386\ntdetect.com C:\ (two other files needed - just in case) 1. Type: ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\boot.ini DEL C:\boot.ini 2. Type: BootCfg /Rebuild which will get rid of any damaged boot.ini, search the disk for systems and make a new one. This might even result in a damaged windows reappearing; but gives another chance of getting at the repair" Feedback on success or failure of the above fixes would be greatly appreciated. Feedback on success or failure of the above fix would be greatly appreciated. xpnews@michaelstevenstech.com Warning!! #3 Updates must be applied before connecting to the internet after a repair install. Reapply updates or service packs applied since initial Windows XP installation. Please note that a Repair Install using an Original pre service pack 1 or 2 XP CD used as the install media will remove SP1/SP2 respectively and service packs plus updates issued after the service packs will need to be reapplied. Windows XP Service Pack 1 http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/ Service Pack 2 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en An option I highly recommend; is creating a Slipstreamed XP CD with SP1, SP2, etc. . http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) Good Another Slipstream step by step Better http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49 AutoStreamer mirror link for AutoStreamer Best!! http://mhtools.knoware.nl/raptor/autostreamer/AutoStreamer.exe Step by Step on AutoStreamer http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Microsoft KB Articles You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing or Upgrading Windows XP (Q312369) System Restore "Restore Points" Are Missing or Deleted (Q301224) How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341) Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP Publishing of this document without permission of the author is forbidden. 4-29-2003 Revised 05-16-06