Reinstalling Windows XP Without Drive Format



Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2006

by
Smartnetadmin.com

Objective: To reinstall Windows XP in order to obtain a fresh install/registry, but without possibly deleting data stored on the drive by the customer. This document assumes that Windows XP is presently installed in the standard WINDOWS directory.

  1. Boot the computer from the Windows XP CDROM.

  2. Wait for Device Drivers to Load.

  3. Hit Enter to Setup Windows.

  4. Hit the F8 key to Agree.

  5. Hit ESC to Don’t Repair.

  6. Select the C Partition with the arrow keys and hit Enter.

  7. Hit C to Continue Setup.

  8. Hit Enter to Leave The Current File System Intact.

  9. Hit ESC for Different Folder.

  10. Backspace over WINDOWS and replace this with WINNT and hit Enter.

  11. Wait for Setup Files to be copied to hard drive.

  12. The computer now reboots and begins installation.

  13. Follow the prompts as normal in order to finish installation.

  14. The computer reboots.

  15. Follow the prompts as normal.

  16. Once the installation has completed, double click on C Drive.

  17. Click on View Contents of Drive.

  18. Go to Tools : Folder Options.

  19. Click on the View tab.

  20. Click on Show Hidden Files and Folders.

  21. Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files.

  22. Uncheck Hide Extensions for Known File Types.

  23. Click OK.

  24. Double-click the BOOT.INI file.

  25. Delete the ENTIRE line of text beginning with multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)Windows….
    This is the original WINDOWS directory boot line.

  26. Save the file and exit.

  27. You now have the original WINDOWS directory intact on the hard drive which you can delete. Or you can leave it there temporarily until you are ready to delete it.

  28. My Documents, etc. can of course be copied from C:Documents and Settings to the new My Documents location under the new Profile Directory.

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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)
» left by Roger
 4 years 66 days ago.
I found this article very helpful... I couldn't find a resolution for the no icon or task bar .........At least this way I was able to keep my data files .. Many thanks
» left by acespower 3 years 163 days ago.
Thanks a lot for sharing the tips. I've ever used Linux to copy the data that left on the harddisk (of which Windows couldn't boot on). But now, I've learned one more tip for remaining the data intact.
» left by Anonymous
 3 years 36 days ago.
very helpful, thanks alot
» left by FAMELIS from ATHENS 2 years 313 days ago.
WHEN I HIT F8 TO AGREE TO THE WINDOWS LICENCE NOTHING HAPPENS. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
» left by lthsinc
from LA, CA 2 years 157 days ago.
I need to install a fresh copy of XP, and this sounds like it will do it, but will th pograms still be intact, don't want to have to reinstall all programs
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