Reinstalling XP from old disks

ShawWellPete

ShawWellPete

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Hi all,

I tend to use my Macbook Pro for everything now, but we still a Dell PC at home which came with XP home. I paid for an upgrade for XP pro as I wanted remote desktop connection a few years ago. This PC is used by my wife for general browsing, e-mail word processing. It has started to run slowly and I thought I would reinstall XP. The problem is that the XP pro disk that I have is for the old service pack one which has since been updated. When I try to reinstall the software an error comes up telling me that the currently installed software is newer than the one I am trying to reinstall.

Any ideas on the easiest way to reinstall XP?
 
As long as you have backed up your data, format the HDD first, then install XP.

Mind you, updating it will take a fair while.
 
If you formate your hard drive you wil also have to reactivate Windows as you restart with only 30 day startup,I had to get in contact with microsoft for a code when my hard drive crashed

Realspeed
 
Try searching for slipstream and SP3, you may be able to make an XP Pro SP3 installer this way. I did it once for some combination of XP and SP2/3 using an excellent guide i found online. It invloved downloading the SP3 install for IT professionals (basically the full SP3 download) and some other command line trickery to make the disc image. If I find it i'll post a link.
 
I agree with Leon. I did this myself, slipstreaming is very easy to do, have a look at http://www.nliteos.com/guide/ this is also the software I used to create an SP3 install.
 
neil_g said:
nope. reinstalling erases the registry rendering all installed software useless.
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Not true. This is known as a "reapir install".

ShawWellPete said:
Is there not an easier way? I was hoping to be able to reisntall windows but maintain the data and software...
Click to expand...
This won't have the desired effect of making the computer run faster. If you're trying to reinstall for this reason, format & install from the disk you have, then apply SP2, SP3 & IE7 before running Windows Update.

I take it you've run Disk Defragmenter already, and that the PC has more than 1gig RAM?

Stroller.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I must admit I haven't done anything yet. I use my Macbook pro for all my photo editing and general use and the PC is only really used by my wife for e-mail and web browsing.

I'm getting complaints though so I'll have to do something. Maybe I should upgrade to Vista or the new one coming?
 
Cos you don't have to wear nappies when using XP!
 
I'd definately take the long route and back up the data then do a full format and reinstall. There's nothing to beat the 'niceness' of a freshly installed OS on a clean HDD :thumbs:
 
ShawWellPete said:
... the PC is only really used by my wife for e-mail and web browsing.

I'm getting complaints though so I'll have to do something. Maybe I should upgrade to Vista or the new one coming?
Click to expand...
If it's just used for e-mail and web browsing then stick with XP. It works & it'll be good for another couple of years. If for some reason you choose to ignore this advice then go for Windows 7 over Vista, but I really don't see the need.

I take it you've run Disk Defragmenter already, and that the PC has more than 1gig RAM

Stroller.
 
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