In Recovery Consule, when it asks you for your password, just hit Enter, then it will proceed.
As to the other problems you mention, there is a reason for this which escapes me for the moment, sorry - it's happened to me before too.
Good luck.
I have windows xp sp2 on oem, is it ok for me to make a backup copy of it in case i lose it, i wont lend or sell it to anyone, just for personal use and as only i have the prroduct key stuck on my computer is it o.k. to do this? Just in case i lose it and will it still work eg. let me format my computer in case i lose my original, thanks.
When you repair reinstall winXP you won't lose any data or applications, however, like mulder said you do run the risk of an application not working, but just simply will have to reinstall the one application. You will, however loose your drivers. Most drivers are already reinstalled with winXP though as it is very user friendly when it comes to drivers. The ones that aren't should have came with the hardware when it was bought. If you have a driver that you had to look up on the internet or a driver that is an upgrade, I would hope that you have saved a copy of it. Otherwise you will need to find it agian.
I would always recommend trying to repair reinstall before you fesh install windows. There is no point in wiping your computer clean unless there is a good reason too.
As too someones question about why he can't put a harddrive into a different computer and boot windows:
WinXP scans your hardware and loads the drivers and settings that the scaned hardware needs. If you move the Harddrive to a completely new computer it will try to boot using the settings for the old computers hardware. There is a transfer option on the winXP disk if you insert it and autorun the cd. that is for copying windows from one computer to another though and you will need a second hard drive for that. If you only have the one hard drive, try a repair reinstall before you wipe it clean.
Well this thread is way off subject as it was suppose to be a discussion about Repair reinstalling of winXP. I figured I'd post my opinion in anyways, even though anyone who might be interested won't read this far into a thread off subject. It's become a forum for everyone's problems and not discusion.
I just tried to repair my windows XP Home - I got to "Windows XP Licensing agreement" "End User license agreement" "F8=I agree ESC=I do not agree PAGE DOWN= Next Page"
When I press F8 nothing happens, when I press ESC nothing happens, When I press PAGE DOWN it works, but thats no help.
Also if I just insert the XP Home CD and try a normal repair off the CD a message advises me as follows : "install Cd not recognised your info on hard drive is a later version" OR something like that !!
So how can I repair XP home if it is not recognised when i already have SP1 and SP2 installed??
Combine XP-PRo SP1 CD with SP2 CD and already installed fix's?
I am having some strange lockups of the PC and temporary loss of my login (I loose all of my settings). I have run antivirus, anti spyware and cleaned the registy, and defragged my system drive. I also see the "MBR Error 2" flash on my screen during boot up.
Seems like it's time to do a repair of XP and I have found your information.
Your posts on reinstalling W XP are very good and seem relatively painless. My question is one of improving efficeincy of repair. Can you refer me to a posting or other info that will allow me to burn a new CD that includes my current XP pro SP1 CD with the SP2 CD. And is it possible to include on the new CD the already downloaded additions to these SP's?
One last question, I hope. The PC I wish to repair windows XP has recovery W-XP CD that would install a new XP and destroy all other data. I want to slipstream a full W XP SP1 version with SP2 and then repair the current XP install. As I will be using a different XP serial number on the slipstreamed CD will I be able to repair the current XP installation that has a different serial number? The full XP CD was from a former PC install and the PC was wiped clean before givin away.
Thanks, Richard
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