Here's a simple and easy thing that will come in handy in the future

Usually, during the reinstallation of Windows XP, all data from your PC will be erased.

Following this tip you'll be able to reinstall your OS without losing your data, your personal documents, settings, paramaters and installed programs. Xp and the DOS commandprompt gives us the chance to save everything.

The OS will simply reinstall the essential files needed for the functioning of the system, while the rest remains intact!

Before you begin, you must insert the CD/DVD of your Windows XP in your drive.

Then go to Start> Run and type cmd

In the DOS window you must type "X:\i386\winnt32/unattend" (change the letter X for the drive your currently using your OS CD/DVD) and just let your machine do the rest

Now you have a way to reinstall everything without losing anything

NOTE: This has only been tested in windows XP so please don't try it with any other OS ok?

Enjoy!

B_B

thank you \ i'll try it \:D013:

I dont think this will work in the case of drastic hardware change...

There's an article here http://www.informationweek.com/news/window...0897&pgno=1 that also shows how to do this by booting to the XP installation CD.

Thanks for advice but can I do the same if wish to downgrade from vista?

No you can't follow this guide if you want to downgrade from vista. You need to do a fresh install of XP; meaning you need to have an XP installation disc.

thanks for info

thanks forr the tip

Thanks man

it is not just like function "repair" after u boot from cd?

10x m8...this will come in handy....

Thanks

I have a c and d drive which contain my important files. How do I protect both at the same time?

You may call it repair function as stated in the topic description, it will replace only the essential files required for the functioning of the OS.


If you proceed to the normal format it would be better that you moved your important files to your D: drive assuming that your OS is running on the C: drive, it's always good to have at least two partitions to avoid loss of data.

But you will not format the disk, you will only replace the files of your OS.. So you can rest assure that your files are secured.

thanks should save a lot of installing

wish i knew this about a week ago lol but thanks for the info

Hey man i tried with two different disks of XP and it said it couldn't find the file. Ideas?

I never had a problem using this.. and that kind of error is new to me, both disks are original right?

But if you keep having that problem I will be able to provide a similar method that will do the same thing

EDIT: You can try Badog's link above, after a quick reading, it appears that will do exactly the same thing.. however this is kind of weird, that last time I used this trick was two weeks ago and it worked pretty well..

B_B

What do you mean by original?? I have a copy of an original with no service packs.

What I mean was a legitimate copy, because as far as I know cracked versions don't work!

But I've just edit my last post with a suggestion, let me know if it you're interested or not..

Apparently no one have experienced any problems with this and I've checked it twice before post it here, but if some members are having problems with this I will ask someone to remove it at once

Well I do have a copy of an original one, just tried that and it still said "The System could not find the file specified" after inputing "j:\i386\winnt32\unattend"
It the slash after winnt32 supposed to be a forward slash like in your guide or was that a typo and it's supposed to be a backwards slash "\"

No that was not a typo, it is supposed to be like that.. I'll have a deep look on this when I wake up lol, because is 4am in here and I'm real sleepy

I the mean time you could follow the guide that Badog has suggested and surely tomorrow( I mean later ) I'll send you a PM with some good or bad news ok? Sorry for the hassle..

B_B

Something simialr is to run the System File Checker but you need an XP install CD.

Start>Run

Then in the box type sfc /scannow and click OK.

The SFC checks the content of Windows with what's on the CD. If anything is different it extracts from the CD and replaces the files on the PC. Be sure to run the automatic updates as tis will take you back to the version on the CD.

In other words, ff your CD of XP is SP1 and you've updated to SP3 it'll take you back to SP1.

Thanks for the advice.