XP Pro Refresh Install

VeNT · 2 Mar 2009 at 19:11

my windows xp keeps BSOD when it goes to load the login screen so I thought I'd do a refresh install but when I go though the options in the windows XP installer it just goes straight to the select partition screen (rather than the select existing installation screen).
I'm not sure how the installer checks to see if there are existing installs. does anyone know what I should check? the Boot.ini seems ok.

BigBoy · 2 Mar 2009 at 20:05

you cannot do a refresh install of XP you can only install a fresh copy of the OS.

It will sit side by side and you would be able to access all files and folders on the drive but non of your programs would be installed on that version (the fresh install).

VeNT · 2 Mar 2009 at 20:07

since when? I've done refresh installs of XP before.
some people call them repair installs. it just replaces the system files, no the registry or your user files etc.

BigBoy · 2 Mar 2009 at 20:19

as far as i am aware Forever. but that might be because i only use OEM disks. And havent looked at an original xp cd for probably 3 years, as i use Nlited Slipstream dvd instead

have you tried booting to safemode command prompt and running SFC.exe /scannow with the XP cd in the drive?

VeNT · 2 Mar 2009 at 20:22

can't boot into safemode. can't get into safe mode command prompt.
recovery option in disk install won't take my password (99.99% sure it's right).

BigBoy · 2 Mar 2009 at 21:59

VeNT said:
can't boot into safemode. can't get into safe mode command prompt.
recovery option in disk install won't take my password (99.99% sure it's right).

Its the admin password you will need not your user password just press enter if its blank.

VeNT · 2 Mar 2009 at 22:07

yeah, know what it should be but it's not playing ball

any way to change it?
during the install process it has at the bottom a message "detecting previous windows installations" any idea how it know when ones there? anything I could fake?

BigBoy · 2 Mar 2009 at 23:03

it searches for the registry hive file so no nothing you can fake. And why would you anyway?

VeNT · 3 Mar 2009 at 09:19

whats the registry hive file? if it's a file I can check it's there.

Brian Stuart · 3 Mar 2009 at 11:02

Sometimes if the original windows install is badly corrupted the you do not get the "repair previous windows installation" option. The best way is back up data and do fresh install.

Django x2 · 3 Mar 2009 at 11:05

only if its really bad. But the option to repair is available on both OEM or retail discs and always has been.

You boot from CD, go through the normal menu and if it finds a previous version of XP one of the options is to repair installation. Always has been, always will be (unless its uber bad).

Brian Stuart · 3 Mar 2009 at 11:14

As I said.

VeNT · 3 Mar 2009 at 11:39

what would have to be broken? it shut down normally but it flashes the BSOD and reboots as soon as it exits the windows XP with the scrolling bar bit when starting up.
if I can recover this it would be brilliant. but I could just reinstall it all and backup everything quite easily.