Can I reinstall WinXP Pro while keeping all files and programs intact?

[InlineFive]

One of my comps is running really slowly and starting to crash with WindowsXP Professional. However this system has lots of critical files and programs on it that I really wouldn't prefer to have to reinstall again. Is there a way to reinstall Win XP and keep all this stuff intact?

I tried the Automated Recovery Service thing but all I ended with was a C:/WINDOWS prompt.

Can anyone help me? WinXP Pro, BTW...

-Por

 

[ForsakenMaster]

I would scan for spyware if it is running slow.
Generaly this is the cause or a virus.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: ForsakenMaster
I would scan for spyware if it is running slow.
Generaly this is the cause or a virus.

Done both.

 

[firewall]

see what services ur pc loads when booting and check ur registry with a good software like sys mech.

 

[johnjkr1]

The real answer is no, there is no easy way to do that, unless perhaps you have two partitions...you can always try installing xp on top of itself, but that surely wont solve the slowdown problem...you just have to learn to love the format.....the other two posts, usually slowdowns are a virus or spyware....but if its crashing alot...maybe you have a hard drive problem...it can never hurt to run the diagnostics from the hard drive maker to check it out..

-john

 

[JohnnyAnnalog]

1. Download Knoppix & burn it on a CD.

2. Backup your data & do a fresh install of Windows.

3. Boot to Knoppix linux for surfing, email & download.

4. Boot to Windows for games.

 

[bacillus]

a repair install should keep all your data intact!

 

[johnjkr1]

Yeah, but i've never seen a repair install fix anything....and I've done 100+ back in my Dell tech days...maybe if a file or two is messed up, but that doesnt sound like the problem here

 

[firewall]

reinstallation over itself or repair installs might produce driver conflicts and application data mess-ups. Your best bet is to backup ur apps and data and re-install WinXP on a clean formatted disk to get ur computer back upto speed.

Alternatively, have you used System restore and the Backup app already present in WinXP?

 

[LouPoir]

Originally posted by: johnjkr1
The real answer is no, there is no easy way to do that, unless perhaps you have two partitions...you can always try installing xp on top of itself, but that surely wont solve the slowdown problem...you just have to learn to love the format.....the other two posts, usually slowdowns are a virus or spyware....but if its crashing alot...maybe you have a hard drive problem...it can never hurt to run the diagnostics from the hard drive maker to check it out..

-john

I agree

 

[Maus]

Reinstallation will only let you use programs if there aren't any registry entries that the app relies on and/or profiles it creates under your login. The majority of modern applications (especially if they have some sort of copy protection) do both of these, so you're probably going to be SOL when it comes to this.

 

[mboy]

Backup all crucial data (forget your progies, you will need to reinstall them) and as others have said, LEARN to LUV the format-reinstall.
After you do a nice fresh reinstall, update XP, load your data and progries, make a nice image using ghost or the like, keep it on a seperate partition (or even better-physical drive) so it will take you 15mn to reinstall the image vs. 3 hours for the manual way.
Their is NO OTHER way.