Installing XP over XP... should it be done?

[PC Freak]

The other day a large storm knocked out my PC. After troubleshooting i've discovered that the mobo was fried. I replaced it with a spare one I had. Now, of course, XP won't load due to this being a new mobo with a HD with all the settings of the pervious mobo. I've tired booting off the XP cd and selecting 'Restore', to no avail.
The way I see it, I have two options. Also I have importate docs and such in My Doc's, so I can't lose them.

1. I can install XP over it self and hope that helps. But i'm afarid I'll lose the contents of My Docs.

2. I can copy all contents/dir's of My Doc's to another drive , format the c: and install XP anew.

I like option 2 better, but I need the dos command 'xcopy', and it's related file(s) if there are any.
I don't have a copy of xcopy. If you have it please email it to me at krissy@leswalden.com I'll put it on a disk, and take it home.

If there are more ideas that you have i'm all ears. I really need help on this one.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Adrian Tung]

Option 2 won't work if you've used the NTFS file system instead of FAT32.

Regarding Option 1, I've never done this before but in the case of installing Win2K over Win2K, it will delete all the contents of the Documents and Settings and Winnt folders. I assume XP will do the same thing. But if you've changed your My Docs folder to something other than the default one (I've always set mine to D:\My Documents), it won't delete your docs.

Have you tried booting from the CD and then entering the console (safe mode)? You could try manually copying your stuff that way, I think.

Or find another XP machine, plug your hard disk in, backup your stuff and then format and re-install XP.


Hope that helps,
atwl

 

[PC Freak]

NTFS / FAT32.... I had forgetton about that.
But it's all good. The HD is setup as Fat32.

If there is a website with copies of dos commands could someone post it here. I've been looking with no luck.

 

[Mem]

Actually have a look at bootdisk.com here you might find something you can use.

 

[PC Freak]

who would have thought..
xxcopy.com

Found it through bootdisk.com
Thanks Mem

 

[Doh!]

It would be nice to partition the hd this time.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Why not try the Repair installation, where it reinstalls the Windows directory, kernel, and the drivers? I have done it before when I needed important documents, and it worked fine.

 

[CTho9305]

yesterday I moved from one version of XP to XP pro by installing over top - choose repair (not the repair console). I did have to reactivate after doing that, but I think it was because of the version change.