Question on partitions/program access

[Eirgorn]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me with my computer at work.

FYI: I consider myself fairly ignorant with computer systems, so if I leave out any pertinent information or if I am overlooking an obvious fix, I apologize.

SPECS: (an older SONY machine at work)

1.49GHz, 256MB sdram, pentium 4 CPU 1500MHz
Drive C: 16GB FAT32
Drive D: 40GB NTFS


I was updating to XP SP2 today when the installer canceled with an error message and then after restart it wouldnt work at all.

XP was originally installed on the C Drive, as well as all my programs (MS Office, along with programs for work etc). So to avoid wiping all my data by formatting the C drive and reinstalling there, I decided to format the empty D drive and use a XP Pro w/SP2 disk from one of the new office computers to have a usable OS.

Now that I have a workable OS, I am having difficulty using items from the C drive. The C drive still has the busted XP files on it, as well as all my documents for work. If I try to use any .exe files on the C drive, it results in an error I assume because they are still referencing the messed up C drive OS.

Is there anyway for me to transfer these programs/files to the D drive, or make them usable as they are? Or do I just need to reinstall all the software to the D drive and transfer the files?

Also, do I need to uninstall the old /WINDOWS stuff on the C drive? Should I make a hard copy of all my files and then format the C drive completely?

Any help/advice/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

[ThePiston]

Always backup your files before doing anything with the OS. Windows has a "Files and Settings Trasnfer Wizard" under "Accessories/System Tools" that should be able to do what you want, but it will probably copy your errors as well. If I were you I'd take what you ened from the old drive, then just put all the programs onto your new D drive and use the C drive as a backup drive for your important files.... if you right click "my documents" on your current Windows Drive (now D) and go to properties, you can make "C:\" your "My Documents" drive thereby always keeping your files separate from an impending Windows meltdown.

 

[Eirgorn]

I had backed up the OS on the C drive this morning before attempting SP2 again, but after the crash, I couldnt even get to a point to roll it back. Even safemode wouldnt work.

I'll poke around the File and Settings Transfer Wizard now.

Thanks Piston

 

[mdchesne]

If all you have on the C drive that you wish to save are documents and not programs, just copy them over to the D drive. click and drag basically. for programs, if you saved the install files, just drag those over too. Or, alternatively, use the transfer wizard in the tools. If not, just reinstall the programs onto the D drive using the CD or floppy.

I usually run in a world of problems with having dead system files in the same drive as my installed items, so I'd say save as much as you can and just reformat C in a NTFS format.