Should I repair Windows or a clean install

[chris2112617]

I think I'm missing some Windows files for some reason. It starts up slow and takes forever to load things. I'm trying to avoid doing a clean install if I can. If I use the XP cd to repair Windows will it put the new files on top of the old ones? Or will they be replaced? Also, if I do a repair do I need to disconnect my external HD?

 

[nineball9]

Good chance you have accumulated a lot of "junk" programs on your current system which a Windows repair will not fix. If you are truely missing files, your system would not boot, or applications which initiate at start up would fail.

Try checking your event log first. If you've never looked at it you may not even know what's been there all along!

Personally, I would reinstall Windows, though I maintain several image backups which I use instead of starting from scratch with a full OS install. Acronis True Image can be used to backup your system and it has a nice feature which allows you to "mount" the backup image as a virtual disk. This makes copying data on your backup to your restored (or fresh install) system. Your external drive would make for a great place to create a backup, though it will be slower than a bus-attached drive (IDE/SATA etc).

Good luck

 

[RebateMonger]

A Repair Install of XP basically re-installs Windows, but keeps most (all?) Registry settings. Your installed programs continue to work, your Windows and application preferences are kept, and your data remains intact. Existing Windows system files are replaced by whatever version is on the Install CD.

After the Repair Install, you'll have to re-Acivate Windows and will have to re-install all patches and Service Packs that haven't been slipstreamed into your XP Install CD.

As always, make backups of any important data. Folks make mistakes formatting hard drives, and other mishaps can also rear their heads.