what exactly does a repair install do in xp?

[rise]

for instance, if i wanted to remove a program completely, some such as nero, leaves behind alot of crud. if i were to do a re-install would it recogniize that the program is no longer there and therefore clean up the registry entrys?

i know of crap claner and whatnot, just curious as to how an xp repair install would do it.

 

[dawks]

XP Repair install or in-place reinstall would not clean up non-windows registry keys. It repairs its own keys, and files directly related to Windows.

 

[firewall]

No. Why not use some good registry cleaner for that?

If you want, try Iolo's System mechanic v5.5. It has a utility to remove software traces from the system.

http://www.iolo.com

 

[volrath]

Stray registry keys don't harm anything... unless they are shell extensions or file handlers...

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: dawks
XP Repair install or in-place reinstall would not clean up non-windows registry keys. It repairs its own keys, and files directly related to Windows.

ahh, ok thank you.