Repair Install Files

[fleeingpepper]

I know, there have been many questions on the XP repair install, but I searched and couldn't find the answer to this.

If I build a new computer, but decide that I want to use the same hard drive, I would do a repair install of XP...

But if I did that, would I keep my documents, files, programs, and what not? I know some programs only work on the same hardware that I installed it to, but still.

[juppy]

Yeah, those should remain untouched. The repair install is basically just an easier way of doing the old method of removing the IDE controller's drivers. With XP, you do the repair install, and it goes in and finds the different IDE controller of the new motherboard and changes the driver accordingly, since that's the only real reason you can't just swap a drive over to another machine and have it work anyway. All your other drive contents should stay the same, no change.

[glc]

A repair install replaces ALL system files and rewrites the hardware portion of the registry from scratch. It leaves programs, software registry, and data files alone.

I'd advise you to follow the procedure (Tips and Tricks) and change the IDE controllers and remove all drivers and hardware that will not be reused FIRST to avoid the repair install.

[fleeingpepper]

And after that, I would of course have to re-activate, correct?

[glc]

Most likely, yes.

[juppy]

Originally Posted by glc I'd advise you to follow the procedure (Tips and Tricks) and change the IDE controllers and remove all drivers and hardware that will not be reused FIRST to avoid the repair install.

Okay, I'm confused here, glc. So the repair install is not as good of a way to do it now? I thought there was a thread awhile back that was saying it did the same basic thing as manually removing the controller's drivers. Is there something else that's bad about the repair install method?

[glc]

It's a lot easier just changing (not removing) the controller drivers. It avoids the hassle of the repair install.

[juppy]

I see. Thanks.