From: bashley101@gmail.com   
      
   relic wrote:   
      
   > geercom@windstream.net wrote:   
   >> On Dec 24, 12:32 pm, "Auric__"  wrote:   
   >>> On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:49:49 GMT, geer...@windstream.net wrote:   
    >>>   
   >>>> I have the above system (subject line) and Service Pack 3   
   >>>> installed. I have the product recovery CDs (four of them, 1-4)   
   >>>> labeled P/N 01R6473. I can't seem to figure out how to simply rerun   
   >>>> Windows setup to refresh the Windows install.   
   >>>   
   >>>> I want to do this without disturbing Service Pack 3, current   
   >>>> software, settings. What is the simplest way to do this with this   
   >>>> setup?   
   >>>   
   >>> What *exactly* do you mean by "refresh the Windows install"? More to   
   >>> the point, what is the computer doing that makes you think you need   
   >>> to "refresh the Windows install"?   
   >>   
   >> It's an old trick to simply rerun Windows setup without wiping the   
   >> drive, etc. It reinstalls just windows without hurting or ttouching   
   >> any of your other programs or touching any of your critical updates. I   
   >> have done it many a time, but it has been a while and I am looking for   
   >> some help to do this. It's not a difficult or complicated thing, I   
   >> just don't recall how, particularly since this computer is not one   
   >> that comes with just an OEM XP CD, but rather a recovery CD. To my   
   >> understanding, you can't just use simply any old XP Pro CD.   
   >>   
   >> The system closes out programs at random and is running more slowly. I   
   >> do the regular maintenance and cleanup through the System Tools. I   
   >> believe that rerunning setup would be the quickest way to fix any   
   >> potentially corrupted Windows system files (much quicker and easier   
   >> than using SFC).   
   >>   
   >> Thx for any assistance.   
   >   
   > All the "Recovery CD" sets I've seen start out doing a Format of the HDD,   
   > and restore everything back to the way it was the day it left the factory.   
   > Anything you have done since you bought the PC is gone forever.   
   >   
   > What you want is either a "Repair" installation, or a "Reinstallation."   
   > Either requires an XP CD, not any form of Recovery CDs. You can use someone   
   > elses to do it (using your 'Key' from the silver sticker attached to the   
   > bottom of your laptop), but it must match what you have installed: OEM Home,   
   > OEM Pro, or OEM Multimedia version. (A Retail version won't work.)   
   >   
   > You may also download a version from p2p or Bit Torrent that matches and use   
   > your key.   
      
   What about the separate repair or recovery or equivalent partition that   
   came on an HP XP desktop?  No CD at all.  I did an occasional   
   repair-from-CD with 98 and 2000 with no bad results, but I haven't had a   
   problem with the XP machine...yet...   
      
   --   
   Cheers,   
   Bev   
   =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=   
   "The object in life is not to be on the side of the   
     majority, but to be insane in such a useful way that   
     they can't commit you."              -- Mark Edwards   
      
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