f46e732a   
   From: relic2@cjb.net   
      
   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"?   
   >>   
   >> --   
   >> Bavaria, where mountains stick out of the ground!   
   >   
   > 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.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)