From: relic2@cjb.net   
      
   The Real Bev wrote:   
   > 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...   
      
   HP's recovery partition restores back to how it left the factory. Some HP's   
   came with a real XP CD as well as the 'Restore' capability... not many tho.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)