Repair Installation

Borrow a disc? Wouldn't it be non-genuine then? Btw my activation key is
different apart from the disc borrowed. Will it matter? (I am using a genuine
XP - activated)

"Rock" wrote:

> "Desperate_XP_User" wrote
> > Hi,
> >
> > To trace back, I started having problem with XP in 2005. Well it wasn't a
> > big problem but whenever I played a game, it crashed randomly. Recently, I
> > fixed the problem by running Windows Memory Diagonostic and found the
> > pieces
> > of RAM somehow won't work together. It was fixed by adding an additional
> > piece of RAM.
> >
> > Now, somehow, whenever I insert a CD into my drive, the "autorun.exe"
> > fails
> > and I have an intention to repair XP (since its kind of messy now. Can't
> > run
> > Java, and experiencing many problems). The sad news is, I lost my copy of
> > XP
> > when I moved from one country to another. Is there an alternative way to
> > perform an repair installation without the CD (I know it's kind of
> > impossible) or using other CD to perform the installation? Any comments,
> > ideas, concerns, suggestions are welcomed.
>
> To do a repair install you need the CD. You can borrow a CD of the same
> type as you have and use that. For example if you have XP Pro retail in
> English then borrow that CD. The have to match in the following
> characteristics.
> Home v. Pro
> Retail v. Generic OEM v. Branded OEM v. Volume license
> Language
>
> If you find someone that has the same type of CD, then just copy it.
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Repair Installation 

Desperate_XP_User wrote:

>Borrow a disc? Wouldn't it be non-genuine then? Btw my activation key is
>different apart from the disc borrowed. Will it matter? (I am using a genuine
>XP - activated)
>

A borrowed disk will work with your product key provided:

1. Your installed Windows XP is not a "BIOS Locked" OEM version, and
the borrowed disk does not have the name/logo of a computer
manufacturer on it.
2. The borrowed disk and your installed Windows XP match each other
with respect to:
- Edition (Home, Pro, Tablet, Media Center)
- Version (Retail Upgrade, OEM, Retail Full Install, Volume License,
Academic, etc.)
- Language

To determine if your installed XP is an OEM version open Control Panel
- General and look at the Product I.D. code reported as the last line
in the "Licensed to:" section. If the second segment of the Product
I.D. Code reads OEM then you have an OEM version installed.

To determine if your OEM version is "BIOS Locked" look on the Start
Menu in the Accessories - System Tools menu for an "Activate Windows"
menu item. If this item is not present then your installed OEM
Windows XP is BIOS Locked.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 >> Stay informed about: Repair Installation 

I think you will have to resort to buying a new copy of XP and doing an
install. I frankly would not do a repair, I would wipe the drive and start
fresh.

--
ykw~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties."
Aesop (6th Century B.C.)

"Desperate_XP_User" wrote in
message
> Hi,
>
> To trace back, I started having problem with XP in 2005. Well it wasn't a
> big problem but whenever I played a game, it crashed randomly. Recently, I
> fixed the problem by running Windows Memory Diagonostic and found the
> pieces
> of RAM somehow won't work together. It was fixed by adding an additional
> piece of RAM.
>
> Now, somehow, whenever I insert a CD into my drive, the "autorun.exe"
> fails
> and I have an intention to repair XP (since its kind of messy now. Can't
> run
> Java, and experiencing many problems). The sad news is, I lost my copy of
> XP
> when I moved from one country to another. Is there an alternative way to
> perform an repair installation without the CD (I know it's kind of
> impossible) or using other CD to perform the installation? Any comments,
> ideas, concerns, suggestions are welcomed.
 >> Stay informed about: Repair Installation 

"Desperate_XP_User" wrote
> Borrow a disc? Wouldn't it be non-genuine then? Btw my activation key is
> different apart from the disc borrowed. Will it matter? (I am using a
> genuine
> XP - activated)
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "Desperate_XP_User" wrote
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > To trace back, I started having problem with XP in 2005. Well it wasn't
>> > a
>> > big problem but whenever I played a game, it crashed randomly.
>> > Recently, I
>> > fixed the problem by running Windows Memory Diagonostic and found the
>> > pieces
>> > of RAM somehow won't work together. It was fixed by adding an
>> > additional
>> > piece of RAM.
>> >
>> > Now, somehow, whenever I insert a CD into my drive, the "autorun.exe"
>> > fails
>> > and I have an intention to repair XP (since its kind of messy now.
>> > Can't
>> > run
>> > Java, and experiencing many problems). The sad news is, I lost my copy
>> > of
>> > XP
>> > when I moved from one country to another. Is there an alternative way
>> > to
>> > perform an repair installation without the CD (I know it's kind of
>> > impossible) or using other CD to perform the installation? Any
>> > comments,
>> > ideas, concerns, suggestions are welcomed.
>>
>> To do a repair install you need the CD. You can borrow a CD of the same
>> type as you have and use that. For example if you have XP Pro retail in
>> English then borrow that CD. The have to match in the following
>> characteristics.
>> Home v. Pro
>> Retail v. Generic OEM v. Branded OEM v. Volume license
>> Language
>>
>> If you find someone that has the same type of CD, then just copy it.

As I said there is nothing unique about the XP CD. It's not tied to a
particular product key except by type. Any XP CD of the same type as you
have installed will work with your product key.

A repair install is not started from the recovery console. Here is a link
with info on how to do a repair install.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
 >> Stay informed about: Repair Installation 

Desperate_XP_User wrote:

>Thanks. It's indeed very helpful. So as long as I have the same version, same
>language, same edition and a not BIOS locked computer, a borrowed disc is
>fine. One last question - should I perform a repair installation (not using
>the recovery console) or the recovery console?
>

Sorry for the delay in replying to this. I was away for a week.

Based on your original description of the problem you would need to do
a Repair Install as per the link that Rock gave you.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 >> Stay informed about: Repair Installation