Hello, Yesterday I had the opportunity to perform a repair install on a
customers computer to replace a pirated version of Xp Pro.

I know have the courage to perform the same task on my own computer

Here is my problem...

Since I've had this computer about 5 years, I have managed to accumulate
software that is irreplaceble (Purchased OnLine) and do not have the
installation files, better yet, there are some softwares that need to be
re-registered / activated online and some of the companies do not exist
anymore.

I went ahead and started the repair install....

Upon reaching the screen where it asks me which directory to repair, I found
2:
c:\windows
c:\window2

By nature I would assume that the c:\windows is the correct directory to
repair, the c:\window2 I think may be residue from when I had a dual boot.

How can I verify that there are no files in use in this directory ?
Would it be possible to delete it from DOS ?

If I wanted to format and reinstall clean, would I be able to extract the
installed software from my computer and put it back on the fresh install ?

so why did yuo see the need for a repair install?

"BlÄckCaT" wrote:

> Hello, Yesterday I had the opportunity to perform a repair install on a
> customers computer to replace a pirated version of Xp Pro.
>
> I know have the courage to perform the same task on my own computer
>
> Here is my problem...
>
> Since I've had this computer about 5 years, I have managed to accumulate
> software that is irreplaceble (Purchased OnLine) and do not have the
> installation files, better yet, there are some softwares that need to be
> re-registered / activated online and some of the companies do not exist
> anymore.
>
> I went ahead and started the repair install....
>
> Upon reaching the screen where it asks me which directory to repair, I found
> 2:
> c:\windows
> c:\window2
>
> By nature I would assume that the c:\windows is the correct directory to
> repair, the c:\window2 I think may be residue from when I had a dual boot.
>
> How can I verify that there are no files in use in this directory ?
> Would it be possible to delete it from DOS ?
>
> If I wanted to format and reinstall clean, would I be able to extract the
> installed software from my computer and put it back on the fresh install ?

"Dixonian69" wrote:

> so why did yuo see the need for a repair install?

As mentioned,

My computer saw many different types of configurations, software installed /
removed. Some programs purchased online don't function as they did when
purchased. Some can not be reactivated online due to the company closing.

I am hoping that a repair install would fix the registry entries and make
them function properly again.

Then going back to what I originally wote:

>
> Here is my problem...
>
> Since I've had this computer about 5 years, I have managed to accumulate
> software that is irreplaceble (Purchased OnLine) and do not have the
> installation files, better yet, there are some softwares that need to be
> re-registered / activated online and some of the companies do not exist
> anymore.

> I went ahead and started the repair install....
>
> Upon reaching the screen where it asks me which directory to repair, I
found
> 2:
> c:\windows
> c:\window2

I would like to clean the HD before I do a repair, seems like a good idea to
do it now that I am in the fixing mood.


> By nature I would assume that the c:\windows is the correct directory to
> repair, the c:\window2 I think may be residue from when I had a dual boot.
>
> How can I verify that there are no files in use in this directory ?
> Would it be possible to delete it from DOS ?
>
> If I wanted to format and reinstall clean, would I be able to extract the
> installed software from my computer and put it back on the fresh install ?

You're not going to get your programs back if you clean install.
A repair install isn't going to clean up your registry either.

there are registry cleaners available. that might and should be your only
course of action. I don't use/have one so I'm not able to make referral. Shop
around. not all programs are equal. might post question? what is good
registry cleaning program? or use Google to search for opinions. since this
not exactly an opinion poll forum but you could and you will get
recommendations. have to trust the advice given though.

Regarding your 2 windows directories:
Looks like you did an incomplete removal when you had a dual boot system.
Some people still make wrong suggestion on how to deal with this. most say
to delete entry in boot.ini file. As you can see it still leaves the related
windows directory on the hard drive. Mine is around 2.3 gig.

So which is the correct one?
Start>Run>cmd>echo %windir%

So the other Windows directory can be deleted and you should gain a
considerable amount of hard drive space.

Good Luck on Registry Cleaner program!!

"BlÄckCaT" wrote:

> "Dixonian69" wrote:
>
> > so why did yuo see the need for a repair install?
>
> As mentioned,
>
> My computer saw many different types of configurations, software installed /
> removed. Some programs purchased online don't function as they did when
> purchased. Some can not be reactivated online due to the company closing.
>
> I am hoping that a repair install would fix the registry entries and make
> them function properly again.
>
> Then going back to what I originally wote:
>
> >
> > Here is my problem...
> >
> > Since I've had this computer about 5 years, I have managed to accumulate
> > software that is irreplaceble (Purchased OnLine) and do not have the
> > installation files, better yet, there are some softwares that need to be
> > re-registered / activated online and some of the companies do not exist
> > anymore.
>
> > I went ahead and started the repair install....
> >
> > Upon reaching the screen where it asks me which directory to repair, I
> found
> > 2:
> > c:\windows
> > c:\window2
>
> I would like to clean the HD before I do a repair, seems like a good idea to
> do it now that I am in the fixing mood.
>
>
> > By nature I would assume that the c:\windows is the correct directory to
> > repair, the c:\window2 I think may be residue from when I had a dual boot.
> >
> > How can I verify that there are no files in use in this directory ?
> > Would it be possible to delete it from DOS ?
> >
> > If I wanted to format and reinstall clean, would I be able to extract the
> > installed software from my computer and put it back on the fresh install ?

Hello Dixonian69....

Thank You for your reply, the command "echo %windir%" indeed told me that I
was initially assuming the wrong directory, as you may recall I thought that
c:\windows would have been the one to repair.... I was wrong, my working
directory is c:\windows2. You Saved Me There

As for a registry cleaner, I read mixed reviews. That can be another topic
all together. There are many peole that believe all registry cleaners are a
waste of money and few who believe that they help. I've used many, for the
better part, they seem to make the OS more stable, they do not clean the
registry 100% but they help to identify possible issues.

As I mentioned before, I have managed to accumulate software that is
irreplaceble (Purchased OnLine) and do not have the installation files,
better yet, there are some softwares that need to be re-registered /
activated online and some of the companies do not exist anymore.....

Would I be able to extract the installed software from my computer and put
it back on the fresh install ? I am the rightful owner of the software that
I purchased, there should be no problems there.


"Dixonian69" wrote:

> You're not going to get your programs back if you clean install.
> A repair install isn't going to clean up your registry either.
>
> there are registry cleaners available. that might and should be your only
> course of action. I don't use/have one so I'm not able to make referral. Shop
> around. not all programs are equal. might post question? what is good
> registry cleaning program? or use Google to search for opinions. since this
> not exactly an opinion poll forum but you could and you will get
> recommendations. have to trust the advice given though.
>
> Regarding your 2 windows directories:
> Looks like you did an incomplete removal when you had a dual boot system.
> Some people still make wrong suggestion on how to deal with this. most say
> to delete entry in boot.ini file. As you can see it still leaves the related
> windows directory on the hard drive. Mine is around 2.3 gig.
>
> So which is the correct one?
> Start>Run>cmd>echo %windir%
>
> So the other Windows directory can be deleted and you should gain a
> considerable amount of hard drive space.
>
> Good Luck on Registry Cleaner program!!
>
> "BlÄckCaT" wrote:
>
> > "Dixonian69" wrote:
> >
> > > so why did yuo see the need for a repair install?
> >
> > As mentioned,
> >
> > My computer saw many different types of configurations, software installed /
> > removed. Some programs purchased online don't function as they did when
> > purchased. Some can not be reactivated online due to the company closing.
> >
> > I am hoping that a repair install would fix the registry entries and make
> > them function properly again.
> >
> > Then going back to what I originally wote:
> >
> > >
> > > Here is my problem...
> > >
> > > Since I've had this computer about 5 years, I have managed to accumulate
> > > software that is irreplaceble (Purchased OnLine) and do not have the
> > > installation files, better yet, there are some softwares that need to be
> > > re-registered / activated online and some of the companies do not exist
> > > anymore.
> >
> > > I went ahead and started the repair install....
> > >
> > > Upon reaching the screen where it asks me which directory to repair, I
> > found
> > > 2:
> > > c:\windows
> > > c:\window2
> >
> > I would like to clean the HD before I do a repair, seems like a good idea to
> > do it now that I am in the fixing mood.
> >
> >
> > > By nature I would assume that the c:\windows is the correct directory to
> > > repair, the c:\window2 I think may be residue from when I had a dual boot.
> > >
> > > How can I verify that there are no files in use in this directory ?
> > > Would it be possible to delete it from DOS ?
> > >
> > > If I wanted to format and reinstall clean, would I be able to extract the
> > > installed software from my computer and put it back on the fresh install ?

no. not that i'm aware or i would have suggested something other than
registry cleaner.


"BlÄckCaT" wrote:

> Hello Dixonian69....
>
> Thank You for your reply, the command "echo %windir%" indeed told me that I
> was initially assuming the wrong directory, as you may recall I thought that
> c:\windows would have been the one to repair.... I was wrong, my working
> directory is c:\windows2. You Saved Me There
>
> As for a registry cleaner, I read mixed reviews. That can be another topic
> all together. There are many peole that believe all registry cleaners are a
> waste of money and few who believe that they help. I've used many, for the
> better part, they seem to make the OS more stable, they do not clean the
> registry 100% but they help to identify possible issues.
>
> As I mentioned before, I have managed to accumulate software that is
> irreplaceble (Purchased OnLine) and do not have the installation files,
> better yet, there are some softwares that need to be re-registered /
> activated online and some of the companies do not exist anymore.....
>
> Would I be able to extract the installed software from my computer and put
> it back on the fresh install ? I am the rightful owner of the software that
> I purchased, there should be no problems there.
>
>
> "Dixonian69" wrote:
>
> > You're not going to get your programs back if you clean install.
> > A repair install isn't going to clean up your registry either.
> >
> > there are registry cleaners available. that might and should be your only
> > course of action. I don't use/have one so I'm not able to make referral. Shop
> > around. not all programs are equal. might post question? what is good
> > registry cleaning program? or use Google to search for opinions. since this
> > not exactly an opinion poll forum but you could and you will get
> > recommendations. have to trust the advice given though.
> >
> > Regarding your 2 windows directories:
> > Looks like you did an incomplete removal when you had a dual boot system.
> > Some people still make wrong suggestion on how to deal with this. most say
> > to delete entry in boot.ini file. As you can see it still leaves the related
> > windows directory on the hard drive. Mine is around 2.3 gig.
> >
> > So which is the correct one?
> > Start>Run>cmd>echo %windir%
> >
> > So the other Windows directory can be deleted and you should gain a
> > considerable amount of hard drive space.
> >
> > Good Luck on Registry Cleaner program!!
> >
> > "BlÄckCaT" wrote:
> >
> > > "Dixonian69" wrote:
> > >
> > > > so why did yuo see the need for a repair install?
> > >
> > > As mentioned,
> > >
> > > My computer saw many different types of configurations, software installed /
> > > removed. Some programs purchased online don't function as they did when
> > > purchased. Some can not be reactivated online due to the company closing.
> > >
> > > I am hoping that a repair install would fix the registry entries and make
> > > them function properly again.
> > >
> > > Then going back to what I originally wote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Here is my problem...
> > > >
> > > > Since I've had this computer about 5 years, I have managed to accumulate
> > > > software that is irreplaceble (Purchased OnLine) and do not have the
> > > > installation files, better yet, there are some softwares that need to be
> > > > re-registered / activated online and some of the companies do not exist
> > > > anymore.
> > >
> > > > I went ahead and started the repair install....
> > > >
> > > > Upon reaching the screen where it asks me which directory to repair, I
> > > found
> > > > 2:
> > > > c:\windows
> > > > c:\window2
> > >
> > > I would like to clean the HD before I do a repair, seems like a good idea to
> > > do it now that I am in the fixing mood.
> > >
> > >
> > > > By nature I would assume that the c:\windows is the correct directory to
> > > > repair, the c:\window2 I think may be residue from when I had a dual boot.
> > > >
> > > > How can I verify that there are no files in use in this directory ?
> > > > Would it be possible to delete it from DOS ?
> > > >
> > > > If I wanted to format and reinstall clean, would I be able to extract the
> > > > installed software from my computer and put it back on the fresh install ?