Will I need to reformat?

ginerashon · 05-26-2007, 05:51 AM

Heya, i had to replace my motherboard, b/c it messed up. and i have 2 hdd. apparently the slave will be fine, but i will 100% have to reformat my master hdd......i really wish i could avoid this b/c all my documents and favorites from firefox, are on my master hdd.

So will i really have to reformat, no way around it ???

Edit: I Checked around the forum for similar posts and found this post about a winxp repair install, will this work for me...

also additional details. My computer just stopped working one night, wouldnt turn on and im getting it fixed at the moment, they said i needed a new motherboard and a new graphics card since they had no AGP mobo's , so the only changes ill have is AGP>>>>Pci express.....and the new graphics card

**manic** · 05-26-2007, 06:15 AM

You will more then likely have to format. I hope you have a good power
supply to go with that shiney new board, with that pci e video card.
Power hungry. Power may be the reason why your system quit.
Good luck with that..

chauffeur2 · 05-26-2007, 06:20 AM

Hi ginerashon...Welcome to TSF!

You might just be lucky enough to get away with a 'Repair Installation', although I'm not holding out much hope, because of the 'new' motherboard, but its worth a shot!

How to perform a Repair Installation of Windows® XP.
(The Windows® XP CD will be required for this procedure.)

Please Note: Performing a “Repair Installation” in this manner does not delete any Personal Files, it just 'repairs' the core of the installation.

Restart the computer and as soon as it starts to 'fire up' continually tap the Delete key so that access can be made into the BIOS...once in here, reset the boot order this way...
CD/DVD

HDD (or IDE0)

Floppy/Other device (if you don't have a floppy).

Insert the Windows® XP SP2 CD in the Drive; then, Save and Exit the BIOS.

Reboot the computer; a screen will appear, that says... Boot from CD.... Press any key to Boot from CD...follow the instruction...it will then progress to a Blue screen and load the basic drivers.

A prompt will appear to press r to enter the Recovery Console...PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS, as another option will come up to allow the option to 'Repair' the installation, and select the partition that needs repairing... please select this option.
Once that's done, it will continue to load; then, it will want to reboot, so just let it!
The computer will then be returned to the previous "Black Screen" saying Press any key to boot from the CD...this time DON'T...just let it reboot itself and it will then go to the next phase of the 'Repair Installation' where you will need to press F8 to agree to the Licence Agreement.

It is then a matter of following the on-screen prompts, including input of your Product Key, and 'naming' the computer...please ensure that it is the "Original" name that was used and then let Windows® install.

This process will take about 45 minutes...and it will reboot a couple of times, but do not be tempted to hit any key to boot it from the CD, or you'll be back at square one again.

Just be attentive and follow the on-screen prompts.

Just let it do its thing...now when you finally are at the Windows Desktop, power down the computer and re-enter the BIOS and change the Boot Configuration Order back to its original configuration.

I hope that this cures your woes.

Post back with the results, and if there are any other queries/concerns.

Kind Regards,

**blackduck30** · 05-26-2007, 06:35 AM

I agree with chauffeur2 that a repair install is worth a shot, unfortunately I don't have anything else to add due to the awesome reply chauffeur2 has posted up.

ginerashon · 05-26-2007, 06:27 PM

Thanks for the information guy, it is much appreciated, ill get back to you guys on monday when i get my computer back, wish my repair install good luck!!!

Edit: I just bought a 600w power supply 2 days ago with the mobo and graphics card

ginerashon · 06-02-2007, 04:52 AM

Hello all, forgot to update here

but the repair option wasnt on there so i just did some copy thing i think idk what i did, somehow windows got installed on my Slave harddrive and all my files are on my computer still, they are just not on my start menu or on my desktop, they are just all in my documents and seetings or another my programs folder on the said hard drives, it's fine though i just move stuff around and its great:D

05-26-2007, 05:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
ginerashon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6 OS: windowsxp	Will I need to reformat? Heya, i had to replace my motherboard, b/c it messed up. and i have 2 hdd. apparently the slave will be fine, but i will 100% have to reformat my master hdd......i really wish i could avoid this b/c all my documents and favorites from firefox, are on my master hdd. So will i really have to reformat, no way around it ??? Edit: I Checked around the forum for similar posts and found this post about a winxp repair install, will this work for me... also additional details. My computer just stopped working one night, wouldnt turn on and im getting it fixed at the moment, they said i needed a new motherboard and a new graphics card since they had no AGP mobo's , so the only changes ill have is AGP>>>>Pci express.....and the new graphics card Last edited by ginerashon; 05-26-2007 at 05:58 AM.

05-26-2007, 06:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,205 OS: xp	Re: Will I need to reformat? You will more then likely have to format. I hope you have a good power supply to go with that shiney new board, with that pci e video card. Power hungry. Power may be the reason why your system quit. Good luck with that.. __________________

05-26-2007, 06:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: Will I need to reformat? Hi ginerashon...Welcome to TSF! You might just be lucky enough to get away with a 'Repair Installation', although I'm not holding out much hope, because of the 'new' motherboard, but its worth a shot! How to perform a Repair Installation of Windows® XP. (The Windows® XP CD will be required for this procedure.) Please Note: Performing a “Repair Installation” in this manner does not delete any Personal Files, it just 'repairs' the core of the installation. Restart the computer and as soon as it starts to 'fire up' continually tap the Delete key so that access can be made into the BIOS...once in here, reset the boot order this way... CD/DVD HDD (or IDE0) Floppy/Other device (if you don't have a floppy). Insert the Windows® XP SP2 CD in the Drive; then, Save and Exit the BIOS. Reboot the computer; a screen will appear, that says... Boot from CD.... Press any key to Boot from CD...follow the instruction...it will then progress to a Blue screen and load the basic drivers. A prompt will appear to press r to enter the Recovery Console...PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS, as another option will come up to allow the option to 'Repair' the installation, and select the partition that needs repairing... please select this option. Once that's done, it will continue to load; then, it will want to reboot, so just let it! The computer will then be returned to the previous "Black Screen" saying Press any key to boot from the CD...this time DON'T...just let it reboot itself and it will then go to the next phase of the 'Repair Installation' where you will need to press F8 to agree to the Licence Agreement. It is then a matter of following the on-screen prompts, including input of your Product Key, and 'naming' the computer...please ensure that it is the "Original" name that was used and then let Windows® install. This process will take about 45 minutes...and it will reboot a couple of times, but do not be tempted to hit any key to boot it from the CD, or you'll be back at square one again. Just be attentive and follow the on-screen prompts. Just let it do its thing...now when you finally are at the Windows Desktop, power down the computer and re-enter the BIOS and change the Boot Configuration Order back to its original configuration. I hope that this cures your woes. Post back with the results, and if there are any other queries/concerns. Kind Regards, __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

05-26-2007, 06:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Will I need to reformat? I agree with chauffeur2 that a repair install is worth a shot, unfortunately I don't have anything else to add due to the awesome reply chauffeur2 has posted up. __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

05-26-2007, 06:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
ginerashon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6 OS: windowsxp	Re: Will I need to reformat? Thanks for the information guy, it is much appreciated, ill get back to you guys on monday when i get my computer back, wish my repair install good luck!!! Edit: I just bought a 600w power supply 2 days ago with the mobo and graphics card

06-02-2007, 04:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
ginerashon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6 OS: windowsxp	Re: Will I need to reformat? Hello all, forgot to update here but the repair option wasnt on there so i just did some copy thing i think idk what i did, somehow windows got installed on my Slave harddrive and all my files are on my computer still, they are just not on my start menu or on my desktop, they are just all in my documents and seetings or another my programs folder on the said hard drives, it's fine though i just move stuff around and its great:D