How to repair/install XP without reinstalling the program

[edong]

In Recovery Console, what are the proper steps to Repair/Reinstall/Setup XP Home so that the installed programs will remain intact without the need of reinstallation. I'm concerned because many of these have no installation discs/files.

Or you have a solution to my problem.
1. While XP boots up to desktop screen with ease, every icon I click will not do anything or will show only the hourglass.
2. Sometimes if I'm lucky to run System Restore and chose a Restore Point, it will reboot but say it cannot make the changes even when I tried the different dates.
3. On Windows Explorer, I cannot delete the Temporary Internet Files. I deleted them in the Internet Options in the Control Panel, but they are still there in Explorer. I already tried the Safe Mode.

Anyway, I have uninstalled the most recent Windows Updates and programs. I've run SuperAntiSpyware, RootkitKiller, Malwarebytes, etc. which found a couple of malwares. And I ran Windows Fixit also. Haven't changed any hardware. Thanks.

[jagabo]

Skip the Recovery Console repair step. Go on to install windows. The installer should find your old XP installation and ask if you want to repair it (doing so will leave all your old programs and data intact). If you don't get the repair option don't continue with the install.

[davexnet]

If you'd like to try one more A/V scan before the repair, give the Windows Defender offline bootable CD a try:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/what-is-windows-defender-offline

[CobraPilot]

I used this link to perform a non-destructive, no-reformat reinstall of Win XP SP2 on several computers (desktops and notebooks) without difficulty.

http://www.informationweek.com/windows/operating-systems/langa-letter-xps-no-reformat-...ruct/189400897

I have not tried it yet on a Win XP SP3 machine, but if you do a Google/Bing search on "non-destructive win xp reinstall", you should find some updated versions for Win XP SP3. Pay close attention to the dates of the articles to be sure SP3 is involved.

[edong]

Thanks, guys. I will try your suggestions and will post back.

CobraPilot, that's what I was looking for because I always use Repair in Screen 4 and every program won't open.

[Bjs]

Login and create a new user account as admin, log off then back in via new account.

If desktop icons work in new user account then it points to your original user account having suffered corruption and should be deleted after that users data is backed up.

[steptoe]

If your doing a virus scan, try having a look at Emsisoft Emergency Kit 3.0

100% free, basically the same as their malware scanner and updates with the latest signatures but designed to run from any external device (USB drive)

http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/

I also use a portable version of Malwarebytes malware scanner. Between them they have helped a few friends who have got malware or pornware they can't get rid of and was seriously messing their systems up and were ready to throw it through the window due to running incredibly slow and egtting worse everytime they trie dto 'fix' it Especially with the malware software that claims to help buta ctually makes the siutation even worse as you now have to try and get rid of their software spreading across their system

[Nelson37]

Sounds more like a virus infection to me.

The Second R option is the one that does a non-destructive re-install of XP. Use a disk with the same service pack and make sure you have your authorization code and network card drivers handy.

If it is a virus, this will almost certainly not fix the problem.

Manually clean ALL the Temp directories. (Google it). Run several AV sanners, plus MalwareBytes. Re-boot and re-peat until ZERO malware found. Delete the Temp directories, MANUALLY, again.

Open a cmd prompt and try to run Regedit. If that fails, rename Regedit.exe to Regedit.com. If that works, then you need to replace the Shell command, common virus behavior that prevents all EXE files from running, but will permit a COM file. You can do the rename with Regedit because it is under the size limit, IIRC 64K.

[MOVIEGEEK]

If anti-malware programs don't detect any malware then my guess the registry is corrupt, install Eusing Free Registry Cleaner and run a registry scan. Install CCleaner and do the same and clean out the junk files. Run a CHKDSC and defrag. Run sfc/scannow from the Start window or command prompt, it has saved my system a couple of times. I recommend turning off System Restore in XP, it retains malware and never works properly*.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/system_....mspx?mfr=true

*Microsoft fixed it on Vista and later OS.

[jman98]

edong - In a worst case scenario you will have to completely reinstall. I have had disk drive corruption under Windows 2000 and Windows XP where nothing could fix it. All of my data files were completely intact and recoverable but the recovery console could do nothing useful. I do have to tell you that this is rather unusual, but it's not impossible. In my cases (it happened more than once) I just bought a new hard drive and installed to it and kept the old drive which wouldn't boot around to copy data from. I am now convinced that my problem was that I live in an area with unreliable power. About once a month I have brief brown outs. I was stupid and didn't protect my PCs with any UPS devices so when power went out briefly, the PC crashed hard. I think this caused my disk drive issues. I have not had a repeat of this issue since starting to use UPS devices on my PCs.

[steptoe]

I've used Rollback RX in the past and rescued a system that would otherwise have needed a reinstall, its much better than System Restore and actually works instead of system restore going through the motions then telling you it can't actually do a restore or even better when it corrupts the system totally and makes a real mess during a restore forcing you to do a totally wipe of the hard drive and reinstall windows from scratch anyway


I turn it off on all drives now as it also takes great delight in setting a ridiculous default if you have large hard drives of 1TB and above, and it does a great job of restoring everything including old virus or malware so reinfecting your system again (as mentioned above)

Better to turn it off and use 3rd party backup software

[edong]

Wow, thanks to all of you spending time to respond.

This is an update. For some reasons, my XP is now behaving well (I think). I have no idea which of the anti-malware softwares did it. I'm thinking the TDSSKiller because it found a threat different from the others. This might be the second time the TDSSKiller save me from reinstallation. But I still can't delete the Temporary Internet Files in Windows Explorer and can't restore to previous restore points. No biggies but if worse comes to worst, . . .

I will save all your recommendations for future reference though.

[Nelson37]

Clean those TEMP directories MANUALLY, in Windows Explorer. All of the Users/temp. AND Windows/temp, AND all the temp internet directories. Most viruses park a re-install routine in one of these. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Best done in Safe mode.

Just noticed you tried this, do it in Safe Mode. Report back on this, possible major problem. Some newer viruses, a first removal attempt triggers a much, MUCH more virulent infection.

Enter the temp internet folder and manually delete individual sub0folders, one at a time. Often these can contain a very high number of files and deletion can appear locked, when it is really just taking a fairly long time.

Turn off system restore, reboot, turn back on. All previous restore points must be considered infected. This process removes all the stored files.

Repeat TDSS and MalwareBytes Scans after a re-boot. CCleaner also excellent compliment to these.

[Cauptain]

- Download COMBOFIX.
- Start, Run, type MSCONFIG, ENTER.
- Go to Initializing, uncheck ALL, OK.
- Boot in SAFE MODE
- Run COMBOFIX.
- Enjoy.



Claudio