Repairing XP

What is the difference between a 'repair' of XP and re-installing over itself?

Which is the least disruptive of settings etc?

Will either or both of these also repair IE and OE?

What is the procedure for each?

Thanks

It's exactly the same thing. If you go past the "R" recovery console otion Setup gives you the option to repair an existing installation, which just installs Windows over the top of itself. You keep all your apps and settings, but Windows Updates need to be re-installed. I don't think it's possible to say for certain whether it will repair IE - it should do, but installing over the top isn't a 100% solution every time. It takes about an hour to do, and you need the product key.

ok, thanks Supersparks

Now, if I want to 'repair' IE 6 then, I would have to download it and install it - can't uninstall first though - ok to run that over itself?

And would that also repair OE?

I'm having problems with IE\OE

Have alreday run the sfc /scannow

My experience with both repair and reinstalling was that it fixed the problem I was trying to fix, but they caused more problems that I could not fix.

Jubal

That's what I was wondering!

The IE\OE problems seem to have cured themselves

I have found with XP - it often puts itself right if you leave it alone!

Here's the Knowledgebase article for repairing & re-installing IE & OE:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q318378