[Knocka]

When I follow the instructions to do a repair of XP SP2 (with a slipstreamed CD), after I press F8 to accept the EULA, I do NOT get the screen asking if I want to repair an existing windows installation. Instead, it asks me where I want to install XP Pro, and gives me a list of options (matching my various hard drives and partitions).

Any idea how I can get the install CD to find my existing Windows installation so I get the repair option.

Thanks.

 

[Emtronics]

It might be the slipstreamed CD, that is why you don't get the option you are looking for. Try a regular XP Pro CD.

 

[Knocka]

If I use the original, non-slipstreamed CD, then I will have to reinstall SP2 and all updates, right? I was trying to avoid much of this with the Slipstreamed CD.

 

[Emtronics]

Yes and that is a pain but if you can borrow a XP Pro CD that came with SP-2, you can use that instead. I happen to have an original XP Home CD without any service packs. I used an XP Home SP-2 CD to load XP on my new system and then used the original key when it asked for it. The slipstream CD is nice and I made one myself using the great instructions from Fred Langa and his Langa List newsletter. It works if you have to install Windows brand new from scratch and includes all the updates at the time you made it. It will not work to repair an installation.

 

[Knocka]

I actually got it to work with the Slipstreamed CD, so it is possible. The problem was that I, stupidly, forgot that XP's Setup program would not recognize my Raid 1 array. I had to provide the Setup Program with the Promise Raid Controller Driver. It then was able to access my C: Drive and find my Windows installation. I was then able to select the Repair option.

While the slipstream CD with SP2 helped, there were nevertheless 64 separate critical updates (not to mention 8 software updates), that needed to be installed. Fortunately, all of them can be installed at once, so you can basically select them all and install. The only dialog box was for IE7. For anyone else, I would recommend installing all critical updates except IE7, then getting that afterward.

 

[Emtronics]

Good advice on the IE7. Do it last. Well I am some readers learned something here. Thanks for the update. I never thought about RAID.