Re: going back to an ealier version of xp inst

John of Aix wrote:

Dave wrote:

John of Aix wrote:


Dave wrote:


I can't even remember what it is called. I gave someone a computer
with xp pro on it and they are having problems and want to go back a
step or two. Mysaelf, I ususally flatten my system and start from
scratch again, but this couple are newbies to computers.


System Restore via the Start button then Help and Support (on the
right of the page that opens, it's marked "Undo changes to your
computer with System Restore")



Many thanks, but I have taken a look at the system tonight and it is
so screwed up, I am going to provide him with a 98 boot floppy, so he
can boot from xp pro CD and re install xp.


As Groove says, you should be able to boot on a CD and if you start in 'DOS' (either via the CD or via the F8 key just after booting, to get the startup menu) you should be able to copy the docs off before blitzing them with a new Install. Type Copy /? to get the different copy options (there's a space before the /) and don't forget that long files names have to be between inverted commas, so you could use something like: Copy *.* c:\"documents and settings"\username\"mydocuments" d: for instance.


His system looks so screwed up that I can't understand what he has
done with it. Apparently, one of his sons has done something to it
and he and I can not figure it out. I can't spend too much time
holding his hand, so the best thing is to let him format and do a re
install. When I gave him/her the computer, I created the only hard
drive into 2 partitions 20 gigs and 60 gigs and explained that any
data should be saved to drive D along with any apps they loaded, so
that they did not lose any data when wondoze has done what it did the
other day.


You can set it so that the System folders (My documents etc) are automatically on the D drive. I'm blowed if I can remember how to do it by hand this morning (my head is thick with a cold) but Tweakui (a windows programme) can do it or you'll probably find instructions on the net fairly easily. Then when the person says save, the D disk will be used.


Printed and noted thanks.

Dave
.