Accidentally reinstalled XP pro SP3

[Ruroni]

I have a system with multiple Win XP installations on different partitions (One on a C drive, and one on an E drive).

Until recently whenever I would turn the computer on, it would reach an OS selection screen, where I could choose which of the two XP installs I wanted to boot.

I don't know what happened, but as of today I was no longer being asked which OS I wanted to boot . Instead, it just booted the same Windows installation (the one on the C: drive). I'm guessing someone did something to the computer.

In attempt to remedy the situation I inserted the XP installation disk in the CD-Rom drive. I installed XP all over again, on the E: drive; because I didn't see any "recover" options -except for one that required some kind of rescue disk, that I hadn't made. So now, I once again get the screen where I am asked which install I want to boot.

But this isn't quite what I want. I don't want a clean install. I want to recuperate my previous OS.

I can still see that some of the files and what not still live on the E: drive. Is there anyway to make that old installation resurface?

 

[RebateMonger]

But this isn't quite what I want. I don't want a clean install. I want to recuperate my previous OS.

I can still see that some of the files and what not still live on the E: drive. Is there anyway to make that old installation resurface?

What you wanted was a "Repair Install" of XP. That's done by booting from the XP Install CD, telling it to install Windows, but then telling it you want to repair an existing installation. Your "Full Install" has replaced the Registry, which is where the record of the old Windows existed (including old settings and installed application information).

To get the old Windows back, among other things, you'd need to recover the old Registry file. You'd have that if you've made full backups of the old system, including System State. And if you have backups, of course, you can recover your sytem to your last backup and THEN do a Repair Install of XP.

There MIGHT be old copies of the Registry around. Those are created if you allow System Restore to make its periodic recovery records. If you want to search for those, you could boot to the Recovery Console in XP and do a manual search for the appropriate files. The basic steps are included here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545
But I have no idea if a Full Install of XP leaves old Registry copies laying around.

My personal preference for a multiboot system is to install each version of Windows on a separate physical disk and use the computer's BIOS to choose which disk to boot from. Doing it that way, rather than using OS-based boot records, avoids issues like yours, which are not uncommon.

 

[tweakboy]

Exaxctly XP repair install always works and does the job. But shame on you for still being on a 2001 XP os,,, hey at least they have 3 SP's