My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original operating
system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the C:\System
Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore now,
it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I point
the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is there a
change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to complete
the restore?
Thanks.

How did you perform the repair install? That should not have uninstalled
any programs. What programs are you talking about?

"JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F347C5B9-4A81-4386-9BB9-447D18C4FAF9@microsoft.com...
> My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original
> operating
> system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
> Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
> I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the
> C:\System
> Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
> original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore
> now,
> it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I
> point
> the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is there a
> change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to complete
> the restore?
> Thanks.

I did the repair from the windows installation disk. My understanding of
this process was that everything would be intact. However, when complete, it
was like a new installation of windows with all the factory defaults. Only
difference is, all of my installed programs (office, adobe, etc) are still
there, but they are not recognized by the OS and will not run. They are not
uninstalled, the OS just isn't aware of them.

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> How did you perform the repair install? That should not have uninstalled
> any programs. What programs are you talking about?
>
> "JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:F347C5B9-4A81-4386-9BB9-447D18C4FAF9@microsoft.com...
> > My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original
> > operating
> > system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
> > Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
> > I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the
> > C:\System
> > Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
> > original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore
> > now,
> > it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I
> > point
> > the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is there a
> > change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to complete
> > the restore?
> > Thanks.
>

JDGuymon wrote:
> I did the repair from the windows installation disk. My understanding of
> this process was that everything would be intact. However, when complete, it
> was like a new installation of windows with all the factory defaults. Only
> difference is, all of my installed programs (office, adobe, etc) are still
> there, but they are not recognized by the OS and will not run. They are not
> uninstalled, the OS just isn't aware of them.
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
>> How did you perform the repair install? That should not have uninstalled
>> any programs. What programs are you talking about?
>>
>> "JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:F347C5B9-4A81-4386-9BB9-447D18C4FAF9@microsoft.com...
>>> My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original
>>> operating
>>> system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
>>> Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
>>> I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the
>>> C:\System
>>> Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
>>> original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore
>>> now,
>>> it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I
>>> point
>>> the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is there a
>>> change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to complete
>>> the restore?
>>> Thanks.
I'll be interested to hear this thread. Every time I do a restore I
get the same thing. I suspect the registry is re-written and of course
any knowledge of installed items is gone.

They may still be on the disk but they are uninstalled. Installation
registers the components of the software in the registry. Until this is
done they are not installed and will not run. Reinstall the programs.

"JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FC2461F1-6879-40E3-B8BA-2DA62826561E@microsoft.com...
>I did the repair from the windows installation disk. My understanding of
> this process was that everything would be intact. However, when complete,
> it
> was like a new installation of windows with all the factory defaults.
> Only
> difference is, all of my installed programs (office, adobe, etc) are still
> there, but they are not recognized by the OS and will not run. They are
> not
> uninstalled, the OS just isn't aware of them.
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
>> How did you perform the repair install? That should not have uninstalled
>> any programs. What programs are you talking about?
>>
>> "JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:F347C5B9-4A81-4386-9BB9-447D18C4FAF9@microsoft.com...
>> > My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original
>> > operating
>> > system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
>> > Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
>> > I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the
>> > C:\System
>> > Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
>> > original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore
>> > now,
>> > it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I
>> > point
>> > the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is
>> > there a
>> > change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to
>> > complete
>> > the restore?
>> > Thanks.
>>

Do a search on microsoft.com on "repair install windows xp" and read the
method. It is possible to miss the second 'r' during the text phase of
Setup (the first 'r' is the recovery console and the second is repair
install) and do an overwrite of Windows instead.

I have never performed a repair install of xp (any version) which resulted
in uninstalled software.

"Big Al" <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:xSEEj.6488$sw3.2457@trnddc06...
> JDGuymon wrote:
>> I did the repair from the windows installation disk. My understanding of
>> this process was that everything would be intact. However, when
>> complete, it was like a new installation of windows with all the factory
>> defaults. Only difference is, all of my installed programs (office,
>> adobe, etc) are still there, but they are not recognized by the OS and
>> will not run. They are not uninstalled, the OS just isn't aware of them.
>>
>> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>>
>>> How did you perform the repair install? That should not have
>>> uninstalled any programs. What programs are you talking about?
>>>
>>> "JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> news:F347C5B9-4A81-4386-9BB9-447D18C4FAF9@microsoft.com...
>>>> My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original
>>>> operating
>>>> system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
>>>> Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
>>>> I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the
>>>> C:\System
>>>> Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
>>>> original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore
>>>> now,
>>>> it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I
>>>> point
>>>> the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is
>>>> there a
>>>> change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to
>>>> complete
>>>> the restore?
>>>> Thanks.
> I'll be interested to hear this thread. Every time I do a restore I get
> the same thing. I suspect the registry is re-written and of course any
> knowledge of installed items is gone.

"Colin Barnhorst" <c.barnhorst@comcast.net> wrote:

>Do a search on microsoft.com on "repair install windows xp" and read the
>method. It is possible to miss the second 'r' during the text phase of
>Setup (the first 'r' is the recovery console and the second is repair
>install) and do an overwrite of Windows instead.
>
>I have never performed a repair install of xp (any version) which resulted
>in uninstalled software.

Nor have I.

it appears you didn't do a repair, but a new install without format, this
will leave uninstalled software, now that things are really hosed up, it's
time to consider starting over again, with a format and clean install of
windows and other software.

"JDGuymon" wrote:

> I did the repair from the windows installation disk. My understanding of
> this process was that everything would be intact. However, when complete, it
> was like a new installation of windows with all the factory defaults. Only
> difference is, all of my installed programs (office, adobe, etc) are still
> there, but they are not recognized by the OS and will not run. They are not
> uninstalled, the OS just isn't aware of them.
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
> > How did you perform the repair install? That should not have uninstalled
> > any programs. What programs are you talking about?
> >
> > "JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:F347C5B9-4A81-4386-9BB9-447D18C4FAF9@microsoft.com...
> > > My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original
> > > operating
> > > system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
> > > Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
> > > I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the
> > > C:\System
> > > Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
> > > original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore
> > > now,
> > > it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I
> > > point
> > > the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is there a
> > > change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to complete
> > > the restore?
> > > Thanks.
> >

I agree with the others. It sounds like you used the OEM System Recovery
(don't confuse with System Restore) disk that came with the machine and have
returned the machine to OOBE (Out Of Box Experience) state. The fact that
your other applications are still present strongly suggests that the
machine's in a "confused" state. Consult the machine manufacturer's support
pages for instructions on using the Recovery disk properly.

Good luck!
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


JDGuymon wrote:
> I did the repair from the windows installation disk. My understanding of
> this process was that everything would be intact. However, when complete,
> it was like a new installation of windows with all the factory defaults.
> Only difference is, all of my installed programs (office, adobe, etc) are
> still there, but they are not recognized by the OS and will not run. They
> are not uninstalled, the OS just isn't aware of them.
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
>> How did you perform the repair install? That should not have uninstalled
>> any programs. What programs are you talking about?
>>
>> "JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:F347C5B9-4A81-4386-9BB9-447D18C4FAF9@microsoft.com...
>>> My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original
>>> operating
>>> system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
>>> Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
>>> I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the
>>> C:\System
>>> Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
>>> original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore
>>> now,
>>> it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I
>>> point
>>> the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is there
>>> a
>>> change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to
>>> complete
>>> the restore?
>>> Thanks.

But can anyone answer the question about whether the existing restore files
can be used. They are present. I just need to access them. There must be a
registry entry that points to these files...

"sgopus" wrote:

> it appears you didn't do a repair, but a new install without format, this
> will leave uninstalled software, now that things are really hosed up, it's
> time to consider starting over again, with a format and clean install of
> windows and other software.
>
> "JDGuymon" wrote:
>
> > I did the repair from the windows installation disk. My understanding of
> > this process was that everything would be intact. However, when complete, it
> > was like a new installation of windows with all the factory defaults. Only
> > difference is, all of my installed programs (office, adobe, etc) are still
> > there, but they are not recognized by the OS and will not run. They are not
> > uninstalled, the OS just isn't aware of them.
> >
> > "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
> >
> > > How did you perform the repair install? That should not have uninstalled
> > > any programs. What programs are you talking about?
> > >
> > > "JDGuymon" <JDGuymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:F347C5B9-4A81-4386-9BB9-447D18C4FAF9@microsoft.com...
> > > > My system crashed and I had to do a system repair from the original
> > > > operating
> > > > system CD. After that, my installed programs are not recognized.
> > > > Is there any way to follow this with a restore?
> > > > I know the restore files still exist because I can see them in the
> > > > C:\System
> > > > Volume Information folder. There are two sets of files, one from the
> > > > original installation and one from the new repair. If I try to restore
> > > > now,
> > > > it only "sees" the files in the newly repaired installation. How do I
> > > > point
> > > > the system to the original restore files so I can access them? Is there a
> > > > change that can be made in the registry? Is there another way to complete
> > > > the restore?
> > > > Thanks.
> > >