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After Windows Reinstall - what next?
poshniallo
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hi
I posted last week with a problem with Windows XP. Eventually I ended up re-installing the whole big bastard of it, and now my PC is fine.
However, I was wondering if I have to reinstall the contents of my Programs Files folder? The files are all sitting there fine, so what happens generally if I try to use them without installing? I play a couple of MMOs (COH, GW) so I want to avoid reloading all of them.
What does 'installing' mean anyway? I really don't understand, to tell the truth.
Any advice appreciated. Even if I have to reinstall everything, I wouldn't mind understanding why.
Ta.
I posted last week with a problem with Windows XP. Eventually I ended up re-installing the whole big bastard of it, and now my PC is fine.
However, I was wondering if I have to reinstall the contents of my Programs Files folder? The files are all sitting there fine, so what happens generally if I try to use them without installing? I play a couple of MMOs (COH, GW) so I want to avoid reloading all of them.
What does 'installing' mean anyway? I really don't understand, to tell the truth.
Any advice appreciated. Even if I have to reinstall everything, I wouldn't mind understanding why.
Ta.
I figure I could take a bear.
poshniallo on
0
Posts
1) They install shared system dll files in program files\common files and windows\system32, etc.
2) They create/modify several registry keys.
The second part is what usually requires a reinstall. Many program settings and such are stored in the registry. Not having those there may make it not work.
I don't believe it - I'm on my THIRD PS3, and my FIRST XBOX360. What the heck?
It really depends on which type of reinstall you did. If you booted from your XP cd and went into recovery and just told it to reinstall windows, it leaves all of your installed programs intact. If you formatted your drive and did a clean install, you'd have to install them all again. I'd just try them and see if they work. If they do, great. If not, guess it's reinstall time.