How To Reinstall Windows Without Losing Your Data

The Windows XP installation CD includes an option to repair an existing Windows XP installation. Using this option allows you to reinstall Windows without losing the files, personal data and programs you already have on the system. To take advantage of it, just place the CD into your CD or DVD drive on your PC and reboot the computer.

During the installation you will be prompted if you wish to use the recovery console to repair a Windows installation. The recovery console is rather limited in its use, so just press the Enter key to proceed with the installation as you would normally.

Press F8 to continue past the Licensing Agreement.

The next screen should display a prompt asking you if you wish to repair an existing installation.  Select your Windows installation (most likely it is the only one) and press R.

This will begin the repair and reinstallation of Windows. The installation will copy files to the hard drive, reboot the system, and then proceed just like a normal installation. Follow the prompts just as you normally would any normal Windows installation.

When the installation completes, you should still be able to access all of your documents and installed programs.

Full Windows Reinstall Without Loosing Data and Programs

I personally prefer to perform a full clean reinstallation of Windows. With the clean install, the hard drive is formatted and programs are reinstalled. If you want to use this method, you can use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (AKA FAST).

Click here

To use FAST, you first have to run it from the old Windows installation. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

Tell FAST that you are on the Old Computer, then click Next.

Finally, select the location where you would wish to save the files.  Portable USB drives were born for stuff like this.  Be warned though, the drive may not be big enough.  Another option would be to save the settings somewhere on your hard drive first, and then move them over to multiple USB drives or burn them to CDs/DVDs.

Click Next, and wait for the files to be copied. If you have a lot of data, it may take quite a while for the process to complete.  Once it has completed, your settings are ready for the new installation.

Once you’ve reinstalled Windows, launch FAST just as you did initially to save your settings:

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.  Click Next. This time when prompted which computer you are using, select New computer. Click Next.

The following screen will ask you if you have a Windows XP installation CD for creating a wizard disk.  A wizard disk can be used for loading settings from another computer. In this case, a wizard disk is not necessary since the files have been saved to another location.

Select I don’t need the Wizard Disk. I already have collected my files and settings from my old computer. Click Next to proceed.

Finally, you will be prompted for the location of the files and settings. Select the Otherradio button and browse to the location where you saved the files and click Next.

The files and settings will then be copied to the new computer. You may want to install all of the same programs you had on the old computer that you intend to use, before you run FAST. This will help to ensure that your settings will work properly with them.

If this post is really helps give your feedback on coments.

Import a Large Text File

Imports a text file into Excel even if the number of lines in that file exceeds Excel's total number of rows limitation.

Visual Basic

'       This script was written for folks trying to import a text file into  
'       Excel 2003 that exceed the row limitations.  
'       This version works on Windows XP and has not been tested on any other OS.  
 
Const ForReading = 1  
Const ForAppending = 2  
 
Set objDialog = CreateObject("UserAccounts.CommonDialog")  
 
objDialog.Filter = "All Files|*.*"  
objDialog.InitialDir = "C:\"  
intResult = objDialog.ShowOpen  
   
If intResult = 0 Then  
    Wscript.Quit  
Else  
    BreakFile =  objDialog.FileName  
End If  
 
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")  
Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(BreakFile, ForReading)  
 
FiletoSplit = objFSO.GetFileName(BreakFile)  
FolderDest = Mid(objFSO.GetAbsolutePathName(BreakFile),1, _ 
    Len(objFSO.GetAbsolutePathName(BreakFile))-(Len(FiletoSplit)))  
FileSplitName = objFSO.GetBaseName(BreakFile)  
 
 
 
dtmStart = Now()  
strContents = objFile.ReadAll  
FileNum = 1  
fname =  FolderDest & FileSplitName & "Split_" & FileNum & ".txt"  
Set objFile1 = objFSO.OpenTextFile(fname, ForAppending, True)  
 
 
 
CountLines = 0  
arrLines = Split(strContents, vbCrLf)  
 
If ubound(arrLines) < 64500 Then  
        msgbox "This file will fit into Excel already.  No split is necessary.",48,"SplitFile"  
        Wscript.Quit  
End If  
 
        HeaderText = arrLines(0)  
                For i = 0 to ubound(arrlines)                    
                        strLine = arrLines(i) & vbCrLf                   
                        objFile1.Write strLine                   
                        If  (Countlines) < 64500  Then                           
                                countlines = countlines + 1                      
                        ElseIf Countlines >= 64500 Then  
                                objFile1.Close  
                                Countlines = 0                           
                                FileNum = FileNum + 1  
                                fname = FolderDest & FileSplitName & "Split_" & FileNum & ".txt"  
                                Set objFile1 = objFSO.OpenTextFile(fname, ForAppending, True)  
                                objFile1.Write HeaderText & vbCrLf                               
                        End If           
        Next  
            
objFile.Close  
dtmEnd = Now()  
If MsgBox("There were " & FileNum & " files created." & vbcrlf & _  
        "The files were put into this folder:  " & FolderDest & _  
        vbCrLf & "The script took " & DateDiff("s", dtmStart, dtmEnd) & " seconds " & _  
        "to break the " &  FiletoSplit & " file." & vbcrlf & vbcrLF & _  
        "Click OK to open destination folder or CANCEL to quit.",  _  
        1,"SplitFile") = vbOK Then  
        Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")  
        strPath = FolderDest  
 
        objShell.Explore strPath  
End If 

 

Verified on the following platforms

Windows Server 2008 R2	No
Windows Server 2008	No
Windows Server 2003	No
Windows 7	No
Windows Vista	No
Windows XP	No
Windows 2000	No

This script is tested on these platforms by the author. It is likely to work on other platforms as well. If you try it and find that it works on another platform, please add a note to the script discussion to let others know.

Computer Hardware Scripts: Retrieving System Information

Retrieving System Information

INVENTORY OF A COMPUTER WITH WINDOWS

Pripared by Laxman,

Uses WMI to retrieve the same data found in the System Information applet.

======================

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colSettings = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")
For Each objOperatingSystem in colSettings 
    Wscript.Echo "OS Name: " & objOperatingSystem.Name
    Wscript.Echo "Version: " & objOperatingSystem.Version
    Wscript.Echo "Service Pack: " & _
        objOperatingSystem.ServicePackMajorVersion _
            & "." & objOperatingSystem.ServicePackMinorVersion
    Wscript.Echo "OS Manufacturer: " & objOperatingSystem.Manufacturer
    Wscript.Echo "Windows Directory: " & _
        objOperatingSystem.WindowsDirectory
    Wscript.Echo "Locale: " & objOperatingSystem.Locale
    Wscript.Echo "Available Physical Memory: " & _
        objOperatingSystem.FreePhysicalMemory
    Wscript.Echo "Total Virtual Memory: " & _
        objOperatingSystem.TotalVirtualMemorySize
    Wscript.Echo "Available Virtual Memory: " & _
        objOperatingSystem.FreeVirtualMemory
    Wscript.Echo "OS Name: " & objOperatingSystem.SizeStoredInPagingFiles
Next
Set colSettings = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_ComputerSystem")
For Each objComputer in colSettings 
    Wscript.Echo "System Name: " & objComputer.Name
    Wscript.Echo "System Manufacturer: " & objComputer.Manufacturer
    Wscript.Echo "System Model: " & objComputer.Model
    Wscript.Echo "Time Zone: " & objComputer.CurrentTimeZone
    Wscript.Echo "Total Physical Memory: " & _
        objComputer.TotalPhysicalMemory
Next
Set colSettings = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_Processor")
For Each objProcessor in colSettings 
    Wscript.Echo "System Type: " & objProcessor.Architecture
    Wscript.Echo "Processor: " & objProcessor.Description
Next
Set colSettings = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_BIOS")
For Each objBIOS in colSettings 
    Wscript.Echo "BIOS Version: " & objBIOS.Version
Next

======================

Save the script as Filename.vbs, And just double click on that.

Computer Hardware Scripts: Retrieving BIOS Information

INVENTORY OF A COMPUTER WITH WINDOWS
Pripared by Laxman,

Retrieves BIOS information for a computer, including BIOS version number and release date.

======================

strComputer = "."

Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _

    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colBIOS = objWMIService.ExecQuery _

    ("Select * from Win32_BIOS")

For each objBIOS in colBIOS

    Wscript.Echo "Build Number: " & objBIOS.BuildNumber

    Wscript.Echo "Current Language: " & objBIOS.CurrentLanguage

    Wscript.Echo "Installable Languages: " & objBIOS.InstallableLanguages

    Wscript.Echo "Manufacturer: " & objBIOS.Manufacturer

    Wscript.Echo "Name: " & objBIOS.Name

    Wscript.Echo "Primary BIOS: " & objBIOS.PrimaryBIOS

    Wscript.Echo "Release Date: " & objBIOS.ReleaseDate

    Wscript.Echo "Serial Number: " & objBIOS.SerialNumber

    Wscript.Echo "SMBIOS Version: " & objBIOS.SMBIOSBIOSVersion

    Wscript.Echo "SMBIOS Major Version: " & objBIOS.SMBIOSMajorVersion

    Wscript.Echo "SMBIOS Minor Version: " & objBIOS.SMBIOSMinorVersion

    Wscript.Echo "SMBIOS Present: " & objBIOS.SMBIOSPresent

    Wscript.Echo "Status: " & objBIOS.Status

    Wscript.Echo "Version: " & objBIOS.Version

    For i = 0 to Ubound(objBIOS.BiosCharacteristics)

        Wscript.Echo "BIOS Characteristics: " & _

            objBIOS.BiosCharacteristics(i)

    Next

Next

=========================

Save the script as Filename.vbs, And just double click on that.

Identifying Processor Type & Inventorying Computer Hardware

INVENTORY OF A COMPUTER WITH WINDOWS
Pripared by Laxman,

Identifying Processor Type

Determines the processor architecture (such as x86 or ia64) for a specified computer.
========================


strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set objProcessor = objWMIService.Get("win32_Processor='CPU0'")

If objProcessor.Architecture = 0 Then
    Wscript.Echo "This is an x86 computer."
ElseIf objProcessor.Architecture = 1 Then
    Wscript.Echo "This is a MIPS computer."
ElseIf objProcessor.Architecture = 2 Then
    Wscript.Echo "This is an Alpha computer."
ElseIf objProcessor.Architecture = 3 Then
    Wscript.Echo "This is a PowerPC computer."
ElseIf objProcessor.Architecture = 6 Then
    Wscript.Echo "This is an ia64 computer."
Else
    Wscript.Echo "The computer type could not be determined."
End If
========================
Save the script as Filename.vbs, And just double click on that.

Inventorying Computer Hardware

Inventorying Computer Hardware

Returns information about the pointing devices installed on a computer. Used as an example of how to retrieve hardware information using WMI.
=========================


strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colMice = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_PointingDevice")
For Each objMouse in colMice
    Wscript.Echo "Hardware Type: " & objMouse.HardwareType
    Wscript.Echo "Number of Buttons: " & objMouse.NumberOfButtons    
    Wscript.Echo "Status: " & objMouse.Status
    Wscript.Echo "PNP Device ID: " & objMouse.PNPDeviceID
Next
========================

Save the script as Filename.vbs, And just double click on that.

Computer Hardware Scripts: Enumerating Serial Port Properties

INVENTORY OF A COMPUTER WITH WINDOWS
Pripared by Laxman,


Returns information about the serial ports installed on a computer. 
==================


On Error Resume Next
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_SerialPort",,48)
For Each objItem in colItems
    Wscript.Echo "Binary: " & objItem.Binary
    Wscript.Echo "Description: " & objItem.Description
    Wscript.Echo "Device ID: " & objItem.DeviceID
    Wscript.Echo "Maximum Baud Rate: " & objItem.MaxBaudRate
    Wscript.Echo "Maximum Input Buffer Size: " & objItem.MaximumInputBufferSize
    Wscript.Echo "Maximum Output Buffer Size: " & objItem.MaximumOutputBufferSize
    Wscript.Echo "Name: " & objItem.Name
    Wscript.Echo "OS Auto Discovered: " & objItem.OSAutoDiscovered
    Wscript.Echo "PNP Device ID: " & objItem.PNPDeviceID
    Wscript.Echo "Provider Type: " & objItem.ProviderType
    Wscript.Echo "Settable Baud Rate: " & objItem.SettableBaudRate
    Wscript.Echo "Settable Data Bits: " & objItem.SettableDataBits
    Wscript.Echo "Settable Flow Control: " & objItem.SettableFlowControl
    Wscript.Echo "Settable Parity: " & objItem.SettableParity
    Wscript.Echo "Settable Parity Check: " & objItem.SettableParityCheck
    Wscript.Echo "Settable RLSD: " & objItem.SettableRLSD
    Wscript.Echo "Settable Stop Bits: " & objItem.SettableStopBits
    Wscript.Echo "Supports 16-Bit Mode: " & objItem.Supports16BitMode
    Wscript.Echo "Supports DTRDSR: " & objItem.SupportsDTRDSR
    Wscript.Echo "Supports Elapsed Timeouts: " & objItem.SupportsElapsedTimeouts
    Wscript.Echo "Supports Int Timeouts: " & objItem.SupportsIntTimeouts
    Wscript.Echo "Supports Parity Check: " & objItem.SupportsParityCheck
    Wscript.Echo "Supports RLSD: " & objItem.SupportsRLSD
    Wscript.Echo "Supports RTSCTS: " & objItem.SupportsRTSCTS
    Wscript.Echo "Supports Special Characters: " & objItem.SupportsSpecialCharacters
    Wscript.Echo "Supports XOn XOff: " & objItem.SupportsXOnXOff
    Wscript.Echo "Supports XOn XOff Setting: " & objItem.SupportsXOnXOffSet
Next
===================


Save the script as Filename.vbs, And just double click on that.