Hey guys i guess is a pretty simple problem...just wanna make sure im doing it right.
I got a laptop running under windows xp home edition, it has some issues with some os files (maybe a virus) i need to backup some files but there is no possible way i can connect remotly or back up those files by burning them on a cd or storing them in another drive.
I got a windows xp pro edition cd here with me but i was wondering if i install the pro edition on the laptop will i lose data or will it just install and overwrite the files needed on the operating system (im not planning on formatting the drive)
ty guys
.. but there is no possible way i can connect remotly or back up those files by burning them on a cd or storing them in another drive.
Actually there most likely is a way. Get a knoppix CD, boot from it, burn your windows files to a CD or DVD. Assuming of course you have a burner on the computer.
You can also use ftp or scp to transfer the files over the network to a different computer.
If you pursue the windows reinstall, to be safe, you can install XP Pro to a separate folder (not to \windows) and boot to the new instance. This shouldn't touch anything except maybe some stuff in \Program Files. If you think that would be an issue, get partition magic and make a new partition to install the other version of XP.
Another way to go would be to borrow an XP Home CD.
Find someone to download the Ultimate BootCD and burn it for you. Boot using that and use it's virus scanner.
Install XP Pro, it will ask if you want to do a Clean Install or an Upgrade. Clean Install will wipe everything out, Upgrade just puts the new OS on.
Have you done a thorough virus scan to make sure that this isn't just a virus messing with your OS ? If that is the case, even installing XP Pro over the top of it will still have the same issues in the end.
Yeah ty guys :) problem solved and very useful comments here :)