A Question About Reinstalling Win ME From The Hard Drive

"Noel Paton" wrote in
:

Not possible - unless you've only recently installed it.
The workaround is to delete the WMPLOC.DLL file - which is clearly
explained (I hope) on the page.




I greatly appreciate your site Noel. I feel it will be invaluable when
restoring this PC.

If I might ask just a couple of quick questions that I found were not
answered on the site:

Does reinstalling ME over itself from the HDD completely erase items such as
programs files and such?

Is the registry retained "as is" (as it was before the reinstall), rebuilt to
appear as it would with a completely fresh install, or are only the OS-
related entries modified back to factory specs while leaving individual
program keys and values "as is"?

In the unlikely event that I needed to completely format the HD and then do a
complete reinstall, could I do this by copying the entire Windows\Options
folder to a CD-R and do a fresh install from it (using the EBD and command
lines as detailed on your site)?

Would you happen to know the registry key that holds the Windows ME
activation key right off? If not or if it is too much trouble, it ok. I found
the registry key that contains it on Google once, I'm sure I can do so again.

I feel that if I could get these four questions answered, I would have a bit
of relief as I am always cautious with something as potentially dangerous as
this. Formatting and then doing a fresh install using the original
installation CDs is one thing, but reinstalling ME over itself using this
method worries me a bit.

I would be very greatful for any answers or advise that you might be able to
give.

Cheers!

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 20:52:10 GMT,"Noel Paton"
penned this whopper in
microsoft.public.windowsme.general

Not possible - unless you've only recently installed it.
The workaround is to delete the WMPLOC.DLL file - which is clearly
explained (I hope) on the page.


Thanks for the clarification, Noel. To be honest I haven't read it in some
time, sort of fly by the seat of my trousers. It's all on a PDA I carry
with me.

--
"Time will bring to light whatever is hidden;
it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor."
Horace (65 - 8 BC); Roman poet.

Mike

I'll put the responses where they need to be - against the questions
asked....



--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

In fond memory of one of life's Gentlemen - Alex Nichol
http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"My name" wrote in message
.. .
"Noel Paton" wrote in
:

Not possible - unless you've only recently installed it.
The workaround is to delete the WMPLOC.DLL file - which is clearly
explained (I hope) on the page.




I greatly appreciate your site Noel. I feel it will be invaluable when
restoring this PC.

I hope so - I spent *all* of a weekend building that page!g


If I might ask just a couple of quick questions that I found were not
answered on the site:

Go ahead - the more questions, the more I learn (and I might even impartsome
of that knowledge to you - or that's the theory, anyhow!g)


Does reinstalling ME over itself from the HDD completely erase items such
as
programs files and such?

NO!!
reinstalling from the HD should (with luck and a following wind - how many
albino chickens have you sacrificed lately?g) leave you with a working
system with the exact same data nd programs installed as you had before -
only working!



Is the registry retained "as is" (as it was before the reinstall), rebuilt
to
appear as it would with a completely fresh install, or are only the OS-
related entries modified back to factory specs while leaving individual
program keys and values "as is"?

"Sort of" is the only answer I can give to that - there are inevitable
changes that will arise - and which are required - and some that won't
happen (and maybe should), but in the main, you shouldn'ty see anything in
the regoistry break because fo a reinstall - although as noted on the page,
there are a number of programs that WILL break.


In the unlikely event that I needed to completely format the HD and then
do a
complete reinstall, could I do this by copying the entire Windows\Options
folder to a CD-R and do a fresh install from it (using the EBD and command
lines as detailed on your site)?

That's the theory, yes - but I've never tested it.


Would you happen to know the registry key that holds the Windows ME
activation key right off? If not or if it is too much trouble, it ok. I
found
the registry key that contains it on Google once, I'm sure I can do so
again.

There is no WinME 'Activation Key' in the same way that XP has one - what
you need to record is the 25-character Product Key from the registry - do a
search for "ProductKey" in REGEDIT, and record all the results yoiu get
(note the lack of spaces!!)


I feel that if I could get these four questions answered, I would have a
bit
of relief as I am always cautious with something as potentially dangerous
as
this. Formatting and then doing a fresh install using the original
installation CDs is one thing, but reinstalling ME over itself using this
method worries me a bit.

It's a lot less hassle doing an OTT reinstall than a clean reinstall - at
least you have everything still (hopefully) running at the end, whereas with
a clean install, you have to reload everything you ever did!!

That said - if you can, back up ALL your data before the start of the
process!!!



I would be very greatful for any answers or advise that you might be able
to
give.

Cheers!

No Probs - Good Luck!!

I wish I had a PDA... oh wait, I DO!! it's that thing between my ears!g


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

In fond memory of one of life's Gentlemen - Alex Nichol
http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"BJ Honeycut" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 20:52:10 GMT,"Noel Paton"
penned this whopper in
microsoft.public.windowsme.general

Not possible - unless you've only recently installed it.
The workaround is to delete the WMPLOC.DLL file - which is clearly
explained (I hope) on the page.


Thanks for the clarification, Noel. To be honest I haven't read it in some
time, sort of fly by the seat of my trousers. It's all on a PDA I carry
with me.

--
"Time will bring to light whatever is hidden;
it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor."
Horace (65 - 8 BC); Roman poet.

Mike

When it works rvf
Joan

Noel Paton wrote:
I wish I had a PDA... oh wait, I DO!! it's that thing between my ears!g

yeah - I know !!

It's not working in top gear at the moment - or if it is, then the rest of
me isn't keeping up!

still sniffling, and coughing (well, hacking) - I reckon another week of
hell, and then I should be feeling reasonably human again (at least as much
as I ever dog)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

In fond memory of one of life's Gentlemen - Alex Nichol
http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Joan Archer" wrote in message
...
When it works rvf
Joan

Noel Paton wrote:
I wish I had a PDA... oh wait, I DO!! it's that thing between my
ears!g

Sorry to read you've got the dreaded lurg. I'm only just managing to get
rid of mine which has hung around for what seems like weeks. Just make
sure you're fit for the first week of April although you might though need
to look out for a certain poster from Biggleswade once the bar's open
(he's going to shoot me when he reads this g).
--
Mike


Noel Paton wrote:

yeah - I know !!

It's not working in top gear at the moment - or if it is, then the
rest of me isn't keeping up!

still sniffling, and coughing (well, hacking) - I reckon another week
of hell, and then I should be feeling reasonably human again (at
least as much as I ever dog)

I'll be there - although I've heard no more about it from the princess......


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

In fond memory of one of life's Gentlemen - Alex Nichol
http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Mike M" wrote in message
...
Sorry to read you've got the dreaded lurg. I'm only just managing to get
rid of mine which has hung around for what seems like weeks. Just make
sure you're fit for the first week of April although you might though need
to look out for a certain poster from Biggleswade once the bar's open
(he's going to shoot me when he reads this g).
--
Mike


Noel Paton wrote:

yeah - I know !!

It's not working in top gear at the moment - or if it is, then the
rest of me isn't keeping up!

still sniffling, and coughing (well, hacking) - I reckon another week
of hell, and then I should be feeling reasonably human again (at
least as much as I ever dog)

"Noel Paton" wrote in
:

I'll put the responses where they need to be - against the questions
asked....






Thank you for all of your help Noel. That cleared up all of my worries. I
spent all night writing CDs. I have 90% of my HD on CD now. I am going to
start the restore shortly. Wish me luck!

Hope you get feeling better.

She's probably busy right now and saw a message about being swamped with
e-mail but I think you should contact either her or Katie as I received
e-mail confirmation by return. I've no idea as to the program though.
--
Mike


Noel Paton wrote:

I'll be there - although I've heard no more about it from the
princess......