what happens when windows is reinstalled 'over the top'

When Windows is installed 'over the top', by changing the name of
win.com and forcing the installation away from the default 'wndows000'
folder back to the 'windows' folder, which files are replaced? I ask
because it came as a surprise that the registry was unchanged when
this over the top installation was performed on a friend's machine.

Some system and program files will be overwritten. The Registry and other
configuration files are specifically not overwritten, just edited to some
extent. Of the files that are overwritten, some backups will be retained in VCM
(Version Control Manager), but not all. This is where the problem with
reinstalling over the top comes in. When you overinstall to an updated Win9x
system, you are in many cases replacing newer files and settings with older
ones. A retrograde.

Short of reinstalling all Windows Updates and some other runtimes, and even some
applications, you will no longer have an up-to-date and secure Windows system.
Considering all the work that this entails, with no guarantee that you got it
right, it's just as efficient to clean install, and you get a known state when
you've finished. Reinstalling over the top is OK for regaining temporary access
to the system in order to retrieve personal files and other important data, but
is not recommended for long term health.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"John" wrote in message
...
When Windows is installed 'over the top', by changing the name of
win.com and forcing the installation away from the default 'wndows000'
folder back to the 'windows' folder, which files are replaced? I ask
because it came as a surprise that the registry was unchanged when
this over the top installation was performed on a friend's machine.

http://search.support.microsoft.com/...SD=GN&LN=EN-US MSKB
Search "Version Conflict Manager"; Windows 98; Full Text; Exact Phrase;
comes up with four...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...57&Product=w98
Description of the Version Conflict Manager Tool in Windows 98
(186157) - This article describes the Version Conflict Manager
tool(Vcmui.exe) included in Windows 98. You can use the Version Conflict
Manager tool to troubleshoot problems that may occur after you install a
program. NOTE: The Windows 98 Help topic "Version...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...85&Product=w98
Files Not Backed Up Using the Version Conflict Manager Tool
(184585) - When you use the Version Conflict Manager tool to restore the
newer versions of files that were overwritten by Windows 98 Setup, the
files are properly restored, but the original Windows 98 files may be
lost.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...07&Product=w98
List of Documentation Errors in Windows 98 Resource Kit
(188307) - This article lists known documentation errors in the
Microsoft Windows 98 Resource Kit and the Microsoft Windows 98 Resource
Kit Book Online located in the Tools\Reskit\Help folder on the Windows
98 CD-ROM. The following known documentation errors are...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...75&Product=w98
Description of Microsoft System Information (Msinfo32.exe) Tool
(184075) - Windows 98 includes a tool called Microsoft System
Information (Msinfo32.exe). This tool can be used to gather information
about your computer, to diagnose issues with your computer, or to access
other tools that are included with Windows 98. This...


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"John" wrote in message
...
| When Windows is installed 'over the top', by changing the name of
| win.com and forcing the installation away from the default 'wndows000'
| folder back to the 'windows' folder, which files are replaced? I ask
| because it came as a surprise that the registry was unchanged when
| this over the top installation was performed on a friend's machine.

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

Some system and program files will be overwritten. The Registry and other
configuration files are specifically not overwritten, just edited to some
extent. Of the files that are overwritten, some backups will be retained in VCM
(Version Control Manager), but not all. This is where the problem with
reinstalling over the top comes in. When you overinstall to an updated Win9x
system, you are in many cases replacing newer files and settings with older
ones. A retrograde.

Short of reinstalling all Windows Updates and some other runtimes, and even some
applications, you will no longer have an up-to-date and secure Windows system.
Considering all the work that this entails, with no guarantee that you got it
right, it's just as efficient to clean install, and you get a known state when
you've finished. Reinstalling over the top is OK for regaining temporary access
to the system in order to retrieve personal files and other important data, but
is not recommended for long term health.

Many thanks to Gary and PCR

You're welcome. Note that newer versions of Windows, including Windows ME and XP
(not sure about Windows 2000) have system file protection mechanisms that
protect newer versions of system files from being replaced by older ones. These
protections don't, for the most part, exist in Windows 98SE and earlier (except,
as noted, the partial protection afforded by VCM.).

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"John" wrote in message
...
"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

Some system and program files will be overwritten. The Registry and other
configuration files are specifically not overwritten, just edited to some
extent. Of the files that are overwritten, some backups will be retained in
VCM
(Version Control Manager), but not all. This is where the problem with
reinstalling over the top comes in. When you overinstall to an updated Win9x
system, you are in many cases replacing newer files and settings with older
ones. A retrograde.

Short of reinstalling all Windows Updates and some other runtimes, and even
some
applications, you will no longer have an up-to-date and secure Windows
system.
Considering all the work that this entails, with no guarantee that you got it
right, it's just as efficient to clean install, and you get a known state
when
you've finished. Reinstalling over the top is OK for regaining temporary
access
to the system in order to retrieve personal files and other important data,
but
is not recommended for long term health.

Many thanks to Gary and PCR

Hi Gary,

Windows 2000 also has WFP (Windows File Protection). However doing an
in place upgrade on W2K (a reinstall over itself) overwrites many files
and one needs to reinstall service pack and hotfixes, it's an option of
last resort. As for Windows ME which also has WFP doing a reinstall
over without first removing IE6 results in a near complete disaster with
a hopeless soup of mixed up IE files. When it comes to reinstalls the
installation files override WFP. As for XP I don't know, I suspect it
behaves like W2K but can't say. Just thought you might appreciate the
information.

Regards;

John

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
You're welcome. Note that newer versions of Windows, including Windows ME and XP
(not sure about Windows 2000) have system file protection mechanisms that
protect newer versions of system files from being replaced by older ones. These
protections don't, for the most part, exist in Windows 98SE and earlier (except,
as noted, the partial protection afforded by VCM.).

You're right, John. I *do* appreciate that info. I was never sure about ME & 2K,
and while I've used XP reinstall/Repair, in order to salvage a system, it's also
only been so I could get back in long enough to take care of urgent chores
before reinstalling, always in situations so urgent that I didn't have time to
delve into the file versioning, s.

I guess WFP really only works against 3rd-party apps wanting to intrude.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"John John" wrote in message
...
Hi Gary,

Windows 2000 also has WFP (Windows File Protection). However doing an
in place upgrade on W2K (a reinstall over itself) overwrites many files
and one needs to reinstall service pack and hotfixes, it's an option of
last resort. As for Windows ME which also has WFP doing a reinstall
over without first removing IE6 results in a near complete disaster with
a hopeless soup of mixed up IE files. When it comes to reinstalls the
installation files override WFP. As for XP I don't know, I suspect it
behaves like W2K but can't say. Just thought you might appreciate the
information.

Regards;

John

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
You're welcome. Note that newer versions of Windows, including Windows ME
and XP
(not sure about Windows 2000) have system file protection mechanisms that
protect newer versions of system files from being replaced by older ones.
These
protections don't, for the most part, exist in Windows 98SE and earlier
(except,
as noted, the partial protection afforded by VCM.).

You are welcome.

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"John" wrote in message
...
| "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:
|
| Some system and program files will be overwritten. The Registry and
other
| configuration files are specifically not overwritten, just edited to
some
| extent. Of the files that are overwritten, some backups will be
retained in VCM
| (Version Control Manager), but not all. This is where the problem
with
| reinstalling over the top comes in. When you overinstall to an
updated Win9x
| system, you are in many cases replacing newer files and settings with
older
| ones. A retrograde.
|
| Short of reinstalling all Windows Updates and some other runtimes,
and even some
| applications, you will no longer have an up-to-date and secure
Windows system.
| Considering all the work that this entails, with no guarantee that
you got it
| right, it's just as efficient to clean install, and you get a known
state when
| you've finished. Reinstalling over the top is OK for regaining
temporary access
| to the system in order to retrieve personal files and other important
data, but
| is not recommended for long term health.
|
| Many thanks to Gary and PCR