Kernel error

[Rob W]

I am using XP Home edition and had a problem which requires to re install the OS. Am I correct in understanding that I will lose any files in the "My Documents" area? If so, are there any recommended methods to recover those files or a method to create a
boot CD to get access to those files for safe keeping?

[The Unknown P]

Give us the exact Kernel error. There may be a simple fix. Of course you could always copy the "My Document" to a CD as long as the folder doesn't exceed about 620mb in size or if it does then split it up into "My Documents" and "My Documents2" or whatever
you want and then copy them to a CD and then when you have reformatted and reinstalled the OS simply put the CD back in and "Send To" the new "My Documents" Good luck.

[Alex Nichol]

Rob W wrote:

>I am using XP Home edition and had a problem which requires to re install the OS. Am I correct in understanding that I will lose any files in the "My Documents" area?

If you reformat the drive and start over you will lose everything on the
disk: make back up copies of data files to CD or other medium. And
consider the Files and settings Transfer system - read Gary Woodruff's
article on it at http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Before doing anything so drastic, do a repair reinstall: Set the BIOS
to boot CD before Hard disk, then boot the XP CD, start Setup (do not
take 'Repair' at this stage), then after the license agreement take
'Repair Installation'. This will retain your existing software
installations and most settings. But Updates will have to be run again,
especially SP1;
It is important to activate the basic XP Firewall before you ever
connect to the net to get the patches, so as to be protected against
things like the BLAST worm.

Still have the data backed up, just in case, though

--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. (remove the D8 bit)