"Sjonia Harper [MSFT]" wrote in message
...
You have some options. The cd's you have from HP should be bootable.
Make sure you change your system bios settings to allow you to boot from
your CD drive first.

** I don't feel qualified to change the BIOS settings. I'm just an average
PC user.

You can also create a windows boot disk that will allow you
boot your computer with CD support and do another install.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314079

* I'm not sure I understand everything on this website but do believe I made
a floppy boot disk. There are 4 NTLDRs on my PC. The directions on the
site doesn't say WHICH one to put on the floppy. I just guessed and took
C:\I386\ . Is that correct? There are *SIX* Ntdetect's on my PC - why
doesn't the website tell us which one to choose??? How am I supposed to
know I GUESSED the correct one? Am I supposed to copy them all?

FROM PAGE: If the Bootsect.dos file or the Ntbootdd.sys file resides in the
system partition, repeat steps 2 through 4 to copy these files to the boot
disk.

What does that mean in plain English? I doesn't say to copy the
Bootsect.dos file above. What is the "system partition?"

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;310994
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;311073

I'm sorry but I really need non-technical information that applies to my HP
with WXP-Home/SP2 on it. Is there any MS pages for us regular PC users
explaining how to do this without the techie-speak?

TIA

FS~

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"~ FreeSpirit ~" wrote in message
...

"usasma" wrote in message
...
Nope, not true. May be difficult but not impossible. Here's 2 options
that
will work quite well (I've done them both on my SP2 system with my SP1a
CD):
1) a repair install
2) a format and reinstall.

Ya don't need much more than that!
==============
## How did you do it if it's not possible with SP2 on your system? What
do you mean difficult? What made it difficult?

FS~


"~ FreeSpirit ~" wrote:

This is from the www.webtree.ca:

"Build an XP-SP2 Recovery Disc
Slipstreaming Service Pack 2
Here's the problem: Once you upgrade to SP2, you won't ever be able to
install the original version of Windows XP over it; you have thus
rendered
the ancient practice of reinstalling the operating system impossible."

What happens if I have to reformat and reinstall my OS? All I have is
the
CDs from HP with XP-Home/SP1. Should I uninstall SP2 to prevent that
from
happening?

FS~