System recovery Problem

[mostro09]

Ok, don't ask me how, but i think i deleted some crucial files for windows to work, right now the icons on the desktop are not working, can't load any program.

anyway, i'm trying to do a system recovery and when it;'s supposed to ask me for the date that i wanted it recovered to, it gives me an error something to do with "calgrid"

my question is this:
Can I put on the WinXP pro, and try to install and then click "repair" so my data and programs stay intact???

Any help would be appreciated.

[Detritus]

Yes and no, the repair option in theory works, but my last experience with it wasn't good and I ended up doing a clean install, I guess you could try it, but plan on a potential reformat...

Yes you can. Boot from the CD and choose 'Repair' when it asks.

And as a side note, I've never seen 'System Restore' work, so you might as well disable it.

[mostro09]

Originally posted by Detritus
Yes and no, the repair option in theory works, but my last experience with it wasn't good and I ended up doing a clean install, I guess you could try it, but plan on a potential reformat...

I've done it plenty of times (system recovery), and have worked fine always, but in this case I guess that the damage was as I said crucial. I imagine that has to do with registry keys.

I read somewhere in this forum that you can click repair using the Cd, and you data and programs don't suffer.

I want to have an idea before actually doing so I would know what I'm getting into.