Lost+Data+or+Settings+after+Reinstalling,+Repairing,+or+Upgrading

Lost Data or Settings after Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading

__**NOTE:**__ The information in this article applies only to computers with Windows XP preinstalled by a computer manufacturer or Vendor.

If you reinstall, repair or upgrade a computer that has Windows XP preinstalled by a computer hardware vendor, you might lose data, Start menu shortcuts, items in the startup group, and files stored in the Shared Documents folder.

This behaviour can occur if the Undo_guimode.txt file is present in the Windows\System32 folder on your hard disk when you perform any of the actions that are listed in the ʺSymptomsʺ section on a computer with Windows XP preinstalled by a computer manufacturer or Vendor.

This file is created by the wizard that runs when you first start a computer with Windows XP preinstalled by a computer manufacturer.

You may lose data that is stored in the All Users folder, and default program templates and settings that are stored in the Default User folder after you reinstall, repair, or upgrade Windows XP.

This problem can occur after you perform any of the following actions on a computer that has Windows XP preinstalled by a computer manufacturer (also known as an Original Equipment Manufacturer, or OEM):

You reinstall Windows XP in the same folder by clicking Upgrade (Recommended) after you run Winnt32.exe, or by clicking the Install Windows XP link on the ʺWelcome to Microsoft Windows XPʺ screen that appears when you insert the Windows XP CD‐ROM.

This is also known as performing an in‐place upgrade or an in‐place installation.

You repair Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP CD‐ROM, pressing ENTER to set up Windows XP, and then pressing R to repair the selected installation.

You upgrade the Windows XP Home Edition installation that was preinstalled by your computer manufacturer to the retail version of Windows XP Professional.

What you have to do :‐

Manually delete the Undo_guimode.txt file from the Windows\System32 folder before you perform any of the actions above.

To do this in Windows XP, type the following command at a command prompt: ( After the Chevron ( > ) del /a /f windir%\system32\undo_guimode.txt

__**NOTE:**__ If you are using Recovery Console or an MS‐DOS or Microsoft Windows boot floppy disk, the steps to delete the file are slightly different.

For more information about deleting files, refer to your MS‐DOS or Windows product documentation, query the Help and Support Centre in Windows XP, or see the following article about the Recovery Console: 229716 [|http://support.microsoft.com/kb/229716/EN‐US/]

Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console

__**NOTE**__: If you use the Restore CD‐ROM that is provided by your computer manufacturer to restore Windows XP, you may need to repeat the steps in this article to prevent this problem from occurring again.

These manufacturers and Vendors have a lot to answer for and always ensure that you get the CD disc from them