When trying to reinstall Windows XP from an OEM "product recovery" CD, I see
this message in the opening screen:
if you proceed, "the files and settings cannot be recovered."
It is not clear if this is referring to just those "special files" that
Windows manages, such as Windows settings, Templates, etc., or if it is for
every file/folder in the system. I do NOT plan to re-format the drive during
the process.

I know I will have to re-install my applications.

OEM 'product recovery ' CDs automatically erase the entire hard disk and
reinstall the software that was on the computer when it left the factory.
Any files and folders you have not backed up will be permanently gone. If
you don't want this to happen, don't use the recovery CDs. Instead, ask the
OEM if they provide some other way to reinstall Windows.

--
Ted Zieglar
"Backup is a computer user's best friend."

"DJay" <DJay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9A2ABA7A-881B-4A1E-9B62-7C70AE4EFFAA@microsoft.com...

Thanks Ted. I'll do that.

"Ted Zieglar" wrote: