How to perform a Windows XP Repair Install if Internet Explorer 7 or 8 Installed

August 9, 2009 3 Comments

In this blog post I will describe how to perform a Repair Install for Windows XP if Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 is installed.

Uninstall Internet Explorer before performing a Repair Install

One should try to uninstall Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 before attempting a repair installation of Windows XP. There are two methods you can use, one is using the Add / Remove Programs applet and the other is using the Recovery Console if you cannot uninstall Internet Explorer by using the Add / Remove Programs applet.

Method One – Add / Remove Programs

  1. Click Start then Run.
  2. Type appwiz.cpl in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.

    NOTE

    The Add / Remove Programs applet should open.

  4. If Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 is listed then click the Remove button.

Method Two – Recovery Console

  1. Start the computer in the Recovery Console, refer to “How to Start the Windows XP Recovery Console” blog post for instructions.
    • Windows Internet Explorer 8
      1. Type CD ie8\spuninst.
      2. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
      3. Type batch spuninst.txt.
      4. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
    • Windows Internet Explorer 7
      1. Type CD ie7\spuninst.
      2. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
      3. Type batch spuninst.txt.
      4. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  2. Type EXIT on your keyboard to restart the computer.

Uninstalling Internet Explorer if a Repair Install of Windows XP has been Performed

If you have performed a Repair Install for Windows XP and Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 is installed then Internet Explorer may not function or function correctly. You will need to uninstall Internet Explorer using one of the described scenarios.

Check What Service Pack is Installed after a Repair Install

  1. Click Start then Run.
  2. Type winver in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.

    NOTE

    In the About Box, the Service Pack level for Windows XP will be listed. If there is no Service Pack listed then Windows XP has no Service Pack installed.

If Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 is Installed

  1. Click Start then Run.
  2. Type appwiz.cpl in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.

    NOTE

    The Add / Remove Programs applet should open.

  4. If Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 is listed then click the Remove button.

    If Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 is not listed in the Add / Remove Programs applet then follow the appropriate directions.

    1. Start the computer in the Recovery Console, refer to “How to Start the Windows XP Recovery Console” blog post for instructions.
      • Windows Internet Explorer 8
        1. Type CD ie8\spuninst.
        2. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
        3. Type batch spuninst.txt.
        4. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
      • Windows Internet Explorer 7
        1. Type CD ie7\spuninst.
        2. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
        3. Type batch spuninst.txt.
        4. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
    2. Type EXIT on your keyboard to restart the computer.

If Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 is not Installed

  1. Click Start then Run.
  2. Type appwiz.cpl on your keyboard.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard

    NOTE

    The Add / Remove Programs applet should open.

  4. If Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 is listed then click the Remove button.

    If Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 is not listed in the Add / Remove Programs applet then follow the appropriate directions.

    1. Start the computer in the Recovery Console, refer to “How to Start the Windows XP Recovery Console” blog post for instructions.
      • Windows Internet Explorer 8
        1. Type CD \Windows\ie8\spuninst.
        2. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
        3. Type batch spuninst.txt.
        4. Press ENTER on your keyboard
      • Windows Internet Explorer 7
        1. Type CD \Windows\ie7\spuninst.
        2. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
        3. Type batch spuninst.txt.
        4. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
    2. Type EXIT on your keyboard to restart the computer.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows XP Editions

Related Articles

Version 1.1
Edited: May 17, 2012

Filed under Windows XP, Windows XP Tips Tagged with , , , , ,

Windows XP cannot install Windows Updates After a Repair Install

September 28, 2007 Leave a comment

Microsoft has confirmed a problem of Windows XP not installing Windows Updates after performing a repair install of Windows XP according to this blog post from the Microsoft Update Product Team Blog.

When performing a repair install, all Windows XP system files are replaced with the files on the Windows XP CD including the Windows Update files. Windows system registry settings are restored as well. During the repair operation, the Wups2.dll is not deleted or replaced because this file is not known to Windows XP repair process but the registry entries for the Wups2.dll are deleted which causes the Windows Update failures. KB943144 has more information about this problem.

Solution

  1. Log in with Administrative privileges.
  2. Click Start and then Run.
  3. Type cmd in the Run dialog box to open the Command Prompt.
  4. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  5. Type the following to stop the Automatic Update service:

    net stop wuauserv

  6. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  7. Type the following the register the Wups2.dll file:

    regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll

  8. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  9. Type the following to start the Automatic Update service:

    net start wuauserv

  10. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  11. Type the following to close the Command Prompt.

    exit

  12. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  13. Visit Windows Update to keep you computer secure with known vulnerabilities.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit Editions

Important Reminder

Please keep your computer up to date with Critical and Important updates by visiting Microsoft Update. If you experience any problems with Microsoft Security updates then please call Microsoft support for help. There will be no charge for support on Security Updates.

Microsoft has set up newsgroups for self-support. If you need help for Security updates or any other updates that is issued by Microsoft then please visit the Windows Update newsgroup at using your newsreader news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate.

Version 1.1
Edited: May 11, 2012

Filed under Windows XP, Windows XP Fixes Tagged with , , ,