ghlbtsk wrote:
> I installed a new video card which somehow corrupted a hal.dll file making it
> impossible to boot (even with System Restore). I re-installed Windows and
> have two questions:
>
> 1.Is it possible to force Windows to recognize the 100+ programs already
> installed ......

Only if you performed a repair installation, a.k.a. an in-place upgrade.

If you performed a separate, parallell installation of Windows, or a
clean installation (formatted the hard drive), then the applications
would have to be reinstalled.


> Is the original Windows a lost cause, ....


Without knowing exactly what went wrong, and exactly what you've done
since then, it's impossible to say. The odds are, however, that by not
initially performing a proper repair installation, you've irretrievably
messed things up. At this point, the best course of action would be to
format the hard drive and start fresh.


> or can I update the new one with SP2
> (to match the old one) ....

Yes.

> .... and replace the corrupted hal.dll with the new one?


Probably not.

> It
> would be nice to be able to save all my settings.
>

Understood, but it's most likely too late for that, now. I certainly
would bother trying.



--

Bruce Chambers

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