> Looks like I'm stuck with a single user machine....[color=blue]
> I don't have the Vista install discs as the PC came with Vista
> pre-installed
> by the OEM. The files are hidden somewhere inaccesible on the hard drive.[/color]

I hate the way OEMs no longer supply installation media; it sucks. But, it
seems to be a fait accompli ...
[color=blue]
> I contacted the OEM (Novatech) Technical Support, who tell me that there
> is
> no way to do a Repair Install, only a Clean Install. This would involve
> re-installing all of my applications afterward.
> Unless.............. if I were to backup all files, do a clean install and
> then restore the files, would that work? Or would the restore re-create
> the
> problem again? I don't know.![/color]

If you do a clean install you would still need to reinstall your
applications. Personally, I think a Saturday afternoon re-installing all my
apps sounds just dandy; but ... I know not everyone feels the same way :-)

You could back up your user data (documents etc); then do a clean install,
re-install your apps, then restore the user data. Trying to backup and
restore the whole system could leave you stranded in the same place you are
today :-( So, maybe you'll need to live with it.

Sorry I didn't have a better solution for you, but I hope the explanation
was of some use.

Cheers,
--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au