I have a Dell Latitude D600 with a copy of Win XP SP2 that keeps crashing. I would like to reinstall it without losing my programs and settings, but Windows says it can't perform that function anymore because it runs Service Pack 2 ("you are running a newer version of Windows"). Is this correct? Must I either stick with the copy of Windows I have, or erase completely and reinstall?

May be better to explain "keeps crashing" ? How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP To help troubleshoot error messages or other issues when you cannot determine the cause of the issue, disable common startup programs, settings, and drivers to eliminate possible software conflicts when you start Microsoft Windows XP. This procedure is known as "clean booting." (Can be done by way of Windows Safe-Mode, logon as Administrator, but where it says RESTART, restart into normal Windows.) How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP and that one is a heavy duty article. Print the articles for reference.

Sorry to be vague - I have had a recurring problem where I get a full system hang - no response to the trackpad, keyboard, etc - nothing at all will respond without holding down the powerbutton for 15 seconds or so to restart. Usually it will happen when the PC sits for a while unused, but this morning it happened while I was working. I have spent entirely too much time trying to troubleshoot it, which is why I am interested in an 'in place" reinstall. I performed one on my Mac when I broke something deep in the OS (self inflicted, in that case) and it's a really great way to get back up and running, which is why I'm interested in seeing if it's possible with Win XP SP2.

This will work if you have the full xp cd not the Dell restore cd. How to do a system repair.--Boot from the xp cd and go past the recovery console to the install menu. Select repair the existing installation. You won't lose any data except the xp updates. Unless you have a slipstream sp1 cd you will have to d/l sp1 and all subsequent updates. You MUST have at least SP1 installed and the updates for security reasons. Be sure the firewall and A/V is active before going online as you will be susceptible to sasser and msblaster. If you don't want SP2 go to autopatcher.com and d/l SP1 and subsequent updates.

You can do an integrated install (slipstream) with your Dell CD. That will work... just look it up on Google and you should be good to go. -MikeG

Thanks for all the responses. I wound up uninstalling SP2, then using the normal WINNT32 routine. Probably not the most time efficient, but that's what I found after a bit of Web surfing! So far it seems to be working; Windows Update was initially sort of broken, but after I killed the service at the command line a few times while trying to load the Win Update web page it came through and now it's happily downloading patches. I hope this solves the hanging now!