i386

Question

Hi all,:smileyhappy:

I recently performed a Clean installation of Windows XPSP1a. I installed all the relevant updates and missing drivers and then ugraded to SP2 on my Dell Dimension 4600. My system is not happy and I want to go back to XPSP1.

I was unable to do a 'repair' from the OEM installed i386 folder on the hard drive which now, after doing some research, I believe was because the sourcepath was wrong - the sourcepath had obviously pointed to my CDROM because I had to repair using the XP disk. Unfortunately, the repair installation didn't go very well and hung which was why I eventually decided to reformat the hard drive and cleanly install XP. Prior to reinstalling though, I did make a copy of the original i386 folder from my hard drive onto CD. I have just looked at the CD files and the i386 folder now appears to have changed its name to 'Application Data' but with the normal subdirectories such as OEM, ASMS, DRW, System32, etc., inside.

Here are my questions.....

Q1. What I would like to know is whether I am able to copy the i386 (or should I say 'Application Data' folder) back to my hardrive and reinstall XP from there using WINNT32.EXE from within Windows and should I rename this folder back to i386 once it is copied over? Remember, I have already reformatted and reinstalled from DELL XP CD.

Q2. Does the i386 folder interact with any additional folders outside of itself in order to work or is it a standalone folder and will it reinstall programs (or at least some) of which were originally pre-installed because several are now missing since reinstallation?

I would greatly appreciate any help you could offer and thank you in advance.

Message Edited by kayjay1 on 05-08-200611:55 PM

RoHe · Answer

Did you install the chipset driver after reinstalling XP?
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R58201&SystemID=DIM_P4_4600&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3268&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=2&formatcnt=1&libid=27&fileid=70069

The correct order for reinstalling XP is typically:
XP
chipset driver
video driver
audio driver
network driver
etc.

If you didn't install the chipset that could be part of your problems. The \i386 folder contains backup copies of certain essential XP system files. You should not mix/match \i386 files from different versions of XP. The folder is created automatically as part of a clean install of XP.

If you want to revert to SP1, boot from the XP CD, reformat the HD, and let it manage the entire installation. You can't do a repair/reinstall using an SP1 CD if SP2 is already on the HD. In that case you have to create a 'slip-streamed' CD containing SP1 from your SP1 CD and SP2 from a download or CD of SP2.

Either way, it sounds like you need to wipe the HD completely, reformat and start over. And don't forget that chipset driver. ;)

Ron

kayjay1 · Answer

Thank you for your reply RoHe,

Yes, I did install the chipset along with the other drivers in exactly the same order as you have listed.

If I understand correctly, does this mean that if I do a clean install of XP from the CD and install all the necessary original drivers from the DELL Resource CD, I could then copy over the i386 (Application Data) folder from my CD to the HD, rename it back it 'i386', direct the sourcepath in the registry to the HD, reinstall XP from within Windows using WINNT32.EXE, and finally bring SP1 up-to-date with any additional updates? Will this work and will it replace at least some of the missing programs that were originally pre-installed with the system?

Thanks for your help.

Message Edited by kayjay1 on 05-10-200611:11 AM

RoHe · Answer

If you reformat the HD and reinstall XP, that will automatically create a new \i386 folder on your HD. You don't need any old versions of \i386 from previous installations of XP.

Why are you so hung up about that i386 folder?? It isn't an 'applications data' folder as you call it. That folder normally contains only backup (compressed) copies of essential XP system files. XP only uses files in \i386 to replace system files that get corrupted. Most of the active system files are in the folders c:\windows\system32 and c:\windows\system32\drivers

In short, if you do a full reformat/reinstall, junk any old \i386 folders you copied off the HD. You do NOT need to make any registry changes. The Dell XP Reinstallation CD will install a functional version of Windows. The only thing left to do is install the chipset and other hardware drivers, and then update to SP2 and install all the latest updates from Microsoft.

The thing I would recommend is to download the latest versions of any drivers you need on to CD directly from the Dell site rather than using the ones on the old Drivers CD which may be out of date.

Go here and it will walk you through a reinstallation of XP:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/tree?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&journalid=&treeid=FFA33DA99941FEDFE030030ABD62041A

Ron

kayjay1 · Answer

Hello RoHe,

I think we may be talking at cross purposes here......

If you reformat the HD and reinstall XP, that will automatically create a new \i386 folder on your HD. You don't need any old versions of \i386 from previous installations of XP.

I'm not talking about the i386 folders inside C:\WINDOWS\, I'm referring to the i386 folder that DELL pre-installed - C:\i386 (905MB, 7643 files and 52 folders) - I believe this folder is used when doing a repair installation from the HD. As far as I am aware, Windows does not automatically install the i386 folder onto the C:\ drive, it only installs in C:\WINDOWS\DriverCache\i386, C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 and several other C:\WINDOWS\System32\reinstallbackups\XXXX\DriverFiles\i386.

Why are you so hung up about that i386 folder??

I'm not hung up on the i386 folder, I am just trying to ascertain if it is possible to reinstall some of the missing programs that DELL had preinstalled with the system originally (I am without backup CD's for several of these programs).

It isn't an 'applications data' folder as you call it.

No, I am well aware of that. I have already stated that when I copied the i386 folder to CD, the folder name on the disk had changed itself to 'Application Data' instead of being called i386. I believe that I am not the only person who has experienced this name change - I came across a post on a different site the other day with someone complaining of a similar problem - If I can find the link, I'll post it. Okay I've found it....... http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20936499.html

In short, if you do a full reformat/reinstall, junk any old \i386 folders you copied off the HD. You do NOT need to make any registry changes. The Dell XP Reinstallation CD will install a functional version of Windows. The only thing left to do is install the chipset and other hardware drivers, and then update to SP2 and install all the latest updates from Microsoft.

The thing I would recommend is to download the latest versions of any drivers you need on to CD directly from the Dell site rather than using the ones on the old Drivers CD which may be out of date.

Go here and it will walk you through a reinstallation of XP:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/tree?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&journalid=&treeid=FFA33DA99941FEDFE030030ABD62041A

I do not wish to appear rude here, but I do know how to install/reinstall XP. I'm just trying to get an answers to my original questions. Thanx again for your help.:smileywink:

Message Edited by kayjay1 on 05-11-200611:19 AM

Message Edited by kayjay1 on 05-11-200611:24 AM

Message Edited by kayjay1 on 05-11-200611:25 AM

Message Edited by kayjay1 on 05-11-200611:32 AM

Message Edited by kayjay1 on 05-11-200602:22 PM

RoHe · Answer

I doubt your \i386 folder will allow you to reinstall apps for which you don't have CDs. Unless an app is installed properly using it's installer, the registry settings won't be made so the software won't run.

If your system was shipped after 7-14-04, you have PC Restore on the HD. That resets the system to exactly the way Dell shipped it. All personal files, any software you installed, and all XP updates will be lost and must be reinstalled. But PCRestore will reinstall XP and whatever software Dell put on the system.

Of course, PC Restore won't help if you have to replace the HD, so contact Dell and request the CDs for whichever pre-installed software you want. If you paid for Microsoft Office Dell is re required by MS to give you the CD. I've seen other posts where Dell has provided the Sonic RecordNow and MyDVD CDs too. Ask for modem software, assuming you have Dell modem installed, etc. No promises that they'll provide any of the CDs.

Ron

kayjay1 · Answer

Thanks again for your reply RoHe

Looks like I'm out of luck because my system was shipped in Jan '04 and I therefore do not have PCRestore, only the DELLXPCD, a Resource CD, Eurotools and a couple of additional programs.

I have just had a quick look through the folders on the i386CD that I copied and have found several of the programs that are 'missing' from my system. Will these not install if I run WINNT32.EXE from the i386 folder, after I have copied it to the HD of course?

Thank you.

kayjay1 · Answer

Thanx RoHe, you've been a great help!!

I don't suppose you would have any idea what an installer would look like would you? Do you know if it would be in the form of an .exe, .ini file or some sort of setup folder? I have found a setup.exe file in the main directory, but I'm not really sure what I should be looking for. If you could give me a clue I'd be truly thankful.

RoHe · Answer

WINNT32.EXE is the installer for XP, not for other software. It does a clean install or upgrade of XP from the HD. www.easydesksoftware.com/I386.htm

If the other apps listed in \i386 include their own installer, you might be able to click on them to launch it. I suppose you could try one to find out. Most installers give you the option to cancel so you could always back out once you see what it does. I would certainly set a System Restore point first in case something unexpected happens.

Ron

RoHe · Answer

Hard to say what type of file it might be. Could be .exe or .msi (Microsoft installer). Could be named "setup.exe" or "XYZapp".msi. If you see something that might be an application installer, google the file name and see what you find. Happy hunting.

Ron

kayjay1 · Answer

Thanks for all your help Ron. I'm going to give it a go and see what happens - nothing to lose:smileyvery-happy: Best wishes

Windows General

i386

Was this post helpful?