WinXP repair problem

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

I have recently developed a problem with WinXP Pro SP3+ (all updates)--it has become incredibly slow, and it gives error messages that programs are not recognized as being 32-bit programs, memory error messages, statements about quotas--all kinds of issues.

I decided to do a repair and to test my theory, I loaded an backup image of the disk from Nov 30 on to a clean disk, then did the repair (including update of all the Security updates, beginning by using the SP3 file, then using Windows Update). It works fairly well, except for the registration of one program, easily fixed.

OK. Now I was ready for the bigtime. I created an image of the C: drive, as I wanted to have all of the email up-to-date, as well as other files that I have created since the November 28th backup (I actually have nightly incremental backups, if I need to). OK, now I was ready to roll. So... I loaded my WinXP SP2 disk, same as before, now ready to do a repair, same as before. I chose Enter at the first screen when the disk loaded, agreed to the the rules and regs, then waited for the next screen, which would invite me to make a repair to the install or to do a new install. To my surprise, the next screen said that on Windows was seen on my computer and asked for a prior version to see if it qualified for an upgrade!! I rebooted and loaded into my defective version of Windows again. I don't get it. But does it give any clues to anyone? I have the option of using the repaired install "clone" from a week ago, but I am confused about 1, why the original install became corrupt, and 2, why it may be that it is not recognized by install disk.

Thanks
Ken K
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Relevant Pages

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    ... menu where is says "Press enter to install Windows or press R to repair ... from the windows XP disk. ... that is a disk scan, but it will take a while to run. ...
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