Steve,

Repair installation should not affect your programs and data on the disk.
However, it's a good idea to have a complete backup (image) of the drive
before installing or repairing Windows.

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com


"SteveH" <SteveH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:551FD1B6-5139-4D9B-B895-6B2F6BB74CED@microsoft.com...
> Thanks for your reply, Ramesh, and the KB link.
>
> I cannot look at my PC just now (I need to check it later), but if I need
> to
> repair Windows XP using the installation disk, does it go over any of my
> exisiting files (Word docs, applications, etc?
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Steve
>
> "Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:
>
>> Msinfo32.exe Generates a "Can't Collect Information" Error Message:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323209
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
>> The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
>> Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com
>>
>>
>> "SteveH" <SteveH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:7BE31976-DD05-4A2D-82D5-0A42B4659144@microsoft.com...
>> > Hello
>> >
>> > I am writing about my System Information utility which I don't seem to
>> > be
>> > able to use properly.
>> >
>> > If I type in msconfig32.exe in 'Run', and try to export my information,
>> > I
>> > get this:
>> >
>> > System Information report written at: 06/22/08 18:12:33
>> > System Name: Name
>> > [System Summary]
>> >
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Hardware Resources]
>> >
>> > [Conflicts/Sharing]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [DMA]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Forced Hardware]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [I/O]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [IRQs]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Memory]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Components]
>> >
>> > [Multimedia]
>> >
>> > [Audio Codecs]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Video Codecs]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [CD-ROM]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Sound Device]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Display]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Infrared]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Input]
>> >
>> > [Keyboard]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Pointing Device]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Modem]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Network]
>> >
>> > [Adapter]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Protocol]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [WinSock]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Ports]
>> >
>> > [Serial]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Parallel]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Storage]
>> >
>> > [Drives]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Disks]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [SCSI]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [IDE]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Printing]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Problem Devices]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [USB]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Software Environment]
>> >
>> > [System Drivers]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Signed Drivers]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Environment Variables]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Print Jobs]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Network Connections]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Running Tasks]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Loaded Modules]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Services]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Program Groups]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Startup Programs]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [OLE Registration]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Windows Error Reporting]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Internet Settings]
>> >
>> > [Internet Explorer]
>> >
>> > [ Following are sub-categories of this main category ]
>> > [Summary]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [File Versions]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Connectivity]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Cache]
>> >
>> > [ Following are sub-categories of this main category ]
>> > [Summary]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >[List of Objects]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Content]
>> >
>> > [ Following are sub-categories of this main category ]
>> > [Summary]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Personal Certificates]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Other People Certificates]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Publishers]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Security]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Office 2003 Applications]
>> >
>> > [Microsoft Office Word 2003]
>> >
>> > [Summary]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Startup Folder]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [COM Add-Ins]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Active Document]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Fields]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [File Converters]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Fonts]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Headers and Footers]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Hyperlinks]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Mail Merge]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Page Numbers]
>> >
>> > Can't Collect Information
>> >
>> > [Page Setup]
>> >