Using the windows repair install
The repair feature included on the Windows XP disk is meant to repair an installation by rewriting the system files but leaving your files and settings intact. Like all things that sound good however, it has great potential for causing more problems than it may fix. If your willing to do a clean install the end result will be much better in my opinion.
Before you attempt this repair make sure your Data is backed up and
if
you are unable to boot back into windows and there are important files
that need to be saved do not
assume the repair function will save them! Instead you may want to
remove the hard drive from the computer and try using a recovery
program to save the Data. Here is a freeware program that works very
well PCI Filerecovery.
NOTES: Some
problems that might be encountered are:
- If the version of XP already installed on your computer is higher
than the Windows disk you are trying to repair with. (EX: Service pack 2
installed and your disk is SP1). For more info on this issue read this article.
- If Internet Explorer 7 is installed you must uninstall it first or when the repair is complete IE 6 won't work. For more information read this article.
- You may lose program files or data currently installed after repairing the OS.
Booting method to repair
To repairing Windows XP if you are unable to boot into the OS:
- Insert your Windows XP disk and restart your computer.
- When prompted to "press any key to boot from CD" do so. *IF you don't see this message you will have to enable booting from the CD in your computer's BIOS. To enter the BIOS you will have to press a specific button when your PC starts, such as DELETE or ESC.
- Once the setup begins you will see a welcome screen that will ask for you press Enter to setup XP or press R to repair XP using the recovery console. Press Enter.
- Press F8 to accept the license agreement.
- Next select your current XP install and press R to begin repairing the system files.
- Follow the set up wizard.
- When the set up completes update windows.
Repair XP in the windows environment
If you can still load Windows XP and wish to use the "repair installation" from within the operating system follow these steps:- Start Windows.
- Insert the Windows XP disk.
- If the version of XP on you PC is higher than your CD version see Note 1 above.
- Select install XP on the welcome page.
- Next on the setup page choose Upgrade.
- Accept the license agreement.
- Enter your product key.
- Get updated setup files then follow the wizard to install the OS.
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