This tutorial will guide you through running a Windows XP Repair. Click a thumbnail to enlarge it in a separate window. Before we begin, here is some information you may need to know before continuing:
- A Windows Repair does not alter or delete your documents.
- A Windows Repair does not alter or delete any programs you have installed.
- A Windows Repair will not get rid of active spyware and malware infections.
- A Windows Repair will likely not get rid of a computer virus.
- A Windows Repair will ask you for your CD-Key upon installation.
- A Windows Repair will not ask you to activate Windows if your copy of Windows has already been activated.
- A Windows Repair does the following:
- Deletes the Windows folder on the specified installation.
- Copies setup and essential files into a new Windows folder.
- Restarts the computer.
- Erases all Windows related registry entries, not altering any other entries or keys.
- Searches for hardware and sets-up necessary drivers.
- Installs entire Windows system including stock programs such as Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, etc.
- Rebuilds the entire Windows registry
- Restarts the computer.
- Set's up general user settings (via Welcome Wizard)
The following steps will guide you through the repair process of Windows XP. I will be using Microsoft Windows XP Professional Corporate with SP2:
- Boot off of the Windows XP CD by having the CD inserted before the system starts-up. If your computer does not give you the prompt in Figure 1a, you will need to follow the steps below. When you get the prompt, press any key on the keyboard.
Figure 1a:
a. If your POST gives you the option to "Boot from CD", "Enter Boot Menu" or words to that effect, press the respective key to start that function. Entering the boot menu will give you a screen similar to that in Figure 1b. In either case, select the option to boot from an "ATAPI device" or "CD-ROM Drive".
Figure 1b:
b. If you do not have that option, enter your BIOS setup program by pressing its key on the keyboard. It is usually shown during post as "Press -- to Enter Setup" or words to that effect. For a good list of keys to press, view this post by Zazula.
c. Once you have entered BIOS, browse around for a setting called "Boot Order" or "Boot Sequence" and use the keys (usually shown on the bottom) to change the boot order to the CD first, the Floppy (if applicable) second, the hard drive third and any network boot options last. If you have a system with predefined values, just make sure that the CD Drive boots before the Hard Drive and that Network Boot is after the hard drive. Figure 1c shows where my boot settings are.
Figure 1c:
d. After you restart your computer, you should be able to boot off of the CD.
- Windows setup will detect your CD-Drive and show the screen in Figure 2.
Figure 2:
- Windows setup will begin loading drivers needed to install Windows and show the screen in Figure 3.
Figure 3:
- Windows will present you with the option to start setup, run recovery console or quit as shown in Figure 4. Press [Enter] to continue setup.
Figure 4:
- Windows setup will present you with the EULA in Figure 5. Accept it by pressing [F8]
Figure 5:
- Windows will search for installations of Windows using the screen in Figure 6.
Figure 6:
- All of your installations will be listed in a screen similar to the one in Figure 7. Press [R] to begin the repair process.
Figure 7:
- Windows setup will analyze the hard drive and begin deleting the existing files shown in the screen in Figure 8.
Figure 8:
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Repair Windows XP Guide ---
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