Windows XP Repair Installation

The following instructions will walk you through the process of performing a Windows XP repair install. If you follow these directions EXACTLY, you should be able to repair Windows XP without losing any of your data. It is advisable to print a copy of these instructions BEFORE you start the process (or download and print this file: xp_repair_install.doc).

Warning: If at ANY point, the options you see do NOT match what are listed in these directions, then you should STOP immediately. It may be that you have a different version of Windows XP or you have a Restore CD (very different than a Windows XP reinstall CD), and proceeding in either of these cases may WIPE OUT ALL OF YOUR DATA. If you suspect this is the case, please consider calling and having me assist you with this process.

---- XP Repair install ----

Insert the Windows XP CD into one of your CD or DVD drives, and reboot the machine. You SHOULD see a note during the bootup that says “Press Any Key To Boot From CD” - if you do, press the Space bar, and it will begin loading the Windows XP setup.



If you never see the message to “Press Any Key To Boot From CD”, try rebooting again - if you still do not see it, try another CD drive. If it still does not offer you the option, then you may have a setting in your BIOS which needs corrected in order to boot from the CD, or you may have the wrong type of CD. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.

You should now see the "Welcome To Setup" screen (see screen below) NOTE - DO NOT PRESS THE "R" KEY HERE TO START REPAIR.



Press the ENTER key (Not "R") to start the Windows Setup.

Accept the License Agreement (see screen below) to continue



Windows will now search for existing Windows installations.

This next screen (see screen below) should show the option for repairing a damaged installation of Windows XP (THIS is the repair option that we want)



Select the Windows XP installation that you want to repair (there will most likely be only one) from the list and press R to start the repair.

NOTE: If you have reached this point, but Repair is not one of the options, or if you are asked to create or format a partition, END setup immediately! This means that something is making it so that you cannot do a repair install of XP at this time. If you proceed all of your data on the hard drive will be WIPED OUT.

Once the repair is started, setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. DO NOT press any key to boot from CD when the message appears this time. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.

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