Can I re-install XP-Pro?!

[Guest]

Laptop: Compaq Presario 2570 US
OS: XP-Pro SP1 (OEM-preinstalled)
I have downloaded SP2 from microsoft website

Recently have had issues with "Do not have sufficient privileges" errors
(Even though I am the administrator on this computer.)

Now I want to re-install XP-Pro so that I can get it to work as it used to.
The problem is that I have read on many forums that its a good idea to
back-up your data and settings before this. Now on this computer..if I try to
back-up or system restore...I get the error "You do not have sufficient
privileges. Please contact the administrator".
I have tried a number of different things to try to correct this issue and
have posted those in an earlier thread. (General Discussions and Security &
Administration)

Also I have Norton Antivirus that I had downloaded (instead of buying the
CD)...but at the time I did not buy the "extended download option". So I
cannot download it again, unless i buy it again!

Is there any way I can re-install XP-Pro without losing all the important
files and documents! and having to buy all the software again!!

Thanks!

 

[R. McCarty]

Boot to Safe Mode (F8 at transition between BIOS screen
& XP Splash) Login to the default Administrator's account.
Attempt your operations from this account. That includes installing
SP2.

Symantec downloads should be saved on your drive, unless you
explicitly deleted/remove it. Do a search for VBox - the Symantec
package will likely be stored below that sub-folder. If found, Burn
to CD-R disk right away.

To protect your PC & data, consider an Imaging program - used
on a regular schedule and save image copies to removable media.
With any Imaging process always use the "Verify" option, to get a
higher reliability disk/image set.