If you reinstall Windows to keep settings it is possible. Look at Option A
below.
If you perform a Repair installation Windows XP will be reinstalled and all
applications, data, personal settings etc will remain and be useable. Look at
Option B below.
If you perform a Clean Installation it will effectively format [wipe] your
hard drive deleting everything.
Option A
If you need to reinstall WindowsXP and want to keep all your current
installed applications and settings:
Start WindowsXP
Click START
Click RUN
Type in 'CMD [enter]'
then: go to the location of your source files if your CD is in 'E' then
Type in 'E: [enter]'
Type in 'CD I386 [enter]'
Type in 'WINNT32 /unattend [enter]'
This will reinstall Windows without obliterating the registry entries for
software and wiping out user files in My Documents Folder etc.
I've often need to do this to repair something that had gotten corrupted and
didn't want to do a clean install.
Option B
Repair Install
If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it
to boot, you can do a Repair Install that might work as well as keep the
current settings.
Make sure you have your valid WindowsXP key
Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD
At the second R=Repair option, press the R key
This will start the repair
Eventually you will be prompted for your XP key
