You may need to access the website from a friends computer there is more
infomation there than what is below.
Copied and pasted from Michael Stevens website.
Please click on the warnings links before proceeding with the Repair
Install.
a.. Warning #1
b.. Warning #2
It is extremely important that you backup important data that is not
available from other media sources. This backup should be located on a
separate hard drive, CD, DVD, network storage, etc. that will not be
affected by the repair install.
Please check out the warning links before attempting the Repair Install. It
is to your advantage you follow the suggestions to prevent data loss and
especially if you also have the capability to boot into XP, perform the
steps listed in the Warning #1 , before proceeding with the repair install.
After completing [if Windows is still accessible] the steps listed to
prevent data loss in warning #1 and you did not remedy the no boot
situation, you can use an OEM XP Pro or Home, "retail" XP Home or Pro
full or upgrade version CD of the same version Home or Pro to perform a
Repair Install. OEM Restore disks or hidden restore folders on the hard
drive will not work for the Repair Install.
A Repair Install will replace the system files with the files on the XP CD
used for the Repair Install. It will leave your applications and settings
intact, but Windows updates will need to be reapplied.
A Repair Install will replace files altered by adware and malware, but will
not fix an adware, malware problem.
You can use the In place upgrade option to change a Product Key in the event
you entered a key that was already activated. The In Place Upgrade also
produces the same result as the Repair Install.
An option I highly recommend is creating a Slipstreamed XP CD with
SP1, SP2, etc..
Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) Good
Another Slipstream step by step Better
AutoStreamer mirror link for AutoStreamer Best!!
Step by Step on AutoStream
Alternate options to Change XP Product Key #18 on the FAQ list.
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XP Repair install
1.. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot
order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check your
system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.
2.. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options
below
This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
Windows XP to run on your computer:
To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
3.. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup. do not choose "To repair a
Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not
want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows
XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".
4.. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing
Windows installations.
5.. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press
R to start the repair. If Repair is not one of the options, read this
Warning#2!
6.. 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. Setup will
continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and
settings will remain intact.
If you get files not found during the copying stage.
Blaster worm warning: Do not immediately activate over the internet when
asked, enable the XP firewall before connecting to the internet. You can
activate after the firewall is enabled. Control Panel - Network Connections.
Right click the connection you use, Properties, and there is a check box on
the Advanced page.
KB 833330 Blaster removal
What You Should Know About the Sasser Worm and Its Variants
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-011
7.. Reapply updates or service packs applied since initial Windows XP
installation. Please note that a Repair Install from the Original install XP
CD will remove SP1/SP2 and service packs will need to be reapplied.
Windows XP Service Pack 1
Service Pack 2
An option I highly recommend; is creating a Slipstreamed XP CD with SP1,
SP2, etc. .
Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) Good
Another Slipstream step by step Better
AutoStreamer mirror link for AutoStreamer Best!!
Step by Step on AutoStreamer
Printable Repair Install step by step. repair.txt
XP Repair Install in PDF format.
Warning! #1
Should you do a repair install; and is it the best choice?
A Repair Install is not foolproof, and should not be considered the
cure-all fix for non-boot situations.
To prevent loss of data or program settings, perform the following
before the Repair Install.
Manually delete the Undo_guimode.txt file from the Windows\System32
folder before you perform any of the actions that are listed in the
"Symptoms" section of this article. To do this in Windows XP, type the
following command at a command prompt:
del /a /f %windir%\system32\undo_guimode.txt
1.. From the Start menu, click Run. Screenshot Image
2.. In the Run dialog box, in the Open text box, type: cmd. Click
OK.
3.. Delete the undo_guimode.txt file. In the
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe dialog box, type: del /a /f
c:\windows\system32\undo_guimode.txt. Press the ENTER key. Screenshot Image
KB Q312369
Check the link below for an option for recovering from a non-boot
event.
Windows XP Crashed? Here's Help
A salvage mission into the depths of Windows XP, explained by a
non-geek
by Charlie White
Also as a precaution the windows\system32\WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK should
be copied to a floppy before doing a repair install. For more information
see Alex Nichol's article on XP activation.
More articles to help prevent data loss.
http://cquirke.mvps.org/reinst.htm
Additional tips to perform before initiating the Repair Install.
You should complete the basic requirements of backing up all files and
folders that cannot be restored from other media. This includes passwords,
applications purchased and downloaded from the internet without CD support,
financial records and folders, digital images that cannot be
replaced...............
Backup copies of your registry files (in the %systemroot%\Repair
folder) are also replaced after the in-place upgrade is complete. Copy
these registry backups to another location before you perform an in-place
upgrade/Repair Install. You may need to use them after the in-place upgrade
is complete.
It would also be a good idea to run the Files And Settings Transfer
wizard F.A.S.T located on the XP CD.
If you made unorthodox registry changes with third party software,
there is the potential of data loss from a Repair Install. Another
consideration of concern would be a power failure during the repair install
could render your system unbootable and result in loss of data.
The likelihood of you losing the files and folders is probably of
minimal risk, but you have to expect the worst and make sure you are
prepared for recovery.
If you are sure you have explored all other troubleshooting avenues,
then proceed with the repair install.
Warning!! #2
If the Repair Option is not Available
What should I do? Most important do not ignore the information below!
If the option to Repair Install is NOT available and you continue with
the install; you will delete your Windows & Documents and Settings folders.
All Applications that place keys in the registry will need to be
re-installed.
You should exit setup if the repair option is not available and
consider other options. I have found if the Repair option is not available,
you have a few paths I have listed to try before XP requires a Clean
install.
Very important!!
If you still have the ability to access the Windows XP installation,
backup all important files not restorable from other sources before
attempting any recovery console or other trouble shooting attempts.
Possible Fix by reconfiguring boot.ini using Recovery Console.
1.Boot with XP CD or 6 floppy boot disk set.
2. Press R to load the Recovery Console.
3. Type bootcfg.
4. This should fix any boot.ini errors causing setup not to see the
XP OS
install.
5. Try the repair install.
One more suggestion from MVP Alex Nichol
"Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option, and if the CD letter
is say K: give these commands
copy K:\i386\ntldr C:\
copy K:\i386\ntdetect.com C:\
(two other files needed - just in case)
1. Type: attrib -h -r -s C:\boot.ini del C:\boot.ini
2. Type: BootCfg /Rebuild
which will get rid of any damaged boot.ini, search the disk for
systems and make a new one. This might even result in a damaged windows
reappearing; but gives another chance of getting at the repair"
