HACK THE HACKER's: Step by Step Guide to repair Windows XP installation without Recovery console

Step By Step Guide
to
"How to repair install Windows XP installation without Recovery console"
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also see Guide to clean/fresh install windows XP

Sometimes the only way to repair XP is to reinstall. You do not have to wipe your partition and start over. Just as with previous versions of Windows you can reinstall right over top of an existing setup.
This has the advantage of retaining your installed applications, data and settings.
You will lose previously saved System Restore Points but System Restore will begin creating new restore points again immediately following the Repair Install.
You will need to reinstall SP3 and any Critical Updates from the Windows Update Site. Be aware that a Repair Install will leave your system vulnerable to the Blaster and Welchia worms.
Do not go on line until you have enabled XP's firewall first. Then visit the Windows Update Site to patch your system

It is always prudent to backup important data before you make changes to XP.
There are two approaches. The first one should be used if you can still boot to your Windows Desktop. Simply pop the XP CD into the CD-Rom drive and select Install->Upgrade[recommended]. This will install XP overtop of itself in the same way as upgrading from a previous setup. However if your version is an OEM version then you will not have this option. If you do not see the option to Upgrade[recommended] DO NOT choose New Install as that will either overwrite your current setup completely or give you a dual boot setup. Also if you have an older version of XP and have upgraded to a new service pack you will get a message stating that a newer version of Windows was found and you will not be able to run the Upgrade.

If you cannot boot to the Desktop, or you have an OEM version of XP, or you want to remove a service pack then the following should be used to complete a Repair Install.

What you'll need:

1. A Windows XP machine in dire need of a fresh start
(Without any crucial, un-backedup data on it)
2. A Windows XP installation CD with a valid Product Key
(Preferably the disc that shipped with the computer originally, in which case the Product Key won't be obviously listed)
3. The CDs and serial numbers of all the software you need to install on your fresh "new" machine
4. Hardware driver discs that shipped with the PC and any components you added on

STEP 1.1
Start your pc press delete or F12 as per ur motherboard to get to bios settings
there change the boot device pririty to your cd/dvd drive from fDD in the 1st boot device..
exit with saaved changes

STEP 1.2
REStart your PC, place your Windows XP CD in your CD/DVD-ROM drive.

Your PC will automatically detect the CD and you will get a message saying "Press any key to boot from CD".(note: if your PC not automatically detect the CD, please go to last step)

Press any key to boot from CD and Windows setup will begin.

Windows will start copying preliminary setup files to your computer.

Step 2
You will be taken to the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. After reading the agreement press F8 to proceed.

Step 3
The next screen gives you the option to do a fresh (clean) install or to repair the selected Windows XP installation. To run a Repair Install Press "R" at this time.

***CAUTION*** if you do not see the option to repair the selected Windows XP installation DO NOT choose the option to continue installing a fresh copy without repairing as that will overwrite your data and cause unrecoverable data loss.

Step 4
Windows XP will copy the necessary files to your Hard Drive to begin the installation and will then reboot. You will see the message that informs you to "Press any key to boot the CD". Do not press any keys this time just wait a few seconds and the Windows Startup Screen will be displayed. Following this you will be greeted by the Windows XP Setup Screens.