Puzzled on how to use the bootable disk to perform Windows XP repair installation? Sometimes, your Windows XP might fail to boot and throw some errors indicating some files are missing. When you find such instances you will have to repair your Windows XP installation. However, there is no need to get scared! Unlike the previous Windows versions, Windows XP comes with an in-built repair feature. In earlier versions, when you encounter such situations, you would have to re-install OS, format or re-format the Windows etc. which would result in loss of data. But in Windows XP, it’s only repairing OS and your entire data will remain intact even after this repair process.
The Windows XP bootable CD comes along with your PC itself. You will get two CDs with the computer; one is a Microsoft Windows XP installation CD and the computer manufacturer’s own System Restore CD. You need to use the Windows XP installation CD to perform the repair installation. It can be used to reinstall and repair your Windows XP as many times as needed. The repair process with this CD is a very simple task and might take a few hours, also it just does not require human intervention, and it will be done automatically. In order to accomplish the Windows XP repair with the bootable disc, just follow the below-mentioned steps:
1. First and foremost, ensure your system BIOS is set up to boot from the CD-ROM drive. If it is set then go to Step 4 else, press the “F2” key while booting i.e. soon after your computer displays the system information.
2. Then open the menu by pressing “Enter” and choose “CD-ROM” drive from the list of the available drives, by scrolling through the boot drives
3. Save the boot-order selection by hitting “+” (transfers the drive to the top of the list) and then do “Enter”. Save and exit the system BIOS by pressing on “F12”. If you have successfully changed the boot order, you will receive the startup message saying “Press any key to boot from CD” when you reboot your system.
(Note: While saving the Boot-order selection, do not move any drive other than the CD-ROM drive to the top of the list else, the proper boot function of your OS might get disabled.)
4. Insert your Windows XP bootable Disk to your system and reboot your Windows. When a message stating “press any key to boot from CD” appears, press a key on the keyboard. A
5. Display saying “Welcome to Setup” will appear with three options
- To set up 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
From these three, choose the “Windows Setup” option by pressing “Enter” (i.e. first option)
(Note: Do not choose the second option i.e. “to use Recovery Console, press R”)
6. Press the “F8” key to accept the license agreement, then the Windows stats scan the hard drive and provide you a list of all the available Windows installations for repair
7. Choose the “XP installation” from the list and hit “R” to start the repair. And provide the supply of the correct Windows license key for the CD. If you don’t find the “Repair” option press “F3” and “Quit” the process.
This is because the version of the Windows CD that you are using is not compatible with the one installed. Hence, before using the bootable disk, make sure that it is compatible with the Windows version and also the XP edition whichever is installed (i.e. XP Professional or XP Home). Else you will not be able to repair it. Even after this, you might try to re-install new Windows instead of repairing the existing one; but you will lose all your data from your Windows XP systems if you re-install your Windows XP. So be careful while choosing any option or hitting any key on the keyboard while performing this repair process. A single mistake could land you in huge loss of data. However, even if you encounter such instances and lose your data from the Windows XP system, then make use of Remo Recover Windows software and to rescue data from Windows XP.
8. Now, all the files will be copied from your CD drive to the hard drive and your system will get rebooted. Do not press any key until the process is completed.
9. Your Windows XP will then repair your XP installation, which was chosen during the boot sequence. All your applications and settings will remain intact. Allow your system to reboot again.
After completion of the Repair process, reapply and update all the Windows, network updates, and event service packs. This is because repair installation will remove all the service packs and disable all updates. You may even have to reactivate your Windows XP as well.
