How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

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.

The below procedure applies only if you can still boot into Windows.

To prevent loss of data and/or program settings, perform the following before the Repair Install.

Manually delete the Undo_guimode.txt file from the WindowsSystem32 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%system32undo_guimode.txt

KB Q312369

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Also as a precaution the windowssystem32WPA.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.

Chris Quirke

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How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install