Windows XP Repair Install information

This article describes the "Repair Install" procedure under Windows XP. This procedure can in some cases repair a malfunctioning computer, without rebuilding from a fresh complete install. Using a Windows XP CD, it is possible to revert all most of the important system files back to an original state. This is done over the existing operating system install, and so can work around other settings, and or software that is already installed.

Section 0.

Before a repair install is considered, any type of important data which is not available from other media sources is backed up before hand. This backup should be located on a separate hard drive, CD, DVD, network storage, etc; a location that will not be affected by the repair install. All files and folders that cannot be restored from original media should be copied to a safe place. This includes passwords, applications purchased and downloaded from the internet without CD support, financial records and folders, digital images that cannot be replaced etc. The likelihood of losing files and folders is of minimal risk, it is however prudent to make sure the system is fully prepared for recovery.

If the system is capable of booting into XP it would be advantageous to follow the suggestions listed in Section 1, before proceeding with the repair install.

The procedure requires an OEM XP Pro or Home, "retail" XP Home or Pro full or upgrade version CD of the same version that is installed on the system receiving the repair. OEM Restore disks or hidden restore folders on the hard drive may not work for the Repair Install.

Section 1.

The following section contains steps which can prevent loss of data or program settings. These directions should be followed before the actual operating system Repair Install.

If it exists, the file : Undo_guimode.txt located in the Windows\System32 folder will need to be deleted manually. To do this in Windows XP, type the following command at a command prompt: del /a /f %windir%\system32\undo_guimode.txt.

The windows\system32\WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK files should be copied to a safe location off of the computer which is being repaired. These files hold the XP activation data. For more information on these files see Appendix 1 at the end of this article.

Microsoft has some further information regarding the prevention of data loss in this FAQ: KB Q312369

You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows XP

Section 2.

XP Repair install

Boot the computer using the XP CD. The boot device order may need to be changed in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. It is possible to control the order of devices the computer will look at during boot time as it searches for an operating system to load. The first OS found will be the one that gets loaded. If the hard disk is before the CD drive, booting from a CD will not be possible. The CD drive will need to be first in order. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot device order.

Once the computer finds the XP CD, it will begin to load the software that it needs to facilitate the repair.

When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will presented with the options below:

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 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.

Press Enter to start the Windows Setup. Do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (The Recovery Console is only to be used by expert computer users). After accepting the License Agreement The installer will search for existing Windows installations. Select the XP installation to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.

Note: If Repair is not one of the available options, stop now. The system is having troubles beyond the scope of this particular article, and will most likely require a full format, and install.

Setup will then copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Remember to remove the XP CD from the drive so the installation process will not execute again.

Note: A Repair Install from the Original install XP CD will remove SP1, and SP2. These updates will need to be installed again.

Windows XP Service Pack 1

Windows XP Service Pack 2

Apendix 1:

Users who reformat their hard drive and perform a clean installation of the operating system will find that they need to reactivate the product. As long as the new installation is on the same system and there has not been any hardware changes it is possible to copy the existing product activation and skip having to go through the product activation process again. Follow the steps below to save the activation status information and restore it once your system is rebuilt:

  1. Double-click My Computer.

  2. Double-click on the "C" drive.

  3. Go to the C:\Windows\System32 folder (you may have to click on the link that says "Show The contents of this folder").

  4. Find the files "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak" and copy them to a safe location. You can copy them on a floppy drive or burn it onto a CD or DVD.

  5. After you have reinstalled Windows XP on your reformatted hard drive, click "No" when asked if you want to go ahead and go through the activation process.

  6. Reboot your computer into SafeMode (you can either press F8 as Windows is booting up to see the Windows Advanced Options menu and select SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal or follow the instructions in Starting Windows XP in SafeMode.

  7. Double-click My Computer.

  8. Double-click on the "C" drive.

  9. Go to the C:\Windows\System32 folder (you may have to click on the link that says "Show The contents of this folder").

  10. Find the file "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak" (if it exists) and rename them to "wpadbl.new" and "wpabak.new".

  11. Copy your original "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak" files from your floppy disk, CD or DVD into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

  12. Restart your system (if you followed the directions in Starting Windows XP in SafeMode you may need to go back into MSCONFIG to turn off booting into SafeMode)



Your Windows XP operating system is now reinstalled on your reformatted hard drive and you are all activated without having to actually go through the product activation process.