BUK

Here is a good guide to a Repair Install which will retain your data & programs.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

Hope this helps.

I would go by jephree's suggestion. The link is what i think would do it all fine!
Dont press "R" the first time it prompts you. Other wise it will take back to the console option.

thanks i will try again and come back with my results.
Thanks again for the support.

if i loaded xp on the same partition as a seperate o/s would i be able to makee the first version work??
then i could delete the second one!

Not too sure I understand what you are wanting to do but XP requires its' own partition.

If you are wanting to have a dual OS install the other on its' own partition (creating at least 2 partitions) then install XP on its own partition.

Installing XP will format the partition you tell it to. It will wipe that partition.

If you need more details or if you are asking a different question let us know.

I wont suggest that either and there is no point in keeping the 2 same OS. Firstly, if you are thinking that the other partition can repair the old one, well sorry you cant! Reason is the OS that you want to load will point to its own files and folders and the same about the reg keys. THough if you plan to repair it from second thing, trust me you dont want that, you ll have to mess with all the system reg key in the corrupted OS.
Better would be a dirty install.
In that you put up ur XP CD, boot it. It will ask you for console option - skip it.
Next, it will tell you that you have XP already installed what you want to choose enter for clean install R for repair. CHoose R. THis will just add up the messy system files and would delete all updates. Your softs, your data and documents would be intact.

Hope that helps

ive tried the majority of the suggestions but its no use.
Ive loaded a second os onto my system and burnt to cd all of the programs i wanted now im going to do a clean install.
id like to thank everyone for their time and effort in trying to solve my problem.
Keep up the Good work!!

Thanks for the update!

Let us know how it goes.

Good luck!

Just a quick update I did a completely clean install using the info from the link jephree posted.
I would hjust like to say thanks again and keep up the good work!!!

Thanks for the update & the thanks! Let us know if we can help further in the future.

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