How to Perform a Repair Installation of Windows XP

If your Windows XP system is experiencing issues like frequent crashes, error messages, or sluggish performance, a repair installation may be the solution. A repair installation will reinstall Windows XP while preserving your personal files, settings, and programs. Here’s how to perform a repair installation:

Prepare for the Repair Installation

Before starting the repair installation process, make sure you have the following:

Your Windows XP installation CD or ISO image file
Your Windows XP product key (located on the case or a sticker on your computer)
Backup of your important data, just in case

It’s also a good idea to uninstall any recently installed programs or drivers that may be causing conflicts.

Boot from the Windows XP Installation Media

To begin the repair installation:

Insert the Windows XP installation CD or mount the ISO image.
Restart your computer and press any key to boot from the CD when prompted.
At the “Welcome to Setup” screen, press R to select the “Repair installation” option.
Press ENTER to continue.

Perform the Repair Installation

The repair installation process will now begin:

Select your current Windows XP installation from the list and press R.
Read and agree to the license agreement by pressing F8.
Setup will now repair your Windows XP installation. This may take several minutes.
Once the repair is complete, your computer will restart into the repaired Windows XP installation.

After the repair installation, you may need to reinstall any recently uninstalled programs or drivers. It’s also a good idea to run Windows Update to ensure your system is up to date.

Keep in mind that a repair installation is not a complete reinstallation. If your system is still experiencing issues after the repair, you may need to perform a clean installation of Windows XP instead.