Reinstalling Windows XP

Reinstalling Windows is a last resort but is sometimes necessary. We outline the options for XP users

Mark Wilson, Computeract!ve 12 Mar 2007

A new computer with Windows XP installed runs smoothly and quickly, but it doesn’t take long for things to start to slow down.

Reinstalling and uninstalling programs, browsing the internet and general computer use can ultimately result in a PC that suffers from poor performance.

While there are all manner of tweaking tools and system maintenance utilities available, there comes a time when taking Windows back in time to its original state is the only sensible option.

Reinstalling Windows XP is a little different from reinstalling previous versions, such as Windows 98 and Me. The reason for this is that PCs sold with XP pre-installed do not come with a full set of Windows CDs, as older versions did. This is because the Windows XP licence does not permit a user to have two copies of the code simultaneously.

Instead, most manufacturers supply a ‘recovery disc’, which resets the hard disk to the condition it was in when sold – effectively a reinstallation. Sometimes this recovery software is stored not on a CD, but on a partition on the hard disk.

Recovery positions
To use a recovery CD, the PC needs to attempt to load its operating system from the CD drive rather than the hard disk – this is known as changing the boot sequence.

Most PCs automatically check the CD tray before the hard disk but if yours doesn’t it can be changed in the BIOS. The key used to access the BIOS differs between manufacturers but is usually one of the F keys, such as F12, and needs to be pressed repeatedly as soon as the PC is switched on. Click the link for a full account of how to access the BIOS.

Once this has been done, insert the recovery CD, or the first of the set if there is more than one, and restart the computer. When prompted, press any key to start up from CD and you will be guided through the recovery process.

In the case of computers supplied with a recovery partition, there are a few routes to investigate, which are dependent on the manufacturer. In some instances, the recovery partition is designed to enable you to create your own set of recovery CDs, so you will need to record the contents of this drive onto disc.

However, some manufacturers make it possible to access the setup files contained on the partition when the computer starts up. After switching on the power button, look out for a message that appears briefly on screen and indicates which key needs to be pressed to access the boot menu. From here you can access the restore facility and return Windows to its initial state.

Alternatively, it may be necessary to use the FDISK tool to change the active partition to the one containing the recovery files. This enables the computer to start up from the relevant partition and access the Windows setup files.

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