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Repairing Windows XP - When nothing works

November 24, 2013
Updated: December 6, 2021
Quick overview:

Repair Windows XP because nothing works anymore: The horror of every Windows user has occurred and can no longer be fixed in the conventional way. The colorful Windows eXPerience has given up the ghost and can no longer be booted, which could have been caused by defective drivers or corrupted system files. Even using Safe Mode, the last known working configuration or System Restore, nothing at all can be achieved - before you give up, I'll give you a light at the end of the tunnel: the Windows XP repair function.

Repair using the Windows XP repair function

All system files are restored and the computer is restored to an executable state.

1. Switch on your computer and press the button Removal or F2 to access the computer's basic program (BIOS), from which you can make important system settings.

2. Now wind your way through the BIOS Features Setup and now place under an entry which Boot Sequence or similar should read CD-ROM.

3. Now exit the BIOS and insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the drive, which will then immediately appear when the computer is restarted. Now press a key to start from the CD.

4. Now run through the setup and press Enter at the welcome message to start the Windows XP installation (do not call up the repair console, as this has nothing to do with this). The wizard reports that it has found a version of XP and that it can overwrite or repair it. Now press R for the repair.

5. The file transfer will start immediately and you will be able to work in your Windows XP again after a short time. However, it is essential that you completely reinstall the graphics card and monitor drivers beforehand so that the optimum refresh rate is achieved.

NOTE FOR NEW PUBLICATION: This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows Tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.

Founded Windows Tweaks as a teenager in the 90s. His helpful PC tricks made it Germany's most visited Windows site (at the time Sandro looked like this). He then went on to write elsewhere, for example for PC-Praxis, Computer Bild and PCWorld in the USA. Microsoft also poached him from us. Now Sandro is back, finally sharing his tweaks here again. For a stress-free digital everyday life. You can reach Sandro via e-mail.

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