[mlwjackson]

I have the instructions for performing a repair installation from a stand alone XP disc. However, the XP Home SP1 that came with the computer is on an OEM restoration disc. When I boot from the CD drive I get the option of a complete new installation which will lose all my files or the option to "Boot to command prompt from CD ROM".

Is there a command line that will allow me to access XP for a repair rather than reinstallation?

What other options do I have?

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well....you GENERALLY cannot do a repair install with a supplied system recovery disk...they're not designed for it.

you've got a couple options.

you could back up all your saved data and do the restore from the dissk...of course you'd have to reinstall all your software etc...

OR

you can borrow an XP disk that is the same version (xp pro or xp home) with the same service pack revisioni (sp1 or sp2) that was originally installed on the system and run the repair from that

[dsenette]

well....you GENERALLY cannot do a repair install with a supplied system recovery disk...they're not designed for it.

you've got a couple options.

you could back up all your saved data and do the restore from the dissk...of course you'd have to reinstall all your software etc...

OR

you can borrow an XP disk that is the same version (xp pro or xp home) with the same service pack revisioni (sp1 or sp2) that was originally installed on the system and run the repair from that

[mlwjackson]

I do have an xp home cd from another computer. I'll have to check to be sure it is SP1. I figured that the repair would require that the key match the key entered at the time of the original installation.

[dsenette]

I figured that the repair would require that the key match the key entered at the time of the original installation.

it does...but that key should be on your computer....the keys are not tied to a disk