How to Repair Windows XP Startup

Two start-up files are required each time you boot Windows XP. The start-up files are located on the Windows XP installation disk. Microsoft provides a recovery console to repair these two files and fix a damaged Windows start-up process. This is beneficial if you have accidentally deleted start-up system files. The recovery console is also beneficial if a virus has corrupted these files. It only takes a few steps to fix your Windows XP start-up.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP installation CD

Instructions

1. Insert the Windows XP installation CD into your computer's drive. Reboot the computer with the CD inserted in the drive. The computer automatically detects the bootable CD. Press the "Space bar" to boot to the installation CD.

2. Press the "R" key to choose the recovery console option. Click the Windows XP operating system in the list of bootable options. After you select the operating system, enter your computer's administrator password. This brings you to a command prompt.

3. Enter the following commands and press "Enter:"

   copy x:\ntldr c:

   copy x:\ntdetect.com c:

   Replace "x" with the drive letter for your CD-ROM drive. These two commands copy the Windows XP start-up files to the C drive.

4. Remove the installation CD and reboot your computer. The start-up files are repaired, so your Windows XP operating system boots properly.

References

• Microsoft Support: Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console for Advanced Users