Assuming you are using the HP XP disk this is their next step:
Quote:
Windows XP can be repaired using the OSD included with your notebook PC. Follow the steps below to repair your operating system. These steps will not result in the loss of data.
1.
Connect the AC adapter and turn on the notebook PC.
2.
Insert the OSD into the CD or DVD drive.
3.
Press and hold the Power button for five seconds to turn off the notebook.
4.
Press the Power button again to start the notebook.
5.
Press any key to boot from CD when prompted. The Welcome to Setup screen is displayed.
6.
Press the Enter key to continue. A Licensing Agreement screen is displayed.
7.
Press the F8 key to accept the agreement and continue. The Setup window is displayed.
8.
Press R to repair the selected Windows installation. The repair process might take several minutes to complete. The notebook restarts into Windows after the process is complete.
|
This should retain all your data and settings. However if your data is extremely critical it would be advised to remove the hard drive and back it up first.
If the Repair Install doesn't work then you would need to do a Full Clean Install which will remove all your data while restoring the computer to factory conditions as seen here:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...ctID=c00681978
Again you can remove the hard drive first and extract your data prior to reinstalling. All you need is a laptop hard drive adapter and a working desktop.
Here is a guide to that process:
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-5160538.html