Windows Update Site Problems
Repair System Restore
How To Uninstall SP2 Using the Recovery Console
How To Use The Automatic Recovery Feature to Recover From a Bad SP2 Install
How To Remove SP2 using a Repair Install
How To Access Safe Mode
How To Access Last Known Good Config
How To Backup, Edit and Restore the Registry
How To Create a Boot Disk to Start Windows XP
How To Create a Slipstreamed version of XP
How To Fix :NTLDR is missing press any key to restart
How To Fix and "Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start........Hall.dll "error
Cannot Start Windows XP if the System or Software Hive Is Missing or Damaged
Password Problems and Windows XP
How To Fix The Cryptographic Service Error - Fix for "Error:Setup could not verify the integrity of the file Update.inf. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running on this computer"
System Cannot Access CD-Rom, CD-Recorder or DVD Devices
Error Messages After Removing Easy CD Creator from XP
Introduction to using System File Checker - SFC /SCANNOW
SFC (System File Checker) has a problem running - SFC /SCANNOW keeps asking for the XP CD
How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your password
How To Take Ownership of a File or Folder
How To Access Recovery Console
Recovery Console in Windows XP
How To Backup, Edit and Restore the Registry in XP - Microsoft Knowledgebase Article.
How To Create a Set of Emergency Floppies - If your computer can not boot from a CD-Rom create a 6 floppy disk set that corresponds to your version of Windows XP. Click here for Home Edition Click here for Pro Edition
How To Create a bootable CD to access the Recovery Console - this 7Mb .iso will give you a bootable Recovery Console rather than using the 6 floppy set above. Unzip and burn the .ISO file to disc. You can boot the CD and run the Recovery Console (use this link if the first doesn't work )
How To Repair Boot sector
How To Format
How To Partition
How To Exit the Recovery Console
How To Run a Repair Install
How To Uncover Windows XP Product Key
How To Change The Product ID
A better boot diskette for WinNT/2000/XP
Has XP Been Activated?
NTFS Reader for DOS (freeware) - lets you access an NTFS partition from a floppy and copy files off it
Known Issues with Windows XP Service Pack 1
AIDA32 - AIDA32 is a professional system information, diagnostics and benchmarking program running on Win32 platforms. It extracts details of all components of the PC. You can even uncover your Windows XP and Office 2000/XP Product Keys with this freeware app. READ the FAQ!!!
Tweaks&Fixes - From Kelly's Korner this is a fantastic set of registry hacks and fixes.
NTBackup Is Missing From My OEM version of XP (download)- Some OEMs don't include NTBackup - Bob Cerelli has it at his site in his Windows XP Tips section
How To Determine If XP was Activated?
You installed XP and then can't remember if you activated it. Go to Start->Run and enter the following
oobe/msoobe /a
View Product Key XP - Visit the Keyfinder Homepage by Aleks Ozolins
If you have more than one system running XP you have obviously purchased more than one copy of the Operating System. However you may have forgotten which Product Key you used for which system. It happens. I have 5 systems and have had all of them running XP at times. XP does not store the Product Key in a recognizable format in the registry.
Click this link and select "Open" and your Windows XP Product Key will be displayed
Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key. has the options to copy the key to clipboard, save it to a text file, or print it for safekeeping. It works on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Vista, .NET, Office 97, Office XP, Office 2003 and Office 2007. It even has the ability by using Microsoft's own script to change installation keys. See the Microsoft Knowledgebase article here Q328874
If your version of XP came pre-installed on your computer the revealed Product Key could be that of an image used by the manufacturer. If this is the case you will likely be unable to use it to install another version of Windows XP such as one purchased separately from the computer.
Known Issues with Windows XP Service Pack 1
Fix Switch Identities in Microsoft Outlook Express After Service Pack 1
HP/Compaq SP1 Notice - The System Restore feature in these computers seriously conflicts with SP1
Cannot Start Windows XP After Installing Service Pack 1 and Then Performing a System Recovery Operation
Fix for SP1 Problems and Compaq Pressario 6330
Microsoft Knowledgebase Articles Pertaining to Windows XP SP1
Setup Could Not Verify the Integrity of the File" Error Message Occurs When You Try to Install SP1
'The Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery Console in Windows XP