Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
If you don't have your Windows installation CD there are still a few things you can do. If you have an image of your CD, you may be able to do more.
I have no CD - how do I get at Windows XP setup?
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I discussed in a prior article what to do if you have no installation CD for Windows XP. But now once you've found your CD image - where's the setup?
What you need will depend on what you're attempting to do.
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If you want to make a change to your system configuration - perhaps adding an accessory that you neglected at the original setup - then the place to go is not setup, but the control panel:
- Start
- Settings (if you're using classic start menu)
- Control Panel
- Add or Remove Programs
- Add or Remove Windows Components
That will bring up the dialog that's extremely similar to setup in which you can select the optional Windows components to add or remove.
If you're looking to reinstall system files because you suspect corruption what you really need is the System File Checker. This utility validates that all of Windows' system files are correct and fixes those that are not:
- Start
- Run
- Type: "sfc /scannow" without the quotes followed by Enter
sfc may ask for your installation CD-ROM. (See this article if you don't have one.)
Finally, if you really, honestly and truly want to re-install windows, the first step would be to run your installation CD. If you don't have one, you may have an image of the CD on your hard disk. In the I386 directory are two files:
- winnt32.exe is the "32 bit" version of the character mode Windows setup. You may be able to run this from within Windows.
- winnt.exe is the "16 bit" version of the character mode Windows setup. Why a 16 bit version? If you can't run winnt32.exe and are able to boot from an MS-DOS floppy or are able to boot to Win9x DOS mode, then this setup program will work for you.
WARNING: character.exe and winnt32.exe are the "start-from-scratch", "do-it-all-over-setup" programs. Use them only if you want a complete re-install of Windows - possibly losing any prior custom configuration changes you made, depending on whether setup is installing on top of and can understand a prior installation.
Article C1875 - December 31, 2003 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
July 14, 2011 5:40 PM
I was wondering if there was a way for me to repair my windows setting without removing everything from the hard drive because I don't have the Windows Setup CD it said this: Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
could I still use this?
September 29, 2011 10:33 AM
I'm sorry, but I don't think sfc /scannow will correct system files since this command stores drivers etc in a system CACHE folder not in the currently one being used by Windows. By the way, I've used this command and I'm still getting BSOD . It didn't fix anything.
November 10, 2011 7:54 PM
my netbook was damaged and need to install window xp in cd but netbook did not have cd rom.please help me!
11-Nov-2011
December 20, 2011 4:06 AM
WHEN IS START MY COMPUTER I GET A MESSAGE SAYING INSERT YOUR SETUP CD AND PRESS "R" TO REPAIR.
PLEASE INFORM WHAT TO DO?
December 20, 2011 8:18 AM
@Farooqh
Here is an article the Leo just wrote on repairing Windows:
How do I repair Windows 7 with a Re-Install?