I reinstalled windows xp but my question is, can I get back what I had on the pc before I reinstalled windows?
92586
This always happens to those who have notexperienced it.\nYou should ahve stored the files you needed on a cd and reload it after you reinstalled your XP.
734510
Windows XP Repair Installation\n\nAt some point you may need to repair the installation of Windows\nXP. This is preferable to a clean install in many cases since it\nattempts to only repair your copy of windows without having to \ndelete all the files on your computer first. In many cases a \nrepair installation is enough to fix the problem. A repair install\ndeletes the files normally installed by windows XP and then \nreinstalls them off the disc. A repair install will not rebuild \nyour computer's registry, delete applications and user settings, \nor fix problems caused being caused by a program.\n\n1. First you have to boot the computer with the Windows XP cd in\n   the cd tray. You will see a black screen and it will ask you \n   to press any key to boot from the cd so press the spacebar \n   and your computer will boot from the CD.\n\n2. After a moment you will be taken to the Windows XP Setup \n   screen. Though the second option says to repair do not press \n   R. Instead press enter to select the setup for Windows XP.\n\n3. Next, you have to accept the license agreement from windows. \n   Once you've done that it will search for your existing \n   installation of windows.\n\n4. Once it has finished detecting the installation you need to \n   select the XP installation you want to repair. You can repair \n   the installation by pressing R. If you don't see the repair \n   option you will need to do a clean installation. Your version \n   of windows may have been damaged in a way that it cannot carry \n   out a repair. \n\n5. Setup will then copy the files it needs to the hard drive and \n   reboot the computer. A message will come up asking you if you \n   want to boot from the cd, don't press any keys and just let \n   the timer run out. The set up will continue and look like is \n   doing a clean install but all of your applications and \n   settings will be intact when it finished.\n\nAn important note is to not activate your windows over the \ninternet right away. Always enable the XP firewall to protect \nyourself.
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If you are able to use the old disk drive with the old installation of windows xp on it then it is the simple task of using the following free software to recover your product key.\n\nhttp://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml\n\nBut if that is not possible to do that then a call to microsoft customer services will help you as long (as you have a real copy of windows).
397722
As long as you have the original Windows CD and its CD Key, plus keep regular backups, you should be OK.\n\nIf you got no windows XP CD or no Key (sometimes stuck to the edge of your PC Box should be shiny and have holographic background)\n\nBring it straight back to the store.
67122
It depends on how you 're-installed' Windows.  If you did any of the following:\n\na) restored your OS using the Dell 'GHOST' image from CD that booted up and re-installed everything;\nb) inserted a Windows XP CD and during the installation did not choose to "Keep the current OS intact"\n\n...then you have probably already corrupted a good bit of anything that you have already had on the drive.  Anything else that you might want to recover could possibly be pieced together (from what can be found) by a computer forensics expert.
1042889
Hahahha. Reinstall windows.
77671
You don't have to reformat!  Just go to the Start button, then click on it, then click on Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, then System Restore.  Then try "going back" one at a time until you find one that's far enough back before you made whichever screw-up you made, and you'll be good to go.  That's all assuming you have Windows XP.
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Are you running windows XP or ME? if so, go to start>programs>accesories>system tools>System Restore. Follow the steps and you'll be there in no time.  If you are pre-windows ME, unless you backed it up 3 days ago, you are screwed.  Give us more feedback, so we can help you!\n\nWell, you can try to re-install the windows system instead of a restore.  If I were you, I'd back up my valuable files, wipe the computer clean and install a fresh copy.
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So you're trying to use the XP System Restore feature but get the message: "Cannot restore the computer to an earlier restore point, no changes have been made to your computer". Well, I can't tell you how to get your old restore points back, but I can tell you how to fix this problem so you can get them in the future.\n\nRight click My Computer, choose "Properties" then click on "System Restore" tab.\n\nPut a check in the box for "Disable Restore on all drives". Click OK, then Reboot your PC.\n\nAfter you reboot, go back to the System Restore tab and uncheck the box. Click OK.\n\nNext, go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools then click "System Restore". Choose "Create a Restore Point" and give it a name like "Reset" as a reminder.\n\nTry to restore using the new point and it should work properly.
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Your best option is to run a repair on your XP installation.\nMake the CD the boot drive, put in you XP installation disk and follow the questions. Once the setup says it  discovered a previous version of Windows take the option of doing a Repair. This will over install your XP and maintain a lot of your setting's
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the question is not clear. \nyou had an old copy of xp - WHERE. on a CD or PC?\n\nif it was on a CD - then it has no registry.\nif it was on another PC - then startup up that PC, click start->RUN->type"regedit" and search the registry for the KEY.\nif it was on this new PC (on which you installed XP again) - then the old registry is gone, as it was re-written by the new one.\n\nyou bought a new pc and installed XP - SO WHERE WAS THE OLD XP?
707314
just reformat everything.  the windows o/s you have should boot automatically from your CD-ROM.  there are free utilities from majorgeeks.com to retrieve your lost data, even if you've reformatted the drive(s).  good luck, you're NOT an idiot.  everyone has had their computer woes.  how'd your Vista go?
244759
Try to have a clean install of winxp. Refer to this site:\n\nhttp://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm\n\nIt will reinstall all XP system files, but will not touch your installed programs, and other personal documents you have
561114
first of all why r u uninstalling ur windows xp. if u are finding problem with windows xp then u can use the original windows xp. firstly boot up ur system via windows xp cd. secondly u will find alot of options. Either u can remove the current operating system and reload the fresh one or u also have a option to repair it. its very user friendly to go about. u can format ur hard disk to freshly install the xp using the windows xp cd. so that u dont find any options.
85018
If you're using XP, System Restore is a great tool.\n\nGo to Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore.  Follow the directions and you're on the way!
1048320
Okay.  Go to "Start" "settings" "control Panel" "add/remove programs"....on the lefthand side of that page you will see "windows Components".  Click on that and it will allow you to check or uncheck the accessories you erased.\n\nGood Luck
302484
probably if you are using xp professional, you can use system restore and you can recover your deleted files.