how to i restore windows xp to all of its original settings without wiping all the programs and documents out?

Answer 1

This is one way. But it is necessary to take this action only in small steps.. Not at all at once as it may cause problems.
You could try the System Restore which takes you back to a time when your computer was working good. Go To:
start
programs
accessories
systems tools
system restore
This process is completely reversable. And does not remove your personal files. Just go back one checkpoint at a time until your puter is working good again.
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Answer 2

One thing to try before repaing...
Try using Windows XP Restore;
Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System restore
Select Restore my computer to an earlier time...

and see if there is a restore point set in the past that you can use.
Note that going back to a Restore point will not delete data (documents pictures etc) but it will remove changes to Windows and the installation details of any programs installed after the Restore point.
Good Luck

Answer 3

Of course it depends on what you mean by original settings but if your right click on Start go to explorer, then on the General Tab press the button that says Restore defaults that will restore a lot of the original settings, the Internet Explorer also has a reset button if thats where your problems are.

If your problem is more complex you should back up all your programs and douments then if you created a restore point when your pc was new you can roll it back to that point then reload everything.

If windows is not performing properly and that doesn't fix it, try the restore program on your windows disk. Just remember to save your programs and files off of the Hard drive, for example, put them on an external H.D. or burn them to cd. You may not loose them but it's a precaution that you should be doing on a regular basis anyway, I keep everything backed up and create backup points so if something becomes corrupt I can roll it back to before it got corrupted.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Boot your PC from the installation CD and try a repair or reinstallation (not fresh) process that will overwrite the last one. Otherwise use System Restore from the Start menu by selecting/creating your problem-free state earlier.

Answer 5

restart the compueter with the windows xp cdrom in and follow the promtps like you are going to install it for the first time but choose the repair option. you will see repair twice once the cdrom finds the operating system. choose repair on the second time not the first. Good luck!

Answer 6

You are in luck. Fred Langa, writer for informationweek.com, published an article on how to rebuild Windows XP without deleting any files. He provides step-by-step instructions. Please read the entire article:

" Langa Letter: XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option" -- written by Fred Langa, informationweek.com (http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897)

Fred Langa shows you how to completely rebuild, repair, or refresh an existing XP installation without losing data, and without having to reinstall user software, reformat, or otherwise destructively alter the setup.

It's one of those software design decisions that makes you scratch your head and wonder, "What were they thinking?"

The "it" in this case is XP's most powerful rebuild/repair option, and yet Microsoft chose to hide it behind seeming dead ends, red herrings, and a recycled interface that makes it hard to find and (at first) somewhat confusing to use.

But it's worth exploring because this option lets you completely and nondestructively rebuild, repair, or refresh an existing XP installation while leaving already-installed software alone (no reinstallation needed!). It also leaves user accounts, names, and passwords untouched and takes only a fraction of the time a full, from-scratch reinstall does. And unlike a traditional full reinstall, this option doesn't leave you with two copies of XP on your hard drive. Instead, you end up with just the original installation, but repaired, refreshed, and ready to go...[more]

Answer 7

run a repair install
http://yanswers.blogspot.com/2006/10/windows-reinstallation.html

Answer 8

you could try a repair using your windows install disk!!