Change Boot Settings
1. Insert the restore disc, and restart the computer.
2. Press the button required to access your BIOS setup. Most computers show a 'Press X to enter BIOS' on the screen immediately after starting the computer. Press 'X.'

3. Use the arrow buttons to navigate to the 'Advanced Boot Options' or 'Boot' menu.
4. Select the 'CD/DVD drive' as the first boot device and the 'Hard disk' as the second boot device.
5. Save and exit the BIOS.
Run Recovery Console
6. Press any key to boot from your restore disc.
7. Press 'R' when you reach the 'Welcome to Setup' screen.
8. Press the 'Enter' button to select your damaged Windows XP installation.
9. Type your 'Administrator password' if applicable. Leave blank if you have not set an administrator password. Press 'Enter.'
10. Type the following lines in the 'Recovery Console' or MS-DOS prompt. Press 'Enter' after typing each line.md tmpcopy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bakdelete c:\windows\system32\config\systemdelete c:\windows\system32\config\softwaredelete c:\windows\system32\config\samdelete c:\windows\system32\config\securitydelete c:\windows\system32\config\defaultcopy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\systemcopy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\softwarecopy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\samcopy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\securitycopy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
11. Remove the restore disc from the drive. Type 'exit' (without quotes), and press 'Enter.'
Copy Files in Safe Mode
12. Press the 'F8' key once the computer restarts.
13. Use the arrow keys to highlight 'Safe Mode.' Press 'Enter.'
14. Right-click the 'Start' button, and click 'Explore.'
15. Click 'Tools' in the menu bar, then click 'Folder options.'
16. Click the 'View' tab.
17. Scroll down to the 'Hidden files and folders' header. Click the radial button to the left of 'Show hidden files and folders.' Click the box next to 'Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)' to remove the check. Click 'Yes,' 'Apply' and 'OK.'
18. Find and double-click your 'C:\' drive in the left column of Windows Explorer.
19. Find and double-click the 'System Volume Information' folder in the left column.
20. Click on 'View' in the menu bar, then select 'Details.'
21. Examine the 'Date modified' field in the right column of the Windows Explorer window. Double-click a folder with a date modified prior to experiencing computer problems. Continue opening sub-folders until you locate a 'Snapshot' folder.
22. Copy and paste the following files into the 'C:\Windows\Tmp' folder.REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULTREGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITYREGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWAREREGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEMREGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM
23. Click on the 'C:\Windows\Tmp' folder in the left column of the Windows Explorer window.
24. Rename the files you just copied and pasted according to the following format. Click once on the file, then press the 'F2' button to rename.Change _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT to DEFAULTChange _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY to SECURITYChange _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE to SOFTWAREChange _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM to SYSTEMChange _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM to SAM
25. Reinsert your restore disc, and restart the computer.
Overwrite Files in the Recovery Console
26. Press any key to boot from disc.
27. Press 'R' at the 'Welcome to Setup' screen.
28. Type the following lines into the Recovery Console or MS-DOS prompt. Press 'Enter' after typing each line.del c:\windows\system32\config\samdel c:\windows\system32\config\securitydel c:\windows\system32\config\softwaredel c:\windows\system32\config\defaultdel c:\windows\system32\config\systemcopy c:\windows\tmp\software c:\windows\system32\config\softwarecopy c:\windows\tmp\system c:\windows\system32\config\systemcopy c:\windows\tmp\sam c:\windows\system32\config\samcopy c:\windows\tmp\security c:\windows\system32\config\securitycopy c:\windows\tmp\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
29. Remove the restore disc. Type 'exit' (without quotes), then press 'Enter.'
Restore to the Previous Point
30. Click 'Start,' 'All Programs,' 'Accessories,' 'System Tools' and 'System Restore' once you reach the desktop.
31. Click 'Restore to a previous Restore Point.' Click 'Next.'
32. Highlight the system restore point if it is not currently selected. Click 'Next.'
33. Allow the computer to reboot. Press 'OK' once you return to the desktop.