Windows XP CD Use
1. Eject the disc tray. Place the Windows XP CD on the tray and close the tray. Restart the PC. Press the 'R' key when the 'Welcome to Setup' screen appears. Enter the administrative password in the text field on the pop-up window that appears. Press 'Enter.'
2. Enter 'md tmp' without the quotes in the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'

3. Enter 'copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak' without the quotes in the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'
4. Type 'copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak' without the quotes in the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'
5. Enter 'copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak' (without quotes) in the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'
6. Type 'copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak' without the quotes in the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'
7. Enter 'copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak' (without quotes) in the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'
8. Type 'delete c:\windows\system32\config\system' without the quotes in the text field on the screen, and then press 'Enter.'
9. Enter 'delete c:\windows\system32\config\software' into the text field. Press 'Enter.'
10. Type 'delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam' (without quotes) into the text field on the screen, and then press 'Enter.'
11. Enter 'delete c:\windows\system32\config\security' without the quotes in the text field. Press 'Enter.'
12. Type 'delete c:\windows\system32\config\default' (without the quotes) and press 'Enter.'
13. Enter ' copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software' without the quotes in the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'
14. Type 'copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam' into the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'
15. Enter 'copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security' without the quotes into the text field on the screen. Press 'Enter.'
16. Type 'copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default' in the text field on the screen, and then press 'Enter.'
17. Enter 'Exit' without the quotes in the text field. Press the 'Enter' key. Wait as the PC restarts. Enter the administrative password into the text field of the Windows XP Home Edition startup screen. Press the 'OK' button to continue the startup process.
Windows Explorer Procedure - Part A
18. Click 'Start.' Select 'Windows Explorer' from the pop-up window.
19. Click the 'Tools' tab at the top of the window that appears. Click 'Folder Options,' which is located below and to the left of 'Tools.' Click the 'View' tab at the top of the window. Click the 'Show hidden files and folders' checkbox that is located beneath 'Hidden files and folders.' Uncheck the 'Hide protected operating system files' checkbox located below the 'Show hidden files and folders' checkbox.
20. Click 'Yes' in the dialog box that appears. Double-click the PC's main hard drive icon that is located in the left column of the window.
21. Double-click the 'System Volume Information' folder in the left column. Double-click one of the folders beneath 'System Volume Information'--this folder should be at least a day old. Double-click on one of the 'Snapshot' folders located beneath the folder you just clicked on.
22. Drag the '_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT' file out of the folder and into the 'Tmp' folder that is located beneath 'Windows,' which is also on the left side.
23. Drag the following files out of the folder and into the 'Tmp' folder:'_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY''_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE''_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM''_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM'
24. Rename the following files:'_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT' to 'DEFAULT''_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY' to 'SECURITY''_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE' to 'SOFTWARE''_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM' to 'SYSTEM''_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM' to 'SAM.'
25. Close the window by clicking the red 'X' in the upper right corner. Restart your PC.
26. Press the 'R' key when the 'Welcome to Setup' screen appears. Enter the administrative password in the text field on the pop-up window that appears. Press 'Enter.'
27. Enter 'del c:\windows\system32\config\sam' without the quotes in the text field on the pop-up window. Press 'Enter.'
28. Enter 'del c:\windows\system32\config\security,' without the quotes in the text field on the pop-up window. Press 'Enter.'
29. Enter 'del c:\windows\system32\config\software' without the quotes in the text field on the pop-up window. Press 'Enter.'
30. Enter 'del c:\windows\system32\config\default' without the quotes in the text field on the pop-up window. Press 'Enter.'
31. Enter 'del c:\windows\system32\config\system' (without the quotes) into the text field on the pop-up window, and then press 'Enter.'
Windows Explorer Procedure - Part B
32. Enter 'copy c:\windows\tmp\software c:\windows\system32\config\software' without the quotes into the text field on the pop-up window. Press 'Enter.'
33. Type 'copy c:\windows\tmp\system c:\windows\system32\config\system' in the text field on the pop-up window, and then press 'Enter.'
34. Enter 'copy c:\windows\tmp\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam' (without the quotes) into the text field on the pop-up window and press 'Enter.'
35. Type 'copy c:\windows\tmp\security c:\windows\system32\config\security' in the text field on the pop-up window, and then press 'Enter.'
36. Enter 'copy c:\windows\tmp\default c:\windows\system32\config\default' (without the quotes) into the text field on the pop-up window. Press 'Enter.'
37. Enter 'Exit' without the quotes in the text field. Press the 'Enter' key.
38. Wait as the PC reboots. Enter the administrative password into the text field of the Windows XP Home Edition startup screen. Press the 'OK' button to continue the startup process.
39. Click 'Start.' Select 'Accessories' from the 'All Programs' pop-up window.
40. Click 'System Tools' at the top of the window that appears. Click the 'System Restore' checkbox. Click the 'Restore to a previous RestorePoint' checkbox. Close the window by clicking the red 'X' in the upper right corner. Restart your PC.