Need HELP in re-installing Win XP home...

I need to re-install Win Xp Home and still keep all my file on my HP ze4600 Laptop. I think that's called a "dirty install"???

I am having problems with a few program like Outlook, and FireFox doesn't run even though when I look in the Task manager it shows it running, and I can;t get Yahoo messenger to uninstall etc etc etc.

So I'd like to re-install the system to see if it clears up these problems.

How do I get the CD to boot up with an install that keeps my programs and file intact?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

How long have you been having the problem? Have you recently installed any other software? If you have not been having the problem for very long you could try using System Restore to revert back to a period when your system worked properly.

Post back with some more detailed information about your problem and someone may be able to help you, without doing a System Restore or Repair.

 

I have tried "System Restore" but it didn't help the problem. I have used it before and it usually works.

I have been having problems for about a month or two.
It first started when I tried to load an Mozilla Firefox update after hearing Firefox had some security problems. Mozilla update loaded just fine but wouldn't start, it would hang. I removed it and installed it again, but when I tried to load it I got an error message that it was still running on my computer. Firefox didn't show up in the install/remove files but when I looked for it in the Task Manager it showed it was still running. I finally got Firefox to stop showing it was running in the task manager but I still can't get it to load. Maybe a virus got on my computer through the Firefox security problem???

Yahoo messenger. Around the same time I tried to remove Yahoo messenger off my computer but it won't let me remove it. I get this message when I try to remove it. "Cannot open INSTALL.LOG file"

Also around the same time I started having propblems with my Outlook email, It won't send or receive emails anymore. I have re-instaled outlook etc but it still doesn't work.

I have used Spybot to remove viruses and have microsoft anti-spyware on my computer as well as Norton Internet security but the above software hasn't found any viruses or Trojan Horses.


PLEASE help.

 

Anyone out there willing to help?

 

If oyu would like to perform a repair install, all you should have to do is insert your XP disk, and select the prompts to perform an install, specifying that you would like to repair.

 

You need to set your Bios to boot from CD as first device.

Then reboot with your CD in the drive. HERE is a step by step guide.