XP Repair install

I am looking at my friends computer who has got Windows XP Home edition.
He brought it to me because it kept looping from the F5 menu and back, nothing worked.
Chkdsk /r didn't fix it (from the RC).
When I rebooted the computer I opted to do a Repair install, but when I pressed R (not for the RC, for the Repair Install), it went through initial setup again, and asked for a Product Code, which it shouldn't do!
Why did that happen on a Repair Install?
Or did I press an Upgrade option? (although I didn't see one!)

 

So did you complete the repair install. What do you mean by looping from the F5 menu?

 

@Brandy he means the advanced user mode i:e safe mode !

 

Yes, I meant the options that come up with F5:

Safe Mode

etc...

 

Thats F8 my friend

You should do a clean install. Product key should be on a sticker. This sticker will be on the CD case or the computer itself.

 

No I didn't, because it asked me for a product key.
I did that, but it still prompted me for a product code.
The product key my mate gave me isn't working though, and I guess thats because I havent got a copy of Windows XP Home SP1 (SP2 and SP3 dont work either) (which it prompts me for). Then, at the product code screen, it says Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade. If I find a Windows XP Home SP1 CD, will the product key work, or, as the looping and the BSOD he got was probably caused by malware found in Microsoft's latest updates last week, shall I still reinstall?

 

And you are using the product key found on a label on the tower? I don't remember if that is needed on a repair, but I don't think so.
So you have a XP Home install disk and it isn't accepting the key? Could it be that XP Pro is on the machine? Then it wouldn't accept a Home install.:wave

 

We've resolved it now - I forgot I had a BelArc listing of his computer, and it gives you all the product codes - he gave me the one for Student and Teacher Edition of Office!

 

BelArc, handy program to have around!:wave:wave