How to Fix Windows XP Boot Loop From Virus
- 1). Place your Windows XP installation CD into your computer's CD or DVD drive and reboot the computer. If you are asked whether you want to boot from the CD, press the required key to do so. If you are not asked to boot from the CD, reboot the computer again and enter BIOS setup by pressing "F2" (or another specified key on your BIOS information screen) in order to change your boot order so that the computer will try to boot from the CD before it boots from the hard drive.
- 2). Press the "Enter" key to select the "Setup Windows XP Now" option when the Windows XP installation program launches. Though there is a repair option on the initial screen, this is not the repair function that you will want to use.
- 3). Accept the Windows XP licensing agreement when it is presented to you, then wait while the installer scans your hard drive for existing Windows installations.
- 4). Select the existing Windows XP installation that you wish to perform a repair install on and press the "R" key to begin the repair process. If you have only one copy of Windows installed, your Windows XP installation should be the only item on the list.
- 5). Allow the setup program to copy necessary files for installation to your hard drive. Once these files have been copied, your computer will reboot and the setup program will begin installing Windows XP system files.
- 6). Wait while the installer reinstalls all of the Windows XP system files. Your existing programs will remain intact; only the Windows XP files are being overwritten.
- 7). Follow the on-screen prompts and enter your name, company information, region, product key and any other requested information as the installation continues.
- 8). Once installation has completed and before you activate the reinstalled copy of Windows XP, open the "Start" menu and select the "Control Panel" item. Double-click the "Windows Firewall" option to make sure that Windows Firewall is turned on, or activate your own third-party firewall.
- 9). Activate your copy of Windows XP once the firewall has been turned on.
- 10
Run an in-depth virus scan on your system using the antivirus software of your choice, though this process may take several hours depending on the size of your hard drive. Delete any viruses that are found by the scan. - 11
Reinstall any Windows XP Service Packs and updates that you had installed since your last installation. Since the repair install process overwrites system files, any updated files will have reverted to their original form.
