Introduction
Booting and Installing from the Recovery CD
Re-installing from the Recovery CD
RMRestor
Windows XP Recovery Console
Repair a Damaged Installation
Fresh Copy Installation
How to Enable Booting from a CD
Windows XP Activation

Introduction

The Windows XP RM Recovery CD contains a standard set of files to allow you to repair or re-install your systems should the need arise.  The CD is bootable and will not work correctly unless the CD setup program is run either from within Windows or the system is booted from the CD.

To boot from the RM Recovery CD you must first set up the computer's BIOS to detect and boot from a bootable CD (see below).  Then you must switch on, or restart, the system with the CD already in the CD-ROM drive. You should see the message:

Press any key to boot from CD.

If you press a key then the system will load the Recovery CD program; if you do not press a key then the system will timeout and attempt to boot from the hard disk. Follow the instructions (see below) and the installation program will copy many files to Drive C:.  Once you have run the Recovery CD program and it has copied the files to Drive C:, you do not need to keep pressing a key to boot from the CD as it will timeout, but you do need to leave the CD in the CD drive.  Simply do nothing, and the install will proceed correctly until you are prompted by the Windows Install to supply more details.

It is possible to re-install Windows XP in several ways

1. For a 'factory-fresh' installation (with all files on Drive C: deleted) use RMRestor.
2. To repair a current installation, use the Recovery Console.
3. To re-install but keep the current files and user settings, use Repair Damaged Installation.
4. To install a second independent copy of Windows XP, use Fresh Copy Installation.

RMRESTOR is a drive C: restore program.  Most systems will have had a backup of drive C: made at the factory using RMRESTOR.  You can use RMRESTOR to restore your drive C: to a factory-fresh 'as new' condition by running this program.  Note that all files on drive C: will be destroyed in the process so you should ensure that you have backed up all files on this drive before using this utility.  For more information please refer to the D:\RM folder on your hard disk (if present).

Boot from the Windows XP Recovery CD and press any key when prompted in order to run the Recovery program.  Choose the 'R' option to load the Recovery Console.  Using the Recovery Console is for advanced users only - for instructions on how to use the Recovery Console, please use the Help and Support feature of Windows XP or search for 'Recovery Console' on the Microsoft® Web site.

Please note: If you make a mistake when following the steps below, you will not be offered the option to repair a damaged installation.  Follow these steps precisely (or reboot from the CD and start again).

1. Boot from the Recovery CD (press any key when prompted).
2. Choose Setup (press <Enter>) - do not choose the R=Recovery Console option.
3. Press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
4. Press R to Repair the selected Windows XP installation.
5. The setup program will copy files to your hard disk and reboot automatically.
6. Do not press any key when the CD boot code is run, allow the code to timeout, the system will boot from the hard disk and continue with the installation from the CD.
7. Answer the configuration questions once the computer has finished re-installing.  You will be prompted for your Product Key which you will find at the back of your system. You will also need to Activate your system within 30 days, if you have not done so previously (see below).

You can reformat and install a fresh copy of Windows XP using the Recovery CD.  Warning: All files on drive C: will be destroyed by this procedure!

1. (Optional) Format a floppy disk and copy the file from the Recovery CD at D:\RM\PreInst\Winnt.sif to the floppy disk. Do not leave the floppy disk in the floppy disk drive.
2. Boot from the Recovery CD (pressing a key when prompted).
3. Choose Setup (press <Enter>) - do not choose the R=Recovery Console option.
4. Press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
5. Press ESC to install a fresh copy of Windows XP.
6. Choose the C: partition as the partition you want to delete and press D to delete it (all files will be deleted).
7. Now reformat the partition(as FAT32 if you are using a winnt.sif file).
8. (optional) Instead of proceeding with the installation of Windows, insert the floppy disk containing winnt.sif into the floppy disk drive and Quit the Setup program.  Allow the system to restart and press a key again to boot from the Recovery CD again. The installation will now proceed automatically without any user interaction.  There is no need to touch the keyboard again until Windows asks you to accept the licence agreement, after which the installation will continue automatically again.
9. The final system will already be pre-activated if you used the winnt.sif file as in step 8.  If you did not use this file then you will have to answer some configuration questions (e.g. keyboard type, country, timezone, etc.) and activate your installation manually within 30 days.

You can also choose to install a second copy of Windows XP at Step 6 to give a dual boot system with two different copies of Windows XP, but this is not recommended unless the 'Repair Damaged Installation' technique above did not result in a working system and you have important files which you need from the C: drive before you can reformat the C: drive and install a fresh copy. An easy way to install a second copy of Windows XP is to simply boot the system using the Recovery CD and with a floppy disk in the floppy drive at the same time, which contains the winnt.sif file.

In order to boot from the RM Recovery CD containing Windows XP, you must first set you computer to boot from CD.

1. Restart or switch on your computer
2. When prompted to press a key to enter Setup (eg press F2 to enter Setup), press the key indicated.  This is usually either the <DEL> key or the <F2> key.  If you do not see any text telling you which key to press to enter Setup simply try pressing both keys at 1 second intervals, as soon as the three keyboard LEDs flash for the second time after switch on.
3. You should see a Setup Menu or a screen prompting you for a password (the default password is usually RM - you are strongly advised to change this password when you receive a new system to prevent abuse).
4. Find the menu that allows you to define the Boot Order.  This order is usually pre-set by RM to something like 'Floppy - Hard Disk - CD-ROM'.  Change this so that the CD-ROM is before the Hard Disk drive.
5. You may also need to adjust a setting similar to 'Check CD-ROM drive is bootable' so that CD-ROMs are checked - if you have this BIOS option but leave this setting disabled, the system will not boot from CD.
6. Find the Exit menu and choose 'Save and Exit' to save the settings

You should now find that the system will boot from the CD and you should see a text message appear 'Press any key to boot from CD.'.  This indicates that the CD-ROM is being used as the boot device.  Press the space bar key as instructed to boot from the Recovery CD.

Remember to change back the BIOS settings after you have finished using the Recovery CD to prevent security violations!

Windows XP requires a Product Key (a 25-character code which is on your Certificate of Authenticity sticker on the back of your system) and an Activation code.  Unless your system has an Activation code you will only be allowed to run a new XP installation for 30 days, after which time you will be refused a logon until one is supplied.

The RM pre-install uses an SLP process which will match the RM BIOS present in your system.  Because the RM BIOS 'matches', your system is already 'pre-activated'.  If, however, you re-install and use your own Product Key, the system may not be Activated and you will have 30 days in which to Activate Windows XP, after which time it will refuse to allow you to login and gain access.

If your system requires Activation, you will see an icon in the System Tray at the bottom-right of the taskbar and will get frequent reminders to activate your installation.  By clicking on the Activation Icon in the System Tray, you can activate your computer over the internet automatically in less than a minute.  Alternatively, you can telephone the number provided and Microsoft® will give you a code number to type in and activate your system.