Actually, the known issue doesn't appear to apply here unless you installed
XP over a cloned image created with third party software.
It sounds as though you have an OEM installed version of XP, sorry, I'm
assuming but you didn't give that information. First thing to check, be
sure there is no floppy in the floppy drive of the PC as that can cause this
issue.
If that doesn't resolve it, you can try a repair install of XP but if you
only have a custom OEM CD supplied by HP as opposed to a CD with the full
compliment of XP recovery tools, then you won't be able to run a repair
install as follows:
NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.
Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.
When the system boots, a few screens into the process you may see a message
instructing you
to hit any key in order to boot from the CD along with a countdown. When
you see this be sure to
hit a key on the keyboard, if you miss this instruction and the system fails
to boot from the CD, it's too
late, you'll need to reboot and try again.
Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.
Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console. ***The selection you want at this screen is
"Setup Windows,"
NOT "Repair Windows Installation.
The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.
If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.
There is an alternative to wiping your system if you only have a recovery CD
or partition, that would be to use third party software to create another
partition, install XP on that partition, assuming the OEM CD will allow it
and then copy your files from the old install to the new one or, if you have
a backup you can simply wipe the drive and start over.
Since I can already hear you snorting over the possibility the OEM CD does
not include this option, it is the manufacturer's choice to include or not
include such options not Microsoft's. If your system is in fact an OEM
system, in other words, you didn't purchase XP at retail, it came preloaded,
then support is the responsibility of the manufacturer, hence, your product
ID would have been useless. With a MAC, you don't have that problem as
Apple is the only manufacturer.
