Normally this is how an over-the-top reinstall would go:

1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.
2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below

   This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:
      To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
      To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
      To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.
   

   Do NOT choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console).

4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.
5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.

GULP! R is not available.  We can’t repair!

Here’s the fix:

1. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press L to install.
2. The installer will repair a few files and ask for a reboot
   • **Critical next step**
3. Once again, boot from the XP CD (make sure to ‘press any key to boot from CD’ )
4. Once again, press Enter to start the Windows Setup.
5. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.
6. You will now see the REPAIR option below.  Press R

This quick tip can save you from having to totally wipe clean the primary HP disk using either the included HP recovery partition or your own XP media.

The Symptom

The PC wouldn’t grab an IP via DHCP. If assigned a static IP all was good, but ipconfig /renew from the command prompt reported back “an error has occurred while renewing interface Local Area Connection. The RPC server is unavailable”

The Solution

The NIC is fine, but the network stack has become corrupt. OK, fine. However, refreshing the TCP stack in WindowXP isn’t as easy as it was with XPs older brothers.

Here is the fix I use:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. In Registry Editor, select File, Export and then save a copy of the registry to the desktop.
4. In Registry Editor, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services.
5. Right-click Winsock, and then click Delete. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
6. Right-click Winsock2, and then click Delete. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
7. Click Start, then Control Panel, and then Network & Internet Connections (or Network Connections).
8. Right-click on your Local Area Connection (the offending NIC), and then click Properties.
9. In the Local Area Connection Properties click Install.
10. In the Select Network Component Type click Protocol, and then Add.
11. You will now see a list of available protocols, click Have Disk…
12. Enter the following path, c:\windows\inf or c:\winnt\inf, and then click OK
13. Selecting “Windows” on the left, you will see an expanded list of available protocols on the right. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK
14. Reboot

Boom! Back in business!

You can now delete the registry backup you saved on your Desktop.