If your data is important, by all means, back it up first.Ok,

data safe. Used robocopy to make a COPY of the system partition. On a whim decided to try and boot off that. No luck! same problem.

Booted into the recovery console. Typed "fixmbr." Exited. The system rebooted into the same problem.

So I'm no different than before.

I've seen some places that talk about a repair install. But they all require a restore point. I don't have a restore point. I TURNED that off years ago because it clogged up my system so bad I was fighting it on a regular basis.

Any ideas?

Thanks for your HELP so far.You do not need a functional restore point to do a repair install...
Here Ya Go...

I suggest reading thru it to get familiar and printing out a reference copy before starting...
Done properly all your apps and data will be intact...
Done improperly all your stuff will be gone but you will have a fresh install of XP.OK!

System now boots and SO FAR everything looks to be here!!

YEAH!

I am running a virus scan now before I connect ONLINE. During the repair install a few files were asked for. I hit cancel and let the system continue.

I want to upgrade to SP3 since my install was SP2. Will that happen automatically?

Thanks so much. When I am able to get online and read all my E-mail I will know I am back to normal!Will what happen automatically - upgrading to sp3? No, you have to do that yourself.I am unable to get online. Did the repair remove my network? I can see some my accounts but I cannot get online.

pinging the router gives nothing (192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). running ipconfig only displays "Windows IP Configuration" and nothing else.

The computer I am on is connected to the same LAN so I know it works.

What do I do to restore my internet connection?

Thanks.Networking is back on. Loaded the Mainboard drivers and everything came back.

Thanks for all your help!

This ticket is CLOSED!!