I thought that would be more of a Recovery, as in Recovery Disk. I'm sure if Josey tells us a little more about the problem, we can offer a little more about the solution.

I would try doing a restore from safe mode. Turn on your PC, and when the first Windows Screen Appears, press F8 lots.

This should bring up a menu, from which you can select "Safe Mode".
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Try F2 or Del for Bios.

Press F8 during POST (PowerOn Self Test - The black screen white text stuff), and try booting into safe mode.

Also

Stick in your Windows disk, continue through the...

May want to consider finding the old version, ie. before SP2.

here XP Home is at Amazon NEW for $99.
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Im copying one of my posts in here, as I think it is good advice to avoid Electro Stactic Discharges.

If you work on a PC, and that PC has a three pin plug, (where one is earth), and a power...

Some advise, possibly a bit late in this instance, but if you work on a PC, and that PC has a three pin plug, (where one is earth), and a power switch to cut power to the system - you should only cut...