Installing Windows and not lose folders.

I think u have already windows but it giving problems if this u need to repair ur windows u wo'nt lose anything from the old one.

insert and boot from ur xp cd follow the screen press R for repair it will just ask the key only.

Users, programs, folders and everything will be as it is.

Well, I would suggest for you to do a system restore first. Restore you OS to an earlier day to which the problem had not persisted. Then if you know what the problem was then you can fix it. This way you will only loose any software that was installed from that restore point to the day that you do the restore. You will keep all your files, music, pics, etc...

If you really need to reformat the drive and install OS from scratch again, I would suggest you back up all the files you really need. Becuase once, you delete your os, everything else goes with it.

There is a software though, "Diskuneraser". This will let you unerase anything you have permanently erased on your system. I have used it many times and it has worked for me. The only down side is that it searches for things from way back and it takes to long. But if you have no other choice, then, nothing else you can do.

But it seems to me that you can still backup and still keep your info. So, either way, backup first. Then do whatever u want.