[header] How to reinstall windows xp without formatting your hard drive [title] Get an xp cd, preferably the one you wish to reinstall. [title] Reboot and configure your computer to boot from the cd, then enter windows setup. [title] When all the drivers (including any you might need to specify yourself) have loaded, you should be at the main windows setup screen. 
[step] Note that if you are using a trial copy cd, there will be a screen explaining that the copy is a trial, before the main setup screen. [title] Press " r " to start the windows recovery console.