Shoul I reinstall Windows XP from the i386 directory as stated here:

http://m.wikihow.com/Reinstall-Windows-XP-Without-the-CD

or from the Recovery CD?

Reinstall from the recovery CD. You will have many more options available to you, such as formatting the drive if you need to.

Ok thanks, I'll use that method when it comes to it. Solved.

Can I just confirm that if I follow these instructions here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2337743_do-emachines-system-recovery-.html

That I will be able to reinstall Windows XP with just my recovery CD? Because there were suggestions here that I might need a full Win XP disc:

http://www.pchelpforum.com/xf/threads/reinstalling-windows-xp-to-a-new-hard-drive.117901/

I just don't want to be in a position where it formats my hard drive, and then asks me for the (full) Win XP disc. I'm sure it won't though.

To me Ian that EMachines disk would be comparable to Recovery disks that have to be made by the customer rather than being supplied by the manufacturer.

If it is then all that will happen is that everything will go back to a factory condition, in other words when you first bought it.

However it may rely on a recovery partition already being there so as to work from it so to speak.

Well there has always been a second, small partition, so I'm guessing that's what that is. The only question then is whether to run system restore from the start menu, or boot from the recovery disk

A system restore will only take the machine back to a given point in time Ian whereas a full back to factory will format the hard drive and reinstall all programs that were on there originally and you will have to get windows updates again along with any service packs.

Ok, it's the full format I'm after. Just using the weekend to back up all my data in safe mode, then reinstall Windows, then reinstall programs. So I'll boot from the recovery disk I think

Ok

Let us know how you go on Ian.

Will do! Looks like the data won't finish backing up til tomorrow, so hopefully I can go for it then.

You are just backing up your personal stuff like Pictures, Video's etc to another physical hard drive Ian aren't you?

Don't bother with any windows system files and I'm a bit unsure as to why you are doing it in Safe Mode too.

Good find Monkey.

Here's an addendum to that also.

http://support.gateway.com/emachines/notebook/2009/emachines/em/em250/EL1310faq3.shtml