Cleaned of virus but windows is not working properly, still missing things

[Moderator]

The key is not saved on each OS cd, it is saved somehow into your system, most likely the BIOS of the motherboard

This is wrong...

As soon as it starts booting up press the f12 key, sometimes it is 11 or 10, but I press all three like do re mi non stop.

This si also innaccurate...depends on the PC...it needs to be set to boot to the CD 1st to do a re-install...

This is wrong...

This si also innaccurate...depends on the PC...it needs to be set to boot to the CD 1st to do a re-install...

Please be more specific to why it is wrong.

The second one is not specific on my part because majority of the systems already have the boot from cd-rom option without the need to access the BIOS.

Thirdly,  how is this helping the issue by pointing out what is wrong without the proper solution?

It's F11 on the laptop I am trying to repair.  But I still don't have the OS disk.  I should have it tonight. 

Patio, can you explain?  I would like to understand.  Can I use a OS disk from someone else or not?

[Moderator]

Patio, can you explain?  I would like to understand.  Can I use a OS disk from someone else or not?

A full Win XP CD from Microsoft can do a repair install on the PC...it has to match the version installed...

See Here...

Done properly all data and apps will be intact...
One mistake and all data and apps will be gone...but you will have a fresh install of XP.