I arrived home to open my Zalman CNPS7000-Cu package and turned on my computer.
"/windows/system32/config/system was corrupt" gnoes!!!!!!
Its the same folder as the god almighty SAM file resides. I convinced myself that nothing could be done, so a windows install it had to be.

I though bugger it, I'll fix that problem later and decided to replace my cpu heatsink. I left the computer on for a bit to warm up the cpu and thermal paste.Then I started working the stock heatsink off. I could slide it around horizontally but couldn't lift it out. I started pushing one corner up and the opposite down and kept switching between diagonals. It eventually started to give.

It was making a noise you would expect a heatsink to make when it peels from a cpu covered in thermal paste. I pulled the heatsink out and for a split second I was filled with achievement. Then I looked at the bottom of the heatsink.

WTF MY CPU IS STILL STUCK TO THE HEATSINK!!!! I had pulled it out of the socket...... I spent the next minute checking to see if I had any pin casualties... God bless Amd cpus. If it was an intel, I'm sure Id be done for. =P

I cleaned up the cpu and put it back in the socket and removed the bracket around the cpu. According to the instructions the backplate behind the cpu was meant to be screwed on. It had clips.... And all I had was 2 screw in threaded sockets(like the ones under your motherboard that screw into the case). I found some plastic washers and nuts that worked and finished installing the heatsink with some arctic silver 5.

I have a sata hard drive, so to install XP you need to press F6 and install drivers. For 3 hours the drivers were installing but it couldn't find the drive. I eventually figured out that I had updated the motherboard bios. I reverted to the original (woot for bro's pc having same motherboard). Then I installed windows.

I also managed to put a slit in the knuckle of my thumb all the way down to the flesh. I hate it when PC's bite back....
By this time it was 12am and I hadn't had my 3 hour fix of wow and I had to wake up at 6.....
</rant>

Lessons learned:
Don't update motherboard bios.
Don't rush getting heatsinks off.
Cuts on knuckes suck.