backup/restore issue

I backed up the entire C drive using XP Backup to my D
drive. I then converted C drive to NTFS using convert.exe.
Upon Restart the PC would not boot Windows but attempted
to do so endlessly. The XP install CD wouldn't recognize
anything on the C drive so I had to do a full NTFS format
and re-install XP. Then when I Restored from the D drive I
had the same endless attempt to boot Windows. Apparently
the System State data from the backup file is corrupted
fatally.

The problem now is that while I can re-install most of my
software from original media, any attempt to restore my
Address Book, my Outlook Folders, all the personal stuff
that is tied to the various software is constrained by the
corrupted System State within the original backup file.
And, of course, I would much rather Restore the entire
operating environment, as much as possible, without having
to go through the time agony of a piece by piece manual
reinstall of 13 GB of software!

Any ideas?
1. Outlook Personal Folders ask for a Password which was
never used.
2. Restore Programs?

Agonized in P-town

backup/restore issue