How to repair Windows XP

[Isaac1]

How to repair Windows XP

We have different methods to repair windows XP!

We all need to repair our operating system at time. Here are some most common options available for windows XP users to repair their OS which are frequently mentioned in forums and self-help websites. Often times half the battle is knowing what tools and methods are available and where to find them. Use this guide when someone says "pop in the CD and select the repair function" and you have no idea how to get to what the person is talking about.

Backup: Utility supplied with both Windows XP Home and Professional, although in Home it is not installed by default.

In order to use this option the file(s) in question must have been backed up previously and stored on any number of different mediums for retrieval at a later date.

Device Driver Roll Back: Used to remove a newly installed device driver and 'roll back' the system to the previously installed driver. Unfortunately, one of the most problematic issues are printer drivers and Device Driver Roll Back does not support rolling back printer drivers.

To access Device Driver Roll Back:

• Click Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System.
• On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
• Right-click the device for which you want to reinstall the previous version of the driver.
• Click Properties.
• Click the Drivers tab.
• Click Roll Back Driver.

Disable A Device: This is very similar to Device Driver Roll Back except it disables the device and the driver that you suspect may be causing a system problem.

• Click Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System.
• On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
• Right-click the device suspected of causing the problem and click Disabled.

Add or Remove Programs: This is basically the software version of Disable A Device listed above. If you suspect a software installation is causing the problem, use Add/Remove Programs to remove the program from the system.

• Click Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs
• Allow the list to populate and then select the program to be removed.

[Isaac1]

System Restore: Here is the Microsoft definition of System Restore; "Restores all system and application settings back to those that were in effect at a point in time you specify. Restores key application, driver, and operating system files changed since that time. Does not affect data files."

If after using the previously mentioned repair options and no success has been achieved, System Restore might be the best 'next' option available. Even if you have made changes to data since the last restore point was created, turning the system back will not impact those changes. Changes to applications will be impacted, but it's likely those changes are what you're trying to reverse anyway so it becomes less of an issue.

There are two methods of accessing System Restore; one from within XP when the system will boot normally and another method known as Safe Mode and System Restore, accessed from the Windows Advanced Options Menu.

• Access System Restore from Within XP - Click Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance. On the left side of the screen under See Also, click System Restore.
• Access System Restore from Safe Mode - See the Safe Mode section below for how to start XP in safe mode. Once the system has been booted, click Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance. On the left side of the screen under See Also, click System Restore.

[Isaac1]

An Essential Location - Windows Advanced Options Menu

One of the most frequently used options when attempting to repair an XP installation is Safe Mode. Before you can use Safe Mode you have to actually get to where it's located and that's on the Windows Advanced Options Menu. To gain access, boot the computer and watch for Please select the operating system to start to appear on the boot screen. When it does, press F8 and you should be taken to the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen.

If for some reason you miss the screen, let the machine boot normally, then shut it down and try again. On the boot screen, you can start repeatedly tapping the F8 key as soon as the detection of the hard drives is complete and virtually ensure success in finding the Windows Advanced Options Menu. Once it opens you have access to a number of different options.



Last Known Good Configuration: Starts the XP system using registry information and drivers that Windows saved at the last shutdown. Any changes made since the last successful startup are lost. Use this option only if a part of the system has been configured incorrectly. Last Known Good Configuration has no ability to repair or replace corrupt or missing files and drivers.

Safe Mode: This is often thought of as a singular item, but in reality it's actually three different items as the screen capture below illustrates.

• Safe Mode - Starts XP using only basic files and drivers including mouse (except serial mice), monitor, keyboard, basic video, mass storage devices, default system services, and no network connections.
• Safe Mode with Networking - Includes all items listed under Safe Mode plus network connections.
• Safe Mode with Command Prompt - Includes all items listed under Safe Mode. Once logon has been accomplished, a command prompt is displayed rather than the Graphical User Interface (GUI).

[Isaac1]

Recovery Console: In the progression of repair items for XP, Recovery Console is the next logical step if Last Known Good Configuration and Safe Mode have failed in allowing the system to boot. As Microsoft states, "This method is recommended only if you are an advanced user who can use basic commands to identify and locate problem drivers and files."

• Access the Recovery Console: Start the computer with the Windows XP installation CD in the CD drive. When prompted during text-mode setup, press R to start the Recovery Console. See screen capture below.
• Rather than go through the process of booting from the XP CD to get to the Recovery Console, it can be installed to the hard drive so it will appear as an option each time the system boots. If you frequently access Recovery Console it can be a great timesaver.

Automated System Recovery: Before you arrived at the screen shown above, if you had been watching the gray bar at the bottom of the window you would have seen another possible choice for XP Pro users. ASR is not available for XP Home users.

• F2 - Pressing F2 allows running Automated System Recovery (ASR). See the screen capture below.

I think the Microsoft explanation of Automated System Recovery pretty much says it all. In talking about ASR and when you might want to use it on a damaged system, they state, "After all other attempts at recovery fail, or if you have replaced a damaged system hard drive. You must have previously used Backup to create an Automated System Recovery set." There you go; not exactly a confidence builder in my opinion, especially since very few users I know actually use Backup that's included with Windows XP.

Windows Installation CD - Repair Current Installation: The process begins by booting the system with the XP installation CD. The CD drive must be set as the initial boot device in the computer BIOS. There are a number of different ways to access the BIOS, but pressing Delete on the initial boot screen is one of the most common methods. Watch the boot screen and it normally displays a message with the appropriate key sequence to grant BIOS access.

The boot sequence will continue. Again, watch the screen for a message to appear that the system is looking for a bootable CD ROM. Watch the monitor for the message that the CD has been auto-detected, followed by the “Press any key to boot CD” message. Don’t fall for the old joke about looking for the “Any” key and just hit the spacebar or any other key that’s convenient within the five second time span the message will be displayed. The screen shown in Figure 01 will appear while Windows inspects the hardware configuration.



Once the inspection is complete, files will start to load from the CD to begin the installation. Eventually the screen shown in Figure 02 will be displayed offering three options. This is the point where the majority of confusion occurs about repairing a current installation. The second option asks if you want to repair an XP installation using Recovery Console. In some situations this may be the desired course of action, but in this case we want to repair XP without using Recovery Console. Rather than the second option, select the first option to set up Windows by pressing Enter.



More files will load from the CD until you are taken to the screen shown in Figure 03. A list of all the current installations of Windows XP will be displayed in the lower portion of the window. Use the arrow keys to select among them if you have more than one installation. Once the selection has been made, press the R key to begin the repair process. If you want to install an additional copy of XP rather than repair an existing copy, press Escape.



Note that when you perform a repair of a current installation you will be asked to enter the Product Key that came with the CD. In essence you are installing a fresh copy of XP over the existing copy. While data and settings are not destroyed, any Service Packs will have to be reinstalled after the repair process has completed. Repairing a current installation is not a substitute for reformatting a drive and doing a clean installation. It may help clear up some problems with the current installation, but it will not restore an ailing system to like new condition and performance that a clean installation will provide.

Source: theeldergeek.com

[lydia30]

Sometimes the only way to repair XP is to reinstall. You do not have to wipe your partition and start over. Just as with previous versions of Windows you can reinstall right over top of an existing setup. This has the advantage of retaining your installed applications, data and settings. You will lose previously saved System Restore Points but System Restore will begin creating new restore points again immediately following the Repair Install. You will need to reinstall SP2 and any Critical Updates from the Windows Update Site. Be aware that a Repair Install will leave your system vulnerable to the Blaster and Welchia worms. Do not go on line until you have enabled XP's firewall first. Then visit the Windows Update Site to patch your system It is always prudent to backup important data before you make changes to XP.

There are two approaches. The first one should be used if you can still boot to your Windows Desktop. Simply pop the XP CD into the CD-Rom drive and select Install->Upgrade[recommended]. This will install XP overtop of itself in the same way as upgrading from a previous setup. However if your version is an OEM version then you will not have this option. If you do not see the option to Upgrade[recommended] DO NOT choose New Install as that will either overwrite your current setup completely or give you a dual boot setup. Also if you have an older version of XP and have upgraded to a new service pack you will get a message stating that a newer version of Windows was found and you will not be able to run the Upgrade. Create a Slipstream version to solve this problem

If you cannot boot to the Desktop, or you have an OEM version of XP, or you want to remove a service pack then the following should be used to complete a Repair Install.

Boot with the Windows XP CD and at the Setup Screen press the Enter Key


You will be taken to the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. After reading the agreement press F8 to proceed.



The next screen gives you the option to do a fresh (clean) install or to repair the selected Windows XP installation. To run a Repair Install Press "R" at this time.
***CAUTION*** if you do not see the option to repair the selected Windows XP installation DO NOT choose the option to continue installing a fresh copy without repairing as that will overwrite your data and cause unrecoverable data loss.



Windows XP will copy the necessary files to your Hard Drive to begin the installation and will then reboot. You will see the message that informs you to "Press any key to boot the CD". Do not press any keys this time just wait a few seconds and the Windows Startup Screen will be displayed. Following this you will be greeted by the Windows XP Setup Screens.







When Setup has completed you should find all of your previously installed apps and settings are intact.

[quickTutes]

If you got Service pack2, You just reformat. Disc not needed, if it is a service pack 1 then you will need the disc. Just run xp edition instead.

[atitupan1]

This is a good site for the peoples who have problems with the operating system XP and want to repair it such self help websites are useful for them

Yeah, it's pretty easy. 1. Insert your original Windows XP CD. You still have the CD, right? 2. Restart your computer, and, when prompted, press any key to boot off the CD. 3. You'll get to a screen that talks about the recovery console. Skip that, and proceed like you're going to install windows again. Don't worry, you're not going to lose anything. 4. After the license agreement, you'll get a screen that lists the partitions on your hard drive. There should be only one. If there's more than one, choose the one that you know has windows on it, or choose the largest one. Then, if memory serves correct, you're to press enter to install windows to the partition (that's NOT what we want) or to press 'R' to repair. That's what we want. 5. Follow the rest of the directions. An alternative is to, from inside of windows, go to Start, then Run, then type (no quotes) "sfc /scannow". That's the system file checker, it verifies all files and replaces any with errors.

I will not assume any responsibility for problems that may occur to your system from using any of these suggestions.

__________________________

Windows XP is a family of 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers.

[smcc]

I was recently forced to repair XP SP3 which had IE8 installed, because of corrupt files which could not be fixed by sfc /scannow. I had major problems after the repair, as my OEM disk had an SP2 version of XP and IE6. I was not allowed to log on to activate Windows and was unable to download SP3 and IE8. IE6 would not connect with any website, including Microsoft.
Fortunately I normally use Firefox which allowed me to download SP3 and IE8.I eventually went into Safe Mode and installed these updates. I was then able to activate and log on to Windows. Automatic update then provided me with downloads update the system, a process that took a considerable time. Now, 2 days after the repair, everything seems back to normal and no data or settings have been lost.

[ronnyadam]

Repairing an installation of Windows XP is very useful when you need to keep your programs and data in tact, but the need to restore the system files of Windows XP in their original condition. The repair function of the system deletes the updates you have installed are not included on the CD. Drivers also be returned in their original XP, and some parameters.

[parkersam]

We all need our time to repair the operating system. For Windows XP users here, the most common options available to your OS websites.Even often mentioned in the forums and self help restore the final point after you have made changes to the data system, turning back will not affect those changes.

[robatcook1987]

Same problem also I am facing. My Window XP has been damage. And now I got tired to repair the window XP. But here I got many ideas to how to repair XP. I have read all the post. Really its a nice and well explain message.