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Repair Windows
There are many reasons why a computer may not start properly among them are hardware failures such as a failed hard drive, bad memory, failed CU or failed power supply. If the hardware isn’t the issue, the operating system’s software could be at fault. In the past, if the software became corrupted, a complete reinstall would be necessary and all of the programs, settings and data would be overwritten.
If you are facing the prospect of a reinstall for reasons such as:
- Not being able to load Windows XP, even in safe mode
- You are experiencing major OS errors caused by a recent system update
- System Restore won’t fix your problems, or is inaccessible
- A new motherboard or other type of hardware installation requires an OS reinstall
And if you have Windows XP, you can skip the reinstall and choose one of the best kept secrets out there, the Windows System Repair that is available right on the Windows XP installation disc.
First, you will need your original installation disc and be sure to have the CD key handy. This process is similar to a complete reinstall and you will likely need to re-enter the CD key as well as reactivate the product after the install. Another thing to keep in mind is that the repair removes all Windows updates that you have performed since day one. You will need to update Windows after you repair it.
Insert your Windows XP CD into your drive and press a key when prompted to boot from CD. (If you don’t get this option, you may need to change your boot order in the BIOS setup utility).
A blue screen begins as the program loads. RAID users as well as SCSI and unsupported UDMA users should press F6 to load their drivers and have the drivers handy on floppy disk. Most users, and unsure users, can skip this step.
Next, Windows setup loads and offers three choices: setup Windows by pressing enter, repair Windows using the Recovery Console by pressing ‘R’, or exit by pressing F3. Even though “Recovery Console” sounds like the perfect solution, it isn’t. Ignore this option and choose to setup Windows by pressing enter. Windows will automatically detect that you have a previous installation and will offer to repair it for you. This is what we want to accomplish.
After hitting “enter”, hit F8 to agree to the end user license agreement. Now the setup program asks if you want to repair the installation or continue with a fresh copy. Choose to repair the Windows installation by pressing the R as instructed.
The setup continues and it looks as if it is doing an installation. No need to worry, this is how it looks but it is repairing and replacing damaged files, leaving your data, programs and other settings alone. Follow any prompts that come on screen and enter your CD key if required.
Once complete, enable your Windows Firewall before going online for system updates. Right now, your system is at its most vulnerable because it hasn’t been patched and the internet is filled with worms ready to infect your unprotected OS. You will also need to reactivate your copy of Windows XP. Again, do this after enabling your Windows Firewall for the most protection against worms possible.