Repair Overview - Windows XP
Repair Overview - Windows XP
Windows XP includes several features to ensure that your computer and the applications and devices installed on it work correctly. These features help you solve the problems that can result from adding, deleting, or replacing files that your operating system, applications, and devices require in order to function. Most of these features are available on all three versions of Windows XP: Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.
The recovery feature or features that you use depend on the type of problem or failure you encounter. Use the following list to determine which features to use to address a specific problem.
Your personal data files are missing or have been corrupted, or you want to revert to a previous version of a file.
If you have saved a copy of the data file in another location, you can copy it from that location back to your hard disk. You can make a back-up copy at any time by copying the file to another location on your computer, to external storage such as a removable disk, or to a different computer.
Feature: Backup
When to use it: When you need to restore a version of a data file that you saved using Backup.
What it does: Restores files from backups.
Available on: All versions of Windows XP. By default, this utility is not installed on Windows XP Home Edition. You can install it from the Windows XP Home Edition compact disc, however.
After updating a device driver, you can log on, but the system is unstable.
Feature: Device Driver Roll Back
When to use it: When the only change you want to undo is the updating of a device driver (other than a printer driver). You must be logged on as an administrator.
What it does: Reinstalls the driver you were using previously and restores any driver settings that were changed when you added the new driver. Affects no other files or settings. Printer drivers cannot be restored with Device Driver Roll Back.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
Feature: System Restore
When to use it: You recently updated a device driver, and using Device Driver Roll Back did not restore stability to your system. You must be logged on as an administrator to use this feature.
What it does: Restores all system and application settings back to those that were in effect at a point in time you specify. Undoes key application, driver, and operating system file changes made since that time.
Does not affect data files.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
After installing a new device, the system is unstable.
Feature: Disable the Device
When to use it: When you suspect that one or more specific hardware devices are causing the problem. You must be logged on as an administrator.
What it does: Disables the hardware device and its drivers.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
Feature: System Restore
When to use it: When you suspect that one or more specific drivers are causing the problem, and disabling or removing the device does not solve the problem. You must be logged on as an administrator.
What it does: 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.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
Changes made to your system or application settings are causing your computer to run poorly, and you do not know how to restore the previous settings.
Feature: Device Driver Roll Back
When to use it: When the only change you you want to undo is the updating of a device driver (other than a printer driver). You must be logged on as an administrator.
What it does: Reinstalls the device driver you were using previously, and restores any driver settings that were changed when the new driver was added. Affects no other files or settings. Printer drivers cannot be
restored with Device Driver Roll Back.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
Feature: System Restore
When to use it: When you suspect that any of the following changes have been made:
System or application settings have been changed. This includes changes made through property sheets and changes made to the registry.
Applications have been installed, updated, or removed.
Files other than data files have been added or deleted.
If you suspect the problem is due to installing an application, first try removing that application. If the problem persists, use System Restore. You must be logged on as an administrator to use System Restore.
What it does: 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.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
After installing an application, the system is unstable or an application is not working properly.
Under some circumstances, the computer will prompt you to repair or reinstall an application from a network location or from the original set-up media (for example, the program CD). If this happens, follow the directions on the screen to repair your program. If you are not prompted with this information, you can use one of the following features to repair your program:
Feature: Add or Remove Programs
When to use it: When you suspect that one or more specific programs are causing the problem.
What it does: Removes the programs you specify.
Available on: All versions of Windows XP.
Feature: System Restore
When to use it: When using Add or Remove Programs did not solve the problem. You must be logged on as an administrator.
What it does: 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. As a result, any changes the program has made to your system are undone. Does not affect data files.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
Operating system does not start (the logon screen does not appear)
Feature: Last Known Good
When to use it: When you suspect that a change you made to your computer before restarting might be causing the failure.
What it does: Restores the registry settings and drivers that were in effect the last time the computer started successfully.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
Feature: Safe Mode and System Restore
When to use it: If you used Last Known Good and your system is still not working.
What it does: Starts using only basic files and drivers (mouse, except serial mice; monitor; keyboard; mass storage; base video; default system services; and no network connections). If you are able to start the system in Safe Mode, you can then use System Restore to restore all system and application settings back to those that were in effect at at a time when your system was working optimally.
Available on: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
Feature: Recovery Console
When to use it: If using Last Known Good is unsuccessful, and you cannot start the computer in Safe Mode.
This method is recommended only if you are an advanced user who can use basic commands to identify and locate problem drivers and files. To use the Recovery Console, restart the computer with the installation CD for the operating system in the CD drive. When prompted during text-mode setup, press R to start the Recovery Console.
What it does: From the Recovery Console, you can access the drives on your computer. You can then make any of the following changes so that you can start your computer:
Enable or disable device drivers or services.
Copy files from the installation CD for the operating system, or copy files from other removable media. For example, you can copy an essential file that had been deleted.
Create a new boot sector and new master boot record (MBR). You might need to do this if there are problems starting from the existing boot sector.
Available on: All versions of Windows XP.
Feature: Automated System Recovery
When to use it: 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.
What it does: Automated System Recovery restores all disk signatures, volumes, and partitions on the disks required to start the computer. Automated System Recovery then installs a simplified installation of Windows and automatically starts a restoration using the backup created by the Automated System Recovery wizard.
Available on: Windows XP Professional. Automated System Recovery is not available on Windows XP Home Edition.
Feature: Windows Installation compact disc
When to use it: When you cannot start the computer in Safe Mode, neither Last Known Good nor Recovery Console has been successful, and you have no backup to use with Automated System Recovery.
What it does: Reinstalls the operating system. You will then need to reinstall your applications and restore your data files from backups.
Available on: All versions of Windows XP.
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