Thread: How to repair XP

Hi,

Earlier due to some reason, my OS used to crash. Mostly it says some file missing or something. Since I do not know how to repair using the XP CD, I had to reinstall XP. It will be nice if someone can help me with steps to repair XP while booting from the disk.

You need to boot from XP installation disc. Then choose for Repair existing installation. It will take you to command prompt. Depending on the problem, different commands can be used to repair XP. Best way to know about the commands is to use the HELP command in command prompt. It will list all other commands and their usage.

Here are some Guides/Tutorials on How to Repair Windows XP:

Repair XP

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

How-to repair Windows XP

Repairing Windows XP using CD installation - The solution

Recover and repair Windows XP - How to use the Command Prompt in Windows XP

Thanks

There is an alternate way. Just press ENTER when it asks you to install, the system shows the partitions where Windows is already installed, from there it gives you an option to repair the existing O/S. Going to command prompt is a bit confusing, at least for novices. If you are affected by Virus, it is best format and do a fresh install. After installing O/S and all the software, take a backup using Active Disk to a different partition and from there it is easy to get back the O/S easily whenever it is corrupt.

Originally Posted by meetdilip

Hi,

Earlier due to some reason, my OS used to crash. Mostly it says some file missing or something. Since I do not know how to repair using the XP CD, I had to reinstall XP. It will be nice if someone can help me with steps to repair XP while booting from the disk.

the best method if any system files are missing would be to use system file checker, inbuilt within win xp , me , 98 etc....

it will scan and replace files from ur XP cd..


What is the System File Checker, and how do I run it?

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the repair option in XP setup is more suitable for repairing boot sector, formating, partitioning etc....

In my case, mostly I won't be able to log in to XP itself. So have to repair from the disc during boot itself.

even safe mode ??

Normally when it happens (luckily not recently) it will end up with saying some files are missing or stay infinitely on the welcome screen. Most time I have only two options, one to repair another to format.

Originally Posted by pshrinivasan

[B]There is an alternate way. Just press ENTER when it asks you to install, the system shows the partitions where Windows is already installed, from there it gives you an option to repair the existin

From here, if you select to repair, the setup will take you to command prompt only and that is exactly what i said.

Originally Posted by pshrinivasan

There is an alternate way. Just press ENTER when it asks you to install, the system shows the partitions where Windows is already installed, from there it gives you an option to repair the existing O/S. Going to command prompt is a bit confusing, at least for novices. If you are affected by Virus, it is best format and do a fresh install. After installing O/S and all the software, take a backup using Active Disk to a different partition and from there it is easy to get back the O/S easily whenever it is corrupt.

How can we take a backup using active disk ? By this method, can we restore the OS? Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by meetdilip

How can we take a backup using active disk ? By this method, can we restore the OS? Thanks in advance.

yep, it backs up either the only OS or even the whole partition.

easiest method i use is...

1. install xp and make all changes u want, add s/w and watever u want to do....

2. logon to vista (dual boot), then compress all files using winrar...

3. then when os is corrupted, delete all XP files usig vista and extract the winrar files to same partition.

Advantages : very fast and no need to format
disadv : requires dual boot and vista cannot be restored in this method.

why all this.just use any free disc imaging software & make a restore image of your C drive just after fresh install.now whenever XP corrupts use image to restore the system back to the original fresh install state.
DriveImage XML Backup Software
Data Recovery Software on a BartPE Boot CD-Rom (you will need to make a bootable CD with the bartPE plugin for this software to restore image of C drive)

if you prefer more simplicity then you can use either acronis or norton ghost but both are paid softwares & most probably will require you to download cracked versions.

^^ agreed above methods are simple for basic users. btw norton ghost has become too bloated nowadays... is it still one of the best ?

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my method is for these reasons

- no need for a separate backup media ( conversly it maybe a problem if some serious virus attacks etc occur)

- easy to update

- very very fast


Note: backup of data in HDD is pretty much useless, I'm only talking of backing up OS.

Originally Posted by newprouser

easiest method i use is...

1. install xp and make all changes u want, add s/w and watever u want to do....

2. logon to vista (dual boot), then compress all files using winrar...

3. then when os is corrupted, delete all XP files usig vista and extract the winrar files to same partition.

Advantages : very fast and no need to format
disadv : requires dual boot and vista cannot be restored in this method.

That's amazing ! I hadn't known that such a possibility existed ! I understand that the RAR files should be stored in a seperate drive, am I right ?