Recovering from problems with XP.

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Recovering from problems with XP.

One of the best things about XP is its reliability. Even though I install, try and remove loads of programs, XP still remains pretty stable. Plus it has System Restore, which allows you to correct damaging changes to the registry.

System Restore does work well, but if like me you do not leave your computer running all day, you may find that automatic restore points are rarely created, which can cause problems in an emergency, if you have not manually created a restore point recently.
Camtech have produced a very good free tutorial on using System Restore, which you can read online, or download (830k) from:
http://camtech2000.net/Pages/System_Restore.htm

A useful addition to System Restore, is the freeware utility System Snapshot. This small tool can be set to start with Windows, where it can manually create a dated restore point from the system tray, without starting the System Restore interface.

System Snapshot interface.

It can also create a restore point when Windows starts up, or by using Windows scheduler, or a third party scheduler.
System Snapshot is easy to use (once you have read the help, as not all the controls are immediately obvious) and consumes less than 5k of ram. Creating a restore point is quicker than using the normal System Restore interface, as the program opens instantly from the system tray and you don't have to enter a description for the restore point, unless you wish to.

Freeware -- Download size 673k -- Win XP.

http://www.angelfire.com/wizard2/hkeylocal/system.htm

If you like the idea of using a third party tool to backup the registry, Erunt - The Emergency Recovery Utility NT might fit the bill. Unlike System Restore, which also backs up some critical system files, this tool backs up just the registry. But backups are fast and take up less space than System Restore and should you wish, you can also delete individual backups from the backup folder.

Erunt XP registry backup.

Erunt is fairly easy to use, but it is important to read the extensive and somewhat intimidating help file first (read the basics, but ignore the more exotic settings, unless you are quite geeky),
You can restore the registry using Erunt from within Windows, or if Windows will not start, from the Windows Recovery Console.
If like me, you do not have a Windows CD, you can use the freeware Barts PE Builder to create a boot disk.

Note: Included in the Erunt download, is NTRegopt, a tool that optimizes the registry, by removing spaces and compacting it.

Note: You can use System Restore and Erunt together, Erunt providing a handy backup if System Restore should fail.

Freeware -- Download size 800k -- Win NT,2000,2003,XP,Vista

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

System File Checker, this Windows tool checks that files vital for the correct operation of XP, are present and uncorrupted and can be useful if Windows is behaving erratically.
Depending on how your copy of Windows was installed, it may request the Windows CD, or it may automatically use the (I believe) i386 folder. On my computer it runs fine without the CD, on my brothers it doesn't, try it and see, just cancel if you have problems.

How to run the System File Checker:
Go to Start -- Run, and enter sfc /scannow
Windows will then verify all its protected files.
Note: There is a space between c and /

Finally, what to do if Windows wont start. Before trying any fancy boot discs etc, first start your computer and repeatedly tap the F8 key (some computers use a different key, or like my computer, require the key to be pressed at a specific time, watch the screen at start up for relevant information). A menu should appear, listing various restore options.
Use the arrow keys to select "Last Known Good Configuration", which is the last settings that worked and press the Enter key, hopefully Windows should now start.