Fix, Recover, Restore and Repair Windows XP When a PC/Computer Crashes or Fails to Boot - Introduction

Introduction to recovering and repairing Windows XP

This section of this website deals with all of the available methods of repairing or recovering an installation of Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional Edition. Read through the list of them, below, and click on the relevant link(s) to go to that information. The list of available pages is provided at the bottom of each page of this article. This page provides introductory information and information on a few sundry ways in which Windows XP can be recovered, such as configuring and using Error Reporting and using Windows SteadyState, that most users won't be aware of because they are not widely publicised.

Microsoft has made Service Pack 3 (SP3) the last service pack for these versions of Windows available. There have been many hotfixes and security updates released since then. Those versions of Windows are now in their extended period of support, which means that security updates will be provided free of charge until 2014. Other support, such as the provision of hotfixes and telephone support now has to be paid for. Microsoft provides all of the information on the lifecycle support of its products. Although, Windows XP is not being sold as a retail product, Windows XP Home Edition was being provided on most netbook computers, because its low hardware requirements suit them far better than the much higher hardware requirements of Windows Vista. However, that is not the case now because Windows 7 was made available in October 2009 and, unlike Windows Vista, which has higher hardware requirements than Win7, it runs comfortably on a netbook computer, so the company will not be creating a netbook version of Windows Vista.

Table showing support dates for the different versions of Windows XP -

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-us&x=23&y=16&C2=1173

How To configure and use Error Reporting in Windows XP

Windows XP provides a feature called Error Reporting - Microsoft's first attempt at automatic crash analysis and repair. Using it could be useful if the problem is not serious enough to prevent you from booting your computer and you have web access. For more information read the following Help and Support article:

How to configure and use error reporting in Windows XP -

"You can enable, disable, or modify the way that error reporting works on a Windows XP-based computer. When an error occurs, a dialog box is displayed that prompts you to report the problem to Microsoft. If you want to report the problem, technical information about the problem is sent to Microsoft over the Internet. You must be connected to the Internet to use the feature. If a similar problem has been reported by other users and information about the problem is available, you receive a link to a Web page that contains information about the problem." -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310414/EN-UK/

Windows SteadyState for Windows XP/Windows Vista (but not for Windows 7)

Many home users share an Internet connection wirelessly between two or more desktop and laptop PCs. The sharing is done over a wireless network (which could also be a mixture of a wired and a wireless network). If that is the case, you should inverstigate what Windows SteadyState has to offer. It is a free program from Microsoft designed to return a PC to its pristine condition in shared computer environments, such as in public libraries, where users can mess up the default configuration and infect the workstations with malware, etc.

"Windows SteadyState, successor to the Shared Computer Toolkit, is designed to make life easier for people who set up and maintain shared computers."

Using Windows SteadyState at home

"Parents can use Windows SteadyState to help control and enhance their children's computer experience. They can customize the computer to be safer and easier to use. Internet access can be carefully controlled. Different levels of restriction can be applied for different children. In cases where a single machine is used by children and parents, the parents' configurations, programs, and files can be completely isolated from access by the children."

Time limits can also be set.

SteadyState Version 2.5 supports Windows Vista. Watch the demonstration here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/default.mspx

Microsoft has decided not to provide a Windows 7 compatible version of SteayState. The following article explores the consequences of this decision.

Microsoft decision puts public libraries at risk -

"The company announced it would not upgrade the free application, SteadyState, to Windows 7 compatibility, angering many of the folks who manage public-access PCs. People who manage library PCs say they don't have money to pay for third-party products that protect public PCs from malware and malicious users." -

http://windowssecrets.com/2010/04/08/01-Microsoft-decision-puts-public-libraries-at-risk

CONTENTS OF RECOVERING AND REPAIRING WINDOWS XP

Click the relevant link to go to that information

Methods of recovering Windows XP

System Restore

How to create a boot (startup) CD/DVD for Windows XP

How to find out the cause of a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error message - Shutdown and reboot in Windows 2000, XP and Vista

How to perform a repair installation/install of Windows XP

Recovery by reinstalling Windows XP over itself and the consequences of so doing

Using the Recovery Console and the CHKDSK Hard-disk-drive Diagnostic Tool/Utility

How to use the Recovery Console to restore a corrupt Windows XP Registry when the PC/computer won't even boot into Safe Mode

Copying files and making backups: Using the Xcopy and Robocopy commands from the Command Prompt in Windows XP and Windows Vista