What is reinstalllation?

I have Intel Petium-4 processor clocking 1.7 GHz with 128 MB of SDR RAM, currently running on Windows XP Home edition 2002 Version 5.01.2600.

The problem is when I was running Windows 98SE, I installed Alcohol 120%- an virtual drive and image maker, on my system. Upon completing installation successfully, the program prompted me to rebbot. But that was the last reboot on Windows98. It never started in Normal mode..instead it went to Safe Mode. After some search....I found out that Alchol 120% messed up with my config.sys and autoexec.bat files.

Next, I reinstalled Windows98 WITHOUT formatting my hard Drive (40 GB Seagate 5400RPM). Everything went fine till I came to know that my system wasn't configured for XMS and EMS! Because whenever I tried installing a driver, COM port or anything related to MS-DOS and XMS...BSOD appeared.

I "Deltree"d the windows in C: partition, and reinstalled Windows98 WITHOUT formatting hard drive.

Then, I installed WindowsXP Home WITHOUT formatting my hard drive. Everything went fine untill I found out that it's XMS driver is also not installed.

The problem persisted sans BSOD (ofcourse)

But the system is not configured for XMS..still!

I did all this WITHOUT formatting my hard drive beacuase i can't backup my Data for atleast 3 weeks.

So....can you help me out at this?

Rajeev, New Delhi.

This question was answered on October 25, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Repair overviewWindows 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

For more information, see Backing up files and folders

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

For more information, see To roll back to the previous version of a driver

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

For more information, see System Restore overview

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

For more information, see To disable a device

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

For more information, see System Restore overview

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

For more information, see To roll back to the previous version of a driver

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

For more information, see System Restore overview

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

For more information, see Add or Remove Programs overview

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

For more information, see System Restore overview

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

For more information, see To start the computer using the last known good configuration

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

For more information, see System Restore overview or Start the computer in safe mode

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

For more information, see Recovery Console overview

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

For more information, see Automated System Recovery overview

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

About the author

Posted by christopher of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on October 25, 2004

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