If you cannot restore Windows XP without reinstalling, then this article is just for you. Next, various methods will be described to make this “operation” lossless.
How to restore Windows XP without reinstalling: option 1
First you need to try the standard and fast way to restore the operating system. We are trying to boot in safe mode. Turn on the computer. After the BIOS loads and the information from the motherboard is displayed, press the F8 key.
A list of different download options will be provided below. Choose "safe mode". There are two possible events: the system booted and did not boot. If you managed to run it, then do not be afraid of what you see. In this mode, only the main things are loaded. The screen resolution will be approximately 800 by 600. Everything will look unattractive, since the drivers from your video card will not work in full mode or will not function at all.
Go to the "Start" menu. Next, click "All Programs", "Standard", "Utilities." And finally, select the "System Restore" utility.
The system will prompt you to select a recovery point. If not, then this method will not help you. That is why it is periodically necessary to create data recovery points .
How to restore Windows XP without reinstalling: option 2
If you still managed to boot, but there is no recovery point, then you need to try to recover files using a disk with the Windows XP distribution kit (exactly the same assembly that you installed) and one special built-in mini-utility.
To run it, you need to open the Run dialog box. Press on the keyboard "Windows" + R. We insert the disk and then enter “sfc / scannow”. As a result of this, all your damaged or missing files will be recreated.
How to restore Windows XP without reinstalling: option 3
If your OS does not boot, then some boot files are corrupted. You need to try to reanimate them. This can be done using the command line.
Boot from disk. In BIOS, configure the drive as the first boot device, or press F2 when the system boots. It happens that f12. Depends on the BIOS version. There will be indicated a key and Boot menu.
Once you appear in the console, you can try to reanimate the boot.ini file using the Bootcfg command. If you are at a loss to use it, then enter Bootcfg / ?, and then you will receive help on this function.
If the NTLDR file, which is responsible for the download, was corrupted, you need to use the fixboot command.
If there are problems with the hard drive, then the chkdsk command will come to your aid.
How to restore Windows XP without reinstalling: last chance
If everything is bad, then you cannot start the computer. Due to the fact that the system cannot work, you cannot use the “sfc” utility. But there is another way.
We again need a disk with "Windows". We go into the installation. Do not be scared immediately, because this is about restoring the OS without reinstalling.
We accept the agreement and so on. Next, the installer will scan the hard drive for other operating systems. If your old Windows is found (it will not be detected only when the programs on the disk and on the computer are different), then you will be prompted to install a new copy or restore the old one.
What will happen in this case? You will overwrite all the data from the Windows folder, as well as those system files that are located in the root directory. That is, all the most necessary and necessary for the stable functioning and operation of the system will be in perfect order.
In addition, your program folder, desktop, and more will not change. This is very convenient, but it takes as much time as installation, if you do not take into account the time to install software, drivers and other things.