Windows Fix

Safe Mode

If Windows fails to load, restart the computer and just after the Bios finishes loading, keep pressing the F8 key until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears. Use the arrow keys to select Last Known Good Configuration. If Windows starts up properly, remove any programs you installed or undo any changes you made recently.

If it still won't start properly, reboot and go back to the Advanced Options menu again and choose Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, Windows will automatically skip loading programs and hardware components which in 99% of the cases should make it start.

System Restore

Next, if you have installed a program that has made your computer unstable, the best way to recover is to use System Restore. System will not delete your data files such as Word and Excel documents, e-mail messages, browser history and such. However, it will remove the programs that were installed at the time the restore point was created.

It's in Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. Select Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time. Click Next and follow the on-screen prompts to select a restore point. At the end your computer will auto reboot to complete the process.

Windows Repair

If even that doesn't solve the problem, your last resort is the Windows XP CD which has a very useful tool called Recovery Console. First insert the Windows XP CD and reboot the computer. When you come to the Welcome to the Setup menu, hit R to start up the Recovery Console and press the corresponding number to select the operating system (usually 1 if you only have a single operating system) you wish to repair. At this point you will be expected to enter the administrator password.

The partition boot sector and the master boot record are essential for Windows to boot. If they become damaged by virus or configuration changes, Windows won't start up. To fix it, type "fixboot" and press Enter and wait for the process to complete before you restart the system. This will help you write a new partition boot sector and overwrite the existing one.

If you suspect the master boot record is also damaged then you can also fix it through another command, "Fixmbr". If you only have one drive, type "Fixmbr\Device\HardDisk0". Hard Disk zero.

Reinstall Windows

If all fails, then you have no choice but to reinstall a fresh copy.Reinstall Windows back to the original folder should solve your problem but you will lose some settings and some programs may have to be reinstalled to work properly. However, all your personal data should remain untouched.

Just insert the Windows CD and repeat the process above to get to the SEtup screen. Press Enter to initiate Windows Setup and agree to the licence by pressing F8. Setup will detect an existing copy of Windows installed on your hard disk. Install a fresh copy of Windows to the same directory by pressing the Escape button.

Bad Start

If Windows crashes after you log on, then chances are a program that is automatically starting with the operating system is unstable. As soon as you type in your username and password, and hit Enter, hold down the Shift key. This should prevent programs from starting automatically and hopefully not crash Windows. The next thing to do is to find out which program is creating the problem and fix it.

Compiled from The Star, InTech, 29 April 2008