Do I restore or repair my Windows XP?

3 thoughts on “Do I restore or repair my Windows XP?”

1. BuildingSetsBlocks says:

   March 3, 2010 at 11:05 am

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2. myrtnsmerl says:

   March 3, 2010 at 11:05 am

   most likely a restore point wont fix this because most new spy ware automatically infects the restore points although it wouldn’t hurt to try i would backup your data first. if you have a dell Compaq you will most likely have a restore partition that you can use on the drive i would go to the manufacture web site and see if there is a restore partition. and if so what key strokes does it take to activate recovery. if you loose your microsoft office you can always download Openoffice.org BTW do a backup of your data before running the restore.
   good luck

3. Stephen says:

   March 3, 2010 at 11:05 am

   First, the difference between re-installing Windows from a CD, using the Recovery Manger from the Windows CD and using the Restore Partition follows.

   Re-installing Windows from a CD will replace the current/damaged operating system with a "clean" version of Windows. Your data files and program files will be intact, but the settings that the "damaged" Windows OS used will be gone. Basically you should be able to find and access your documents and other similar files, but without the MS Office CD repairing those setting will be pretty hard.

   Using Recovery Manager from a Windows CD will repair the Windows OS files that have been corrupted and leave the file settings and data files intact.

   Using the Restore Partition will effectively wipe the hard drive clean and restore the hard drive to the exact same state that it was in when the computer left the factory.

   If you do not have the original cd or access to a Win XP Pro cd, then re-installing and using Recovery Manager is not a option. Also since like you said the restore points are gone, that option is also off the table.Your only other option is to try the Restore Partition (hopefully it is still is intact and not corrupted).

   First, you will need to copy your data files off the hard drive and either burn the to a CD/DVD or copy them to flash drive.

   Next power down the computer completely and then power it back on. When the Dell splash screen comes up, you will press and hold the <Ctrl> and <F11> keys and then release both keys at the same time.

   Next in the Dell PC Restore by Symantec window, click Restore. Alternatively, press <Tab> to highlight Restore, and then press <Enter>.

   When a warning message appears stating that all data will be lost, click Confirm, or press <Tab> to highlight Confirm and then press <Enter>.

   The Progress window will appear. Once the restore process starts, Dell PC Restore by Symantec usually takes about 8 to 10 minutes to finish.

   When the restore process is complete, the following message will appear:
   The system recovery process was successful.

   Click Finish or press <Tab> to highlight Finish and then press <Enter> to restart the computer.
   The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received.

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