Restore windows xp system without disk. We restore Windows XP without reinstalling - rollback or installation disk. Windows XP Boot Recovery
Most of those who begin the journey of a computer user like to experiment with various kinds of programs or system optimization. This all happens through trial and error. But due to excessive curiosity and lack of experience, such actions most often lead to mistakes. And not only curiosity can cause the system as a whole to malfunction. The driver for the equipment may be installed incorrectly and this will lead to its incorrect operation.
Of course, if you tinker for a while, then everything can be returned to its original working condition, and even then only with a large amount of luck. It is much easier, more reliable and faster to roll back the system state to a working state if you have created a system restore point. Let's look at how to do this correctly now. There is no need to be scared or worry that this function will become a burden on your computer. If necessary, all previously created points can be easily deleted and system recovery can be disabled to save some disk space. But more on that later.
So, before the procedure for creating a checkpoint, you must first make sure that during your manipulations with the system, the recovery function was not disabled. To do this, in Windows XP, right-click on the “My Computer” shortcut. A context menu will open where you will need to select “Properties”. In the window that opens, click the “System Restore” tab.
Here, opposite the “C” drive there should be the designation “Observation”. On all others “Disabled”. If you want to enable monitoring on other drives, but keep in mind that only important system files are saved (which in most cases are located on drive C), and your personal data will not be saved. To enable or disable monitoring, select the desired volume with the mouse and uncheck or check the box in the parameters.
Next, set the desired size that the system will reserve for creating control points. The standard Windows XP size is 12% of the disk space. Using the slider in the settings, you can set your size for the location where the system restore point will subsequently be created. And the more space there is, the more such points there can be.
Now, suppose we are going to install unknown software, and in order not to take any unnecessary risks, we need to create a point to which we will roll back the system in case of unsuccessful installation. In Windows XP, the path to the necessary settings will be as follows: through “Start”, open “All Programs” and enter “Accessories”. Next, select “System Tools”, where “System Restore” is located. A dialog box will open where you will be given the choice to restore the previous state, create a restore point, or cancel the last system restore.
We will write this down in the control point description window. Now all that remains is to click “Create”. After a while a confirmation window will appear. That's it, the system restore point has been created.
Now it is logical to consider a situation where everything did not go entirely smoothly and the system began to work intermittently, which you did not want. Since you now have everything prepared, you can return the system to the state when its performance was completely satisfactory to you without consequences. You will need to return to a dialog box with three action choices. Only now check the box to restore your computer to an earlier state and click “Next”.
The next step is to select a checkpoint to restore. At this stage, the description will come in handy if several of them have been created previously. On the calendar you can also view all available points and select the one you need by date. Once you click Next, the system restore process will begin. When it ends, the computer will reboot and you will no longer find the program that led to the undesirable result, and the system itself will work as before the incorrect installation of the software.
Of course, it is not at all necessary to store a large number of recovery points, because this is space on the hard drive. It is enough to leave one when the system was stable and you can constantly update it, and delete the previous ones. In this case, you need to go through “Start” to “Programs” and select “Utilities” there.
Find the Disk Cleanup icon and click on it.
In the window that appears, select the drive on which the created recovery points are stored, most likely it will be drive “C”, and click “OK”. A menu with system cleaning settings will now appear. Here we will be primarily interested in the “Advanced” tab.
Click it and you will be able to clear all system restore points except the last one.
By clicking on the “Clean up” button in the “System Restore” section, you can free up space on your hard drive by deleting old saved system files. Only the system restore point that you created last will remain.
So, in this article I would like to explain how to do Windows XP correctly. You may already know how to restore your system in some way, but this does not mean that there is only one way. There are many options. Each is designed for different situations. It is also worth noting that each recovery method differs in time.
“ WindowsXP": system recovery.
Let's start with the fact that you need to determine what exactly is wrong with your OS, and what needs to be done to restore the data. First, try pressing the F8 key while loading the BIOS. From the suggested options, select the one that says boot with last known known configuration. If it doesn't help, then move on.
Select the boot option in If suddenly your system boots, it is because the monitor resolution is 800x600 or about this value. Because in this mode the drivers are not loaded.
You need to do the following:
- Copy the most important information from your local C drive to another partition or flash drive. What files are important? For example, the desktop, my documents, various saves in games, program settings, etc.
- Try to find the problem why Windows just won't boot. If you find it, try to solve it.
If it fails to boot, then we continue restoring the Windows XP system using other methods.
Using the same F8 key, we again go to the menu we are already familiar with and select the item that says about disabling automatic reboot.
Why is this necessary? This is necessary if you were unable to determine the problem that caused such a situation to occur. As a result of disabling the reboot, you will be shown a message that tells you the real reason for everything that is happening.
System RestoreWindowsXP using the installation disk.
Having a disk with a copy of the operating system on hand, you can easily restore your data. But, if you can't restore your operating system, then at least you can install a new Windows. Of course, if you install a new copy, you may lose all the data from drive C, but you can avoid this. How? It will be said later.
System RestoreWindowsXP via console.
First, try restoring data through a special one. To do this, you will need to boot from the installation disk and select the appropriate menu.
So, the console began loading. You will be asked which OS you need to log into. If you have only one “Windows”, then enter the number 1 and press the “Enter” key. There are many commands in the management console that you don't need to know all of. Just a few are enough. But if you are interested, you can enter Help. For a more specific look at help for a specific command, you need to enter the name and /?.
There is a special function Bootcfg, with which you can restore the system boot.ini file if it has been damaged or deleted. There is nothing complicated, just enter 1 everywhere and press Enter. A slightly crooked file will be created, without the correct OS name, but it will work and the system will boot.
If there was NTLDR, then you need to use the fixboot command. This problem occurs when the boot sector or the NTLDR file, which is responsible for booting, is damaged. It is located in the root folder of drive C (if it is bootable).
If your hard drive is almost dead, and it is slowly moving from retirement to grave, then you need to use the chkdsk function. Using it, you will have the sectors on your hard drive restored (to the extent possible), and then, perhaps, your Windows will boot.
Other recovery methods.
If all else fails, then you need to tear down your OS and install a new one. But first try restoring your system (not through the console). This option will be available at the moment. There will be three options: install, restore and cancel.
During installation, drive C will be erased. If you select the recovery option, system files and the entire “Windows” folder will be replaced.
But you can also just do the installation, but without formatting. In this case, all old data will be saved and a folder named “C” will be created in the root directory and your new OS will be there. Then you will have to clean up the garbage from the old copy.
If you cannot restore Windows XP without reinstalling, then this article is just for you. Below we will describe various methods that allow you to do this “operation” without losses.
without reinstallation: option 2
If you were still able to boot, but there is no recovery point, then you need to try to restore the files using a disk with the Windows XP distribution kit (exactly the same build that you have installed) and one special built-in mini-utility.
To run it, you need to open the “Run” dialog box. Press "Windows"+R on your keyboard. Insert the disk and then enter “sfc /scannow”. As a result of this, all your corrupted or missing files will be recreated.
How to restore Windows XP without reinstalling: option 3
If your OS does not boot, it means that some boot files are damaged. We need to try to revive them. This can be done using the command line.
Booting from disk. In the BIOS, set the drive as the first boot device, or press F2 when loading the system. It happens that f12. Depends on the BIOS version. The key and the Boot menu will be indicated there.
Once you are in the console, you can try to revive the boot.ini file using the Bootcfg command. If you find it difficult to use it, then enter Bootcfg /?, and then you will get help on this function.
If the NTLDR file, which is responsible for booting, has been corrupted, then you must 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, it means you cannot start the computer. Because the system cannot work, you cannot use the “sfc” utility. But there is another way.
Again, we will need a disk with Windows. Let's go into the installation. Don’t be alarmed right away, since we are talking about restoring the OS without reinstalling.
We accept the agreement and so on. Next, the installer will scan your hard drive for other operating systems. If your old Windows is found (it will be undefined only if 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? All data from the Windows folder will be overwritten, as well as those system files located in the root directory. That is, everything most necessary and necessary for the stable functioning and operation of the system will be in perfect order.
In addition, your program folder, desktop, etc. will not change. This is very convenient, but it takes the same amount of time as installation, if you do not take into account the time for installing software, drivers, and other things.
23.05.2015
When working in Windows XP, problems arise that can lead to lost work time. You can restore functionality using System Restore.
Microsoft operating systems are especially susceptible to viruses. In addition, there are many other reasons that can cause a failure. When the boot area is damaged or system files become infected, users often resort to reinstalling Windows.
When it is not possible to start safe mode, and errors occur when starting the operating system, the first thing you need to think about is restoring the system. This feature allows you to return to a saved copy of system files, thereby giving new life to Windows without resorting to a complete reinstallation.
Why is it better to use Windows XP recovery than reinstallation?
Most IT professionals prefer reinstalling Windows XP over repair. They argue that in this way the system will be updated, will stop producing errors, and the problems will disappear by themselves. This is true.
However, restoration has no less effect, in addition, it has advantages:
- Takes much less time;
- Does not require backup of all information stored on the system drive (it is worth moving files from folders such as “My Documents”, “Desktop”, pages saved in “Favorites”);
- There is no need to search and install drivers;
- No need to reinstall the software;
- Software settings, network equipment and user system parameters do not need to be re-entered.
All of these benefits of recovery over installation are possible if recovery points are created correctly and periodically.
What are Windows XP restore points and how to work with them
In order to use Windows XP recovery, the following conditions must be met:
- Enable the appropriate service;
- Create a point that is relevant to you;
- The program responsible for the recovery process must be running. It is located in the folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore\rstrui.exe
You can simply check whether the recovery service is running by launching the application from Utilities.
A point represents a backup of important data for a certain period of time. As a rule, it is created automatically when changes are made to system settings. You can also create a restore point yourself. It is recommended to do this before installing updated drivers or questionable software.
To create a manual backup, you must follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu and go to standard programs;
- Find the “System Tools” item and run System Restore;
- Select "Create a restore point".
Creation may take from 5 to 30 minutes depending on how busy Windows is. It is recommended to create a point manually immediately after reinstalling the operating system, installing the necessary drivers and programs on it, and also entering network settings.
Methods to start Windows XP recovery
Since the process of returning to a previous system state is often a mission-critical operation, there are several ways to initiate it.
Method 1. Recovery using a point
You can start Windows XP recovery from a point by using safe mode, if it is possible to start it. This is done using the “F8” key while loading the operating system.
The program will prompt you to select one of the calendar dates when automatic or manual backup was launched to a special folder. It is necessary to choose the most stable version when Windows XP has not yet been damaged or infected with viruses.
The disadvantages of this method of rolling back to a backup are the following nuances:
- Safe mode may not start at all;
- Point files may be infected or damaged by viruses;
- Unlike later versions, rollback from points is not possible when using the boot menu or running from disk;
- Some files are not replaced, but copies are created;
- Monitoring the system partition takes up RAM.
Method 2. Rollback using distribution kit
If you have a Windows XP installation distribution at home, recorded on a disk or flash drive, or the automatic backup service has been disabled, you can always use it to restore the system. Depending on the current situation, you can start the process using two methods:
- If the operating system boots normally. In this case, you need to insert the installation disc and wait for the menu to load. In it you need to select “Install…” and click “Next”.
In the next window, instead of installation, select “Update” from the drop-down menu.
- If Windows XP does not boot at all, then the last resort using disk recovery is to start from the boot area. To do this, you need to select the desired device with the distribution in Bios in boot priorities and start from it. During the installation process, you will be presented with an option selection menu, where you will need to press the “R” button, which starts system recovery.
After the distribution detects the system partition and finds the installed copy, it will offer a choice. You need to highlight it and confirm the action again with the “R” button.
- When restoring the system from the distribution, driver files that are system may be replaced, which can lead to new hardware conflicts;
- To launch a rollback, it is advisable to use the installation disk from which the installation was performed;
- An official or at least not truncated distribution is required, as in most assemblies to save space for drivers, otherwise the rollback function may be disabled there.
Do not forget that the recovery function does not guarantee 100% system functionality at the end of the operation and will not return lost data. If your personal files have been damaged, use a specialized program.
Result:
Despite the fact that, unlike modern versions in Windows XP, the recovery system is far from ideal, you should not disable it. In the seventh and eighth versions of Windows, the use of a backup point for rollback is more thoughtful. Most of the errors and problems of this process have been fixed there. In addition, the main distinguishing ability is the ability to create a copy of an entire partition (image) for subsequent recovery and work with a point from the bootloader.
Each method has its own disadvantages, and a backup copy may not always be a salvation. However, in most cases, this option allows you to quickly restore functionality to your personal computer. And then you can begin the necessary operations to treat viruses or search for deleted information.
The Windows XP operating system today is outdated and does not release the necessary updates that relieve it of numerous “bugs”, freezes during loading and system failures. Therefore, even on the most modern computers, users may experience various problems. But not all Windows XP users immediately undertake to reinstall the system or completely format existing local drives. If only because the computer may contain important information for the user that he needs for various purposes. And it’s simply unlikely that anyone will want to reinstall all the necessary programs after reinstalling the computer, remembering pages and tabs on the Internet and restoring them in browsers. And for such a case, you can use operating system recovery. This will require either a special recovery disk or a program specifically designed for this process. Let us consider each of these two options in more detail, and let the reader choose the most suitable one for him.
Recovery using disk
If there are problems starting the operating system or the user simply is not able to access the Desktop to use special programs (and this may be due to viruses, access blocking, or a missing system file), then it is necessary to use a recovery disk. This disk is a regular bootable version of Windows XP, with which the operating system is installed on the computer. To restore your computer's functionality, you must follow these steps:
- A boot disk with the operating system is inserted into the CD/DVD drive and the installation program is launched. After this, you need to wait until the following screen appears:
- At the bottom you can see the inscription “Restore”. The recovery operation starts after pressing the “R” key, which is what the user needs to do. After this, you need to show a little patience - the system scans the hard drive for any operating systems installed on the computer. As a result, the following window appears:
- Enter the number of the copy of Windows XP, which is located on one of the local drives (a common option is the “1” button). Then the Administrator password is entered, and if there is none, simply press the “Enter” key. If everything was done correctly, then direct system recovery will be available in the next step, when a special console appears in front of the user:
Such a recovery cannot be carried out because, due to some types of malfunctions, the boot disk may not detect copies of Windows XP on the computer (which happens quite often). But if such problems do not arise, then you can continue to use the recovery disk and begin the procedure using the fixmbr command, which is designed to restore the MBR. This is done as follows:
- The fixmbr command is entered, after which the action is confirmed with the “Y” key;
- After this, you must enter another boot command, fixboot, and confirm the changes in the same way. After this action, you need to reboot, for which you enter the exit command.
After all of the above steps, users are able to restore the functionality of the existing operating system, but if it was not possible to carry out all these steps (due to impossibility or complexity), then you can use standard Windows XP OS resources or use a special program.
Recovery using programs
The user has two options: you can either use system resources, or install a program that will help restore the system. First, let's look at what can be done without using programs.
“Rollback” the system to a previous state
This method is only possible for prudent users who have previously created a system restore point on their computer. This restore point allows you to return the functionality of your computer to the state it had at the time this point was created. System Restore can be found at the following location: Start menu – All Programs – Accessories – System Tools – System Restore. Next, everything is done very simply - the recovery wizard greets you, after which a calendar appears with marked system backup points. But such points must be created prematurely, since without their presence it is not possible to do anything. Users who have already worked with this component will immediately try to restore the system in this way. For others, the only option will be a program specifically designed for such situations.
System recovery programs
There are many different programs that can be used to restore your system. Most of them are “tailored” for all existing operating systems, so they are universal and can be used even if there is another OS. We will not describe all the features of working with each program - what is good for one user may not be entirely appropriate for another. All of the programs listed below have a simple and user-friendly interface and provide a very simple recovery procedure. The user can only choose which program is most convenient for him.
- File Rescue Pro. An excellent program that can restore almost all existing data on a computer. Using it, you can recover both accidentally deleted files and damaged components of Windows XP or files that were damaged due to virus attacks. Can be used in file systems FAT12, FAT 16, FAT32, NTFS.
- FomSoft Disk Doctor. A program that is intended specifically for working with the restoration of components and files of operating systems. Allows you to automatically build a directory tree, checks logical and physical sectors of disks and recovers lost files. Can be used in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 operating systems.
- Raise Data Recovery for FAT. This program is specifically designed to work in the FAT file system, which is most often installed on users' computers. In addition to standard recovery functions, there is a special set of tools that can be used to restore even a severely damaged system.
- BlueScreen View. A very useful utility that allows you not only to restore data on your computer, but also provides all the information about failures in a summary table. In the table you can see information about the name of the dump file, basic information that was output to the system during the BSOD, and all the necessary information about the module or driver that caused the system failure.
- Recuva 1.49. A simple and intuitive program that is designed to recover deleted files. The main advantage is ease of use and a clear, accessible interface.
In addition to the above programs, there are others that can be no less useful and functional. We have given an example of free and universal programs that can be used not only exclusively for system recovery, but also for restoring other files.
