Our Favorite Tips: Fool Proof XP Repair

Tip submitted by SebastianWhite

Near “fool proof” procedure for repairing XP Operating System

As the cliche poverty-stricken writer, I do not have much in the way of money…

So over the years I have taught myself, and designed a system for avoiding having to spend considerable money on repairs! In fact, because my computer is often on from 7am ish to late… I used to pay out £100’s of each year on these! Additionally, I found 4/5 technicians were not actually that good, and you are better usually doing it yourself in any case!

Nevertheless with a computer that is around 8 years old, and only cost around £120 originally – I have not had to take my computer to a technician, for around 4/5 years I expect. Over the years, I have developed the following system (which as now I am getting a new comp, may become unneccessary for myself – hopefully!) in any case, each one of these steps are placed in priority order, and take a path of commencing with the least invasive – to through experience I have found most promising results:

Hope they help, I just thought rather than dismissing these entirely, they may just help someone!!!

Obviously the last resort is fully reinstalling the entire software, but I do believe the steps will not only save money, but have proven to save much time.

Steps to Troubleshoot and Resolve Comp Issues
and Avoid Full Reinstall:

From the least Invasive to larger More Comprehensive Steps.

1) Run Correction Programmes:

i) Anti – Spyware
ii) Anti – Virus
iii) Reg Fixes.
iv) Run Malware Bytes. Particularly good free programme, able to download from Hippo

2) Fixes problems on the whole on Re – start, if selected:

Start
My Computer
Properties
Tools
Check Now
Tick both boxes
Then Start

3) Disk Defragment.
My Computer
Properties
Tools
Check the second box here – Disk Defragment.

4) Run Progs fix: (Put in Window’s XP Disc!)

Start
Run
SFC (leave one space here)/SCANNOW (do not forget forward/slash before SCANNOW)

5) System Restore to an earlier date:

Start
All Programmes
Accessories
System Tools
System Restore – (choose a date, that is the most recent first – before the change you believe caused the problems!)

6) Possibly turn off system restore, and do a virus scan.

Beware you will lose your restore points, if you follow this course of action, but virus have been know to be caught up in this mechnism, so as a last resort – it is worth turning it off perhaps and scanning.

7) Windows XP – Repair:

Backup & save all My Documents and Word Prog’s to memory sticks.
Save any Documents on the desktop, such as maps and info.
Save AOL PFC & Favourites if necessary.
Save all Drivers on Driver Max if possible for easy reinstall.

See instructions but select the 2nd repair option – on placing the Windows disc in, and switching to safe F5 mode.

7) Full reinstall of windows XP… see instructions.

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