This is a step-by-step guide to getting your Windows XP computer back into working order. When you have completed one section, try restarting your computer to determine if the issue is resolved. If not, proceed to the next section.

You can find more information about all of these procedures in the Other Useful Articles section below and also on the Microsoft Knowledge base: http://www.microsoft.com/support

When starting your computer you may receive some form of error message.

• If you receive an error message continue at Step 1.
• If you don't receive an error message continue at Step 2.

1. Note the exact text of the error message.
2. Look at the Other Useful Articles section below.
3. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/support
4. Type the error message in the Search box.
5. If you can't find an article specific to your error message, continue below.

1. Remove the power cable, and re-insert after about 10 seconds.
2. If your computer is a laptop, remove the mains cable and the battery. Again re-connect after about 10 seconds.

1. Restart the computer and tap F8 on the keyboard as the computer starts.
2. You should arrive at the Windows Advanced Options menu. (White text on a black screen).
3. If you do not get this menu, and the original problem reoccurs, you may have been too late in tapping F8. Ensure the computer is off and try again.
4. If you don't get this menu, and the computer stops very soon after starting, try resetting the BIOS on your computer. (please contact RM Support for advice on this).

1. On the Windows Advanced Option menu, moving up and down the menu with the arrow keys on the keyboard, choose Last Known Good Configuration, and press Enter.
2. The next screen may ask you to 'Select the operating system to start'. Normally only Windows XP will be listed, so just press Enter .
3. Windows will now attempt to restart using the registry information that was saved during the last shutdown.

1. On the Windows Advanced Option menu, moving up and down the menu with the arrow keys on the keyboard, choose Safe Mode, and press Enter.
2. Windows will attempt to load in Safe Mode.
3. If Safe Mode will not load continue at Step 6.
4. Go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.
5. Dates that you can restore your computer to are in bold type.
6. Choose a restore date which was before your problem occurred and click Restore.
7. Windows will now attempt to restart using the saved restore information.

1. For this step you will need the RM Recovery CD that came with your computer.
2. Insert the CD and turn the computer off.
3. Turn the computer back on, and look for a prompt to "Press any key to boot from CD" (some systems may not ask).
   • If you cannot boot from the CD, you may need to change the boot sequence in BIOS. Contact RM Support if necessary.
4. Press any key on the keyboard and Windows Setup will launch (blue screen with white text) .
5. After a few minutes you will be presented with the following choices:

6. Press R to repair the Windows XP installation.
7. The next screen will ask you which Windows installation you would like to log on to. Normally the following will be listed:

8. Press 1, then Enter to continue.
9. You may now be asked for the Administrator password. If you know this type it and press Enter. If you don't know the Administrators password it may be blank. Just press Enter (contact RM Support if you have difficulty with this).
10. At the command prompt type:

11. Press Enter
12. Chkdsk will now check the hard drive for errors, and will attempt to repair any it finds.
13. This process may take a while, but when finished will go back to the same command prompt as before.
14. Turn off and restart the computer.

1. This process will reinstall Windows XP over itself, retaining all your documents and most settings (assuming none of these files or folders are corrupted).
2. For this step you will again need the RM Recovery CD that came with your computer.
3. Insert the CD and turn the computer off.
4. Turn the computer back on, and look for a prompt to 'press any key to boot from CD' (some systems may not ask).
5. Press any key on the keyboard and Windows Setup will launch (blue screen with white text).
6. After a few minutes you will be presented with the following choices:

If Windows XP Setup cannot detect your existing installation of Windows XP, you may be able to install Windows XP to a different folder and retrieve personal files before performing an RMRestor.

At the end of Step 7 you will have got to one of the following prompts

To get to this stage, it's likely that one of the following applies:

1. The partitions on your hard drive are faulty in some way.
2. You don't have enough space on your hard drive to install Windows in Step 8.
3. Your hard drive has a hardware fault.

You now have two choices depending on if you have or haven't data on the hard drive that you need to save.

1. If you don't need to save anything on the hard drive, go to Step 10.
2. If you would like to try and retrieve some data on the hard drive continue below:
3. Retrieving data at this stage is difficult, and may involve more advanced technical knowledge to perform retrieval. Please note: Data retrieval is not supported by RM .
4. The following however is general advice and may be of some help:
   • The hard drive can be removed from the PC and attached to another computer (as a slave, or in a USB caddy) in an attempt to retrieve the data.
   • An NTFS boot disk can be created and files can be copied to floppy discs - http://www.ntfs.com/ has such a boot disk, however this is completely unsupported by RM.
   • A proprietry data recovery program can be run on the hard drive. Often such products are used by booting the computer from the data recovery program's own CD. RM does not officially recommend any specific data recovery software, and cannot support its use.

RMRestor uses a copy of your original Windows installation which is hidden at the end of your hard drive.

Performing an RMRestor will completely wipe your C: drive, including all your personal data, and installed programs, and reinstall Windows in just a few minutes. The resulting Windows installation will have all pre-installed programs reinstalled and all drivers will be installed.

For information and step-by-step instructions on running an RMRestor, see the articles in the Other Useful Articles section.