Summary: A hard drive glitch, virus, or other data catastrophe can delete or
damage critical system files in any operating system. Windows Vista and
Windows 7 offer new repair procedures not found in earlier versions of
Windows. Here are a couple ways to attempt repairs of Vista and Windows 7
installations without having to reformat and reinstall Windows from
scratch...
If your Vista or Windows 7
system isn't working properly, there are some tools built into the
operating system that you can use to attempt repairs. If your computer
can boot up into the Windows desktop, I suggest that you first try the
System Restore tool. This will roll back the state of your Windows
system to an earlier point in time. The problem may be some change
you've made recently, such as a new program that did not install
properly. To run System Restore,
- Click on the Start button
- Click All Programs
- Click Accessories
- Click Systems Tools
- Click System Restore
In the System Restore screen, click on "Choose a different restore
point" to display a list of restore points that have been created in the
past. Click on a recent restore point to select it. You will lose
recently installed programs, but not your documents or data files,
during a System Restore. Before executing the system restore you can see
a list of what programs will be affected; just click on the button
labeled "Show affected programs and drivers."
Click Next, then Finish. After the restoration process ends, click
Finish to restart the system.
The Startup Repair Option
If System Restore does not solve your problems, or you cannot boot up
normally, try the Startup Repair procedure. Startup Repair is an
option in the Vista and Windows 7 System Recovery Options menu.
Startup Repair will scan your computer for things that might prevent
Windows from starting correctly, such as missing or damaged system
files. If it finds a problem, it will try to fix or replace the
affected files so your computer can start normally.
Startup Repair should be used only after trying System Restore,
because it will wipe out many custom settings, drivers, and other
operating system files. You will have to reconfigure Windows to your
taste and reinstall third-party drivers.
Below are instructions on how to run Startup Repair. I suggest you
read and print them before beginning, because you'll have to restart
your computer in order to continue.
The System Recovery Options menu may be pre-installed on your Vista
or Win7 system. If that's the case, you can access System Recovery
Options by restarting your computer and holding down the F8 key. When
the Advanced Boot Options screen appears, choose the "Repair your
computer" option, press Enter, and then select "Startup Repair."
If the "Repair your computer" option isn't there, you'll have to
access it from the Windows installation disk as follows:
- Insert the Vista or Windows 7 installation disc in the drive, and
restart your computer.
- If you're prompted to do so, press a key to start Windows from the
installation disc, instead of the hard drive.
- Choose your language and/or keyboard settings, then click Next.
- Click on Repair your computer
- Select the Windows installation you want to repair, then click
Next. If you have only one Windows installation on your computer, you
may be able to skip this step.
- When the System Recovery Options menu appears, click Startup
Repair
Startup Repair will begin to scan your system for errors, and may ask
you some questions during the repair process. Your computer may also
restart several times during the process. If repairs are successful,
you'll reboot normally into your Windows desktop. If not, Startup
Repair will display a list of the problems it found, along with
instructions on how to get further support.
I also recommend that you run the Disk Cleanup utility (Click Start,
All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then Disk Cleanup) after any
repair, to remove old and temporary files, then reboot once more into
your repaired Windows installation.
Copyright © 2005
- 2010
- Bob Rankin
(Win7-Vista_How2Repair.htm)
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