Repair Windows Without Formatting

If you've ever did something wrong to you computer, but don't want to start over from scratch, read on!

Steps

  1. Navigate to the System Restore page in the control panel.
    • Do this in safe mode. To get to safe mode, restart your machine, keep tapping F8 until you get a list of boot options, pick Safe Mode.
    • In Window Vista, it's Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Backup and Restore Center > Use System Restore to fix problems and undo changes to Windows.
    • In Windows XP it's in Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
    • Usually, you can choose a number of restore points that are automatically made by your computer at regular time intervals. Choose the most recent one that was set before you started experiencing problems.
  2. Run a virus scan, if you do not have an antivirus program download AVG free from http://free.grisoft.com
  3. Run a spyware scan, use Windows Defender, AdAware or SpyBot.
  4. Run a Disk Cleanup from Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup
  5. Download the latest updates
    • In Windows Vista go to Start > Control Panel > Windows Update and click check for new updates, follow the on screen instructions to install.
    • In Windows XP or 2000 open Internet Explorer and go to http://www.windowsupdate.com, you will be redirected to the appropriate update site, follow the instructions to install new updates.
  6. Go to Start>Run and type msconfig, press enter.
    • Go to the startup tab in the msconfig window, uncheck any items that you do not use/recognise, be careful not to uncheck things like antivirus software and do not mess with the other tabs unless you know what you're doing, which if you're reading this, you don't, just leave it.
  7. Uninstall unnecessary programs, do you really need them all?
  8. Defragment your hard drive
    • In Windows XP go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Defragmenter
    • If you have more than one partition select drive C: and click 'Defragment'
    • This can take a long time, bring a book.

Tips

  • This is a general solution to your system becoming slow or crashing, there is no method that will repair all problems apart from a complete reinstall, if your problem is not solved by this article, consult a professional

Warnings

  • If you have absolutely no idea what you are doing, consult an IT adviser.
  • Many viruses and trojans can not be removed by antivirus or anti-spyware tools, a good example of this is a fake antivirus program, never click a window that claims to have detected a virus on your machine unless you know that it is your antivirus software, any internet window offering help is a scam and will infect your PC, and this guide will not help.
  • System Restore can cause newly installed hardware to function incorrectly, if this happens, remove the hardware and its driver, download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website and reinstall your hardware using this driver.

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