Is it hardware (os not found)? Hard drive failure

Is it hardware (OS not found)? Hard drive failure

• Is it hardware (OS not found)? Hard drive failure

• Is the system powered on? Is the power supply OK?

• Is the system set to boot from the hard disk drive?

• Make sure the POST completes and you get the beep

NTLDR, ntdetect.com and boot.ini are required to start the system

• NTLDR, ntdetect.com and boot.ini are required to start the system

• First, should attempt to repair

• Second, attempt to restore from a backup

• Third, rebuild the OS

• Try not to install (just use from XP CD) Recovery Console on your system – you will get a question at each boot

Need to pick the Windows installation

• Need to pick the Windows installation

• Then administrator password (you do remember it?)

• Now you have a command prompt at C:\

• Can copy to hard disk drive not from it

• Fixmbr: To fix the Master Boot Record (No boot device error)

• Bootcfg / rebuild – rebuilds boot.ini

• Copy d:\i386\ntldr; ntdetect.com

This is the second option to repair Windows that XP offers

• This is the second option to repair Windows that XP offers

• Often called a Repair Installation

• I have had success with this and retained applications and data

HP, Dell and others do this

• HP, Dell and others do this

• Use it to restore computer to the state it was in when it came out of the box

• You loose all data and applications you added; you get all the bloat-ware with the system

Now have a “live DVD” as Windows Preinstallation Environment loads first (WinPE)

• Now have a “live DVD” as Windows Preinstallation Environment loads first (WinPE)

• Has Repair Environment (WinRE) – fixes all but the most stuborn of errors

• Can get there from Advanced Boot Options menu (F8)

Create a recovery drive on a 16GB+ drive by accessing the Recovery applet in Control Panel

• Create a recovery drive on a 16GB+ drive by accessing the Recovery applet in Control Panel

• Can get to WinRE in several ways once you have access to Desktop…

Startup Repair

• Startup Repair

• System Restore

• System Image Recovery (7); Complete PC Restore (Vista) – rebuilding from a backup

• Memory Diagnostic (Tool – Vista)

• Command Prompt

Troubleshoot

• Troubleshoot

• Refresh your PC
• Reset your PC
• Advanced Options
• System Restore
• Image Recovery
• Startup Repair
• Command Prompt
• UEFI Firmware Settings

• Turn off your PC

Repairs a corrupted Registry by accessing the backup copy

• Repairs a corrupted Registry by accessing the backup copy

• Restores critical system and driver files

• Runs fixboot and fixmbr

• Rolls back any non-working drivers

• Uninstalls any incompatible service packs and patches

• Runs chkdsk

• Runs a memory test – different from Memory Diagnostic

Creates file: srttrail.txt with results of tests (long file)

• Creates file: srttrail.txt with results of tests (long file)

• Starts automatically if Windows detects a boot problem

• No harm in running it …

You have been making Restore Points, yes?

• You have been making Restore Points, yes?

• Allows you to “go back in time” to a previously working point

• Can undo the go back procedure

That’s the Win7 name for it

• That’s the Win7 name for it

• Vista: Windows Complete PC Restore

• You have made a full backup of your system lately, yes?

• Restore will wipe out partitions on the drive and Restore will create them from backup

Tests system RAM

• Tests system RAM

• Over and over and over again – each time you restart system

• Mike has not had any better luck

• Use Memtest86+

Only if Startup Repair doesn’t fix it

• Only if Startup Repair doesn’t fix it

• Bootrec repairs master boot record, boot sector or BCD store

• Bootrec /fixmbr
• Bootrec /fixboot
• Replaces fixboot and fixmbr

• BCDEdit shows boot options

• Windows Boot Manager
• Windows Boot Loader

• I had to use BCDEdit to stop memory diagnostic

Diskpart: full-feature partitioning tool

• Diskpart: full-feature partitioning tool

• Lacks the safety features built into Disk Management

Refresh Your PC: rebuilds Windows but preserves all user files and settings and any applications purchased from the Windows Store – deletes all other applications

• Refresh Your PC: rebuilds Windows but preserves all user files and settings and any applications purchased from the Windows Store – deletes all other applications

• Reset Your PC: nukes your system, all apps, programs, user files and settings and installs fresh Windows

Blue Screen of Death – still around

• Blue Screen of Death – still around

• Sometimes it is helpful in problem solving; usually not

• Stop error is another name for it

• Restart system and cross your fingers

• Can be connected to a new device added to system …

• Linux calls it kernel panic

Command-R at boot to access Recovery environment

• Command-R at boot to access Recovery environment

• This enables a full Reset and options for other tools (CompTIA: Image recovery)

GRUB

• GRUB

• If GRUB gets corrupted or missing – failure to start and message about GRUB

• Boot to install media; access the Terminal; run sudo grub –install

Try Last Known Good startup option first

• Try Last Known Good startup option first

• C:\windows\system32\config\regback

• RegIdleBackup backs up Registry every 10 days

• Boot to Windows DVD, access Windows RE Command Prompt and run REG command; from there, copy files up one level to config

Safe Mode – Microsoft drivers and bare-bones system; sometimes helps (F5 key)

• Safe Mode – Microsoft drivers and bare-bones system; sometimes helps (F5 key)

• Can work with Device Manager here
• Msconfig has option to automatically boot to Safe Mode on Boot tab

• If Windows boots directly to Safe Mode, unset the option using msconfig

• Last Known Good – the last (registry and driver) settings that got to the desktop; this should work each time but often does not

Safe Mode with Networking

• Safe Mode with Networking

• Safe Mode with Command Prompt

• Enable Boot Logging – ntbtlog.txt (hidden in root)

• Enable Low Resolution mode

• Directory Services Restore Mode (server only)

• Debugging Mode

• Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure

• Disable Driver Signature Enforcement

• Start Windows Normally

Control Panel | Administrative Tools or right-click (My) Computer and choose Manage

• Control Panel | Administrative Tools or right-click (My) Computer and choose Manage

• Application: events specific to applications

• Security: usually blank unless you set up audits

• System: events specific to OS

• By itself it is not often useful, will send you to Microsoft for slightly better explanation

• System and Security | Administrative Tools

• Try Device Manager first

MSCONFIG to the rescue! There are about four places for autoloading programs; msconfig gathers them together

• MSCONFIG to the rescue! There are about four places for autoloading programs; msconfig gathers them together

• Clear the checkmarks about every six months

• Wireless network cards need their autoload program(s)

Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services

• Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services

• Wireless network cards battle here over their own service (and startup program) and Wireless Zero Configuration

• Start/Stop services here – Windows can override you if it needs the service

• In Task Manager, you can see processor resources – handy

.DLL files – Dynamic Link Library files

• .DLL files – Dynamic Link Library files

• Idea is to do a job once, then come back to it when you need it again

• Used to be a real hassle when files had common names – they would step on each other

• System File Checker might fix errors

Force Quit – option+command+esc

• Force Quit – option+command+esc

• Will show you all running applications

Control Panel applet

• Control Panel applet

• Aggregates information from several sources

• Provides links to tools

Error dialog box – send info to Microsoft

• Error dialog box – send info to Microsoft

• Problem Reports Control Panel applet lists all Windows Error Reporting issues but no guidance on fix

Windows looks for autorun.inf to find the installer program (setup.exe?)

• Windows looks for autorun.inf to find the installer program (setup.exe?)

• Need Administrator privileges

• Uninstall also needs admin rights

• Programs and Features

Download both Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode – do Microsoft website search and both are free

• Download both Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode – do Microsoft website search and both are free

• Must have Windows 7 Pro, Enterprise or Ultimate

VSS for short

• VSS for short

• Will make backup copies of files that are in use

• XP started it, NTBACKUP uses it

• Right-click file, Properties, Previous Versions or right-click file and choose Restore previous versions

• System Protection feature enables you to access backup copies