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Every now and again, I help out a friend or a member of the family with their Windows XP pc, the issues people are having always vary, but as an example, one was that Windows was blue screening, and they couldn’t get it to work, I thought I’d post a few basic steps I always try and where everything is typically kept to back up your pc.

When you boot your pc, press f8 just before or as the windows xp screen appears – now try two things, there is ‘safe mode’ and last known good. Think of safe mode as Windows light, everything is disabled and set to basic so no drivers or anything fancy will load, from there you can usually see what’s going on in the event logs. Last known good is basically starting up Windows with the last set settings/configuration before you started the problem as Windows should take a back up of the last known good configuration.

Everything that is you is typically stored in c:\documents and settings\your username -this folder contains – (note some applications store data in their program files folder(s)):

• Your pictures
• Your music
• Your documents
• Application data – this is typically where outlook puts your outlook folders
• Temp – this contains any temporary files
• Favourites – your internet explorer favourites

If none of this works, there are a number of things you can try, but often it’s easier to install Windows XP again. As a rule this is what I do, first of all disconnect it from the internet, you don’t want to finish installing windows and then find as soon as it connects to the internet it’s messed up again.

• Install Windows XP – put in the cdrom, reboot and press any key to boot from cd – if you’ve backed everything up, re-format the drive and do a clean install
• Install Windows XP service pack 2 (or whatever the latest one is – 2 is currently) – reboot after set up – it’s fine
• Enable the Windows firewall and automated update features
• Now download and install Windows Installer 3.1 it will probably ask you to reboot – that’s fine
• Now install your anti virus software or download AVG if you need free anti virus software – the free version is actually very good
• Now you may connect the pc to the internet – you’ve got anti virus and firewall enabled so your pc is relatively secure (as much as it can be for free)
• Now do a Windows update or if you need to install your network/wireless drivers so you can get the pc on the internet to do a Windows update
• Ensure the AVG software is updated as well, open the application and click update when you’re connected to the internet.
• Then to restore your settings, copy in your favourites, then copy in your pictures/music/documents

The reason I install Windows, then SP2, then anti virus software, then connect to the internet is that this secures your pc first. Windows Installer 3.1 is simply because it’s a component required for Windows update, and by downloading and installing it, you make the windows update process that bit quicker. The other thing to consider is the googlepack, it really is great and includes typically everything you’ll need to be online, but only download the bits you want/need.
Now as with anything my comments could be debated dependent on your preferences, the way you do things, but hopefully this helps.

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