The Windows operating system, for all its convenience, is rather unreliable and often crashes or fails, refusing to boot. You can reinstall the OS, but you should try to restore it first.
Instructions
Step 1
If the OS boots, try restoring it via the restore option. Open: "Start" - "All Programs" - "Accessories" - "System Tools" - "System Restore". You should be aware that you can only perform a system restore if you have created restore points earlier.
Step 2
Check the "System Restore" item in the window that opens (usually it is selected by default), click "Next". The days on which the restore points were created are highlighted in dark on the calendar. Select the desired restore point and click Next again. The recovery process will begin and the system will reboot. After rebooting, a message will appear stating that the system has been successfully restored.
Step 3
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to restore Windows in this way. This is especially true if you frequently install and uninstall programs. In this case, you can try to restore Windows to normal using a boot disk.
Step 4
Restart your computer and start booting from CD, select Windows Install. After the installation starts, wait for the screen to appear, in which you will be asked to press Enter to install Windows or enter the recovery console by pressing the R key. Press Enter, wait for the OS list screen. Highlight the one you want and press R. An attempt will be made to restore Windows. All your files and settings will remain intact.
Step 5
If the OS does not start at all, first try to start it by pressing F8 at startup and choosing to load the last good configuration. If the screen for selecting boot options does not appear, repeat the procedure described just above, but stop at the first screen and select recovery using the console. Select the copy of Windows you want (if there are more than one). When prompted to enter a password, enter it or just press Enter if no password is set. A prompt will appear: C: WINDOWS>. Enter the fixboot command and press Enter, confirm the operation. A new boot sector will be created.
Step 6
Enter the following command: fixmbr and press Enter, agree to all warnings. A boot record will be created. Enter exit, the computer will restart. The OS should now boot successfully.
Step 7
What if all attempts to restore Windows have failed? In the event that it boots at least in safe mode (selection via F8), just install a new copy over the old one in update mode. In this case, all your files, programs and settings will be saved.
Step 8
If the OS does not boot at all and you need to reinstall it, you will need a LiveCD - a bootable disk from which you can boot a truncated but fully functional Windows. After booting from the disk, save all important files, preferably on an external media or on another disk (disk partition). After that, it is advisable to format the C drive and reinstall the OS.
