How to Create an Emergency Repair Disk
By Stephen Bucaro
If your operating system is Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000, it isn't
bootable with a boot disk. With these operating systems you need an Emergency Repair
Disk that works with the systems built-in repair functions.
Note: Windows XP Home Edition doesn't use an Emergency Repair Disk, instead it uses
the Windows Me style System Restore feature.
To create an Emergency Repair Disk, prepare a formatted floppy disk and label it
Emergency Repair Disk along with the date and specify which computer it was
made with. An Emergency Repair Disk is specific to the system that you created it on.
Click Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Backup. The Backup
utility window will appear. Click on the Emergency Repair Disk button. When
prompted to, insert the formatted floppy disk that you prepared into the floppy disk
drive. Set the check box to also backup the registry. Then click on the OK button.
After the Emergency Repair Disk has been written, click the OK button and remove the disk.
If your computer fails to start, the Emergency Repair Disk will help you repair your
system files. it works with information stored in your computers C:WINNT/repair folder.
To use the Emergency Repair Disk to restore your computer:
1. Make sure your BIOS is configured to boot from the CD-ROM Drive. Then start your
computer from your Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 setup CD. You may be
prompted to press a key to boot from the CD-ROM drive.
2. You will be prompted if you want to set up Windows 2000, or if you want to repair
a damaged system. To repair a damaged system press R.
3. You will prompted if you want to use the Recovery Console or if you want to use
the Emergency Repair Process to repair your system. Press R to repair using
the Emergency Repair Process.
4. You will be prompted if want to use the manual repair option or the fast repair
option. The fast repair option does not require any user interaction. The manual
repair option should be used only by experienced users. Press F to use the
Fast Repair option.
5. You will be asked if you have the Emergency Repair Disk or if you want Windows
2000 to attempt to locate Windows 2000 for you. Press Enter if you have the
Emergency Repair Disk.
6. You will be prompted to insert the Windows 2000 Emergency Repair Disk. Insert the
disk into the floppy drive and press Enter.
With a little luck Windows 2000 will be able to repair itself. Most people don't
consider creating an Emergency Repair Disk until their computer fails to start -
then it's too late. Why not take a minute to make one now?
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