Repairing a Corrupt Installation of Windows Vista

• 1). If your Windows Vista installation loads, try running System Restore. To run System Restore, open your start menu, click "Accessories," then click "System Tools." Next, click on the "System Restore" menu item.
  
  
• 2). System Restore will launch, then will suggest a restore point for you. Your system automatically creates restore points at scheduled times. If you wish to restore your PC to a different time, click the radio button: "Choose a different restore point." A list of all your restore points will appear with the details of each restore point. Select the point to which you wish to restore your system and click "next." Otherwise, select "next" with the suggested restore point selected. Click "Finish" on the next page, and Windows Vista will attempt to restore your PC to the selected point.
  
  
• 3). If System Restore fails or does not fix Windows, or Windows does not load at all, you will need to use your Windows Vista CD to attempt a startup repair. Configure your PC to boot from the optical drive via the BIOS setup. Each PC has different ways of entering the BIOS, therefore, consult your PC's manual or online knowledge base at the manufacturer's website to learn how to do this. Generally, it involves pressing a button at the POST screen (the screen immediately displayed when you first power on your PC), and changing the boot order.
  
  
• 4). Once you successfully change the boot order, reboot your PC. Press any key on the keyboard when the prompt "Press any key to boot from CD ..." appears on the screen. The Windows Vista setup program will launch. Click "Repair your computer."
  
  
• 5). Windows setup will scan for installations of Windows. Select the corrupt installation of Windows and press "Startup Repair." Follow the prompts issued by Windows to repair the installation of Windows. You may need to reboot your computer multiple times as prompted by the Startup Repair program, so make sure to monitor the repair's progress. If Windows setup cannot find any installations of Windows, you will need to perform a clean install, as your installation is unrepairable.
  
  

Repairing a Corrupt Installation of Windows XP

• 1). If your installation of Windows XP will boot, as with Vista, you can use the System Restore program to attempt to repair Windows XP. If not, you will need to attempt a repair install (see step 4). Click the start menu and select "Accessories," followed by "System Tools." Click the "System Restore" icon to load the System Restore program.
  
  
• 2). On the "Welcome to System Restore" page, select the "Restore my computer to an earlier time" radio button and click "next." A list of system restore points will appear. As with Windows Vista, your system automatically creates restore points. Select the most recent restore point and click "next."
  
  
• 3). Windows will attempt to restore your installation of Windows XP and reboot. If System Restore succeeds and your PC is running as it should, you are finished. If not, or your installation of Windows does not boot, you will need to attempt a repair install.
  
  
• 4). First, configure the PC to load from the optical drive. Step 3 of the "Repairing a corrupt version of Windows Vista" section contains instructions for how to change the boot order to load from the optical drive.
  
  
• 5). Restart the PC. Press any key on the keyboard when the prompt "Press any key to boot from CD ..." appears on the screen. Windows Setup will start and will load basic drivers. When prompted, press "enter" to start the Windows installation.
  
  
• 6). Follow the prompts to accept the Windows licensing agreement.
  
  
• 7). The Windows install menu will appear. Press "R" to select an installation of Windows XP to repair. If the repair option does not appear, your installation of Windows is unrepairable, and you will need to perform a clean install.