Restore Default Configuration

Question

I am having trouble booting up and, long story short, I need to know what will happen if, after I have pressed F10 during start-up to get to the ROM based Start-up, I select "restore default configuration"

Will this restore to factory settings? I have files I have not backed up and would like to save them if I can.

Answer 1

Wow thanks, ok so it says  UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

and the Technical Information is *** STOP: 0x000000ED (0x82F35900, 0xC000009C, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Any suggestions?

Answer 2

In that case, it sounds like you are getting a Blue Screen of Death but can't see it since XP is configured to automatically restart under such circumstances.

When your system is booting, you need to start tapping the F8 key frequently, quickly and repeatedly until you get to the Advanced Boot Options menu that has this option:

Disable Automatic restart on system error

If you miss the F8 window of opportunity and don't see the option, you need to try again.

Then you can see the BSOD when your boot effort fails and then decide what to do next.

Here are some BSOD blue screen of death examples showing information you need to provide:

http://techrepublic.com.com/i/tr/downloads/images/bsod_a.jpg

Send the information pointed to with the red arrows (3-4 lines total).  Skip the boring text unless it looks important to you.  We know what a BSOD looks like, we need to know the other information that is specific to your BSOD.

Do you have a genuine bootable XP installation CD from which you can boot the XP Recovery Console if needed?

if not, you can make a bootable XP Recovery Console CD.  Then you may be able to fix your system, or you can at least navigate and copy your files to some other device if you would rather.

There are other bootable CD options that may be helpful.  I am lately leaning towards Hiren's boot CD version 11 which you can download from here:

http://www.hirensbootcd.net/download.html

When you boot on Hiren's, it has a Mini XP mode that has a Windows Explorer type interface you are familiar with already and you can copy all your stuff to a USB device, etc. and it includes many tools and utilities that you can use to see if you can get your system going once you know what the BSOD says.

---

Don't guess what the problem might be - figure it out and fix it. I need YOUR votes and points for helpful replies and Propose as Answers. I am saving up for a pony!

Answer 3

I have an HP Compaq NC6000 tht is running on Windows XP

When I turn on the computer I am sent to the screen that says "Windows did not start successfully" and I have to select either start-up normally, one of the 3 safe-mode options, or start at last known good configuration. No matter which I select I get the Windows logo for about 5 seconds, a quick flash of blue screen, then back to the HP logo, and this runs on a perpetual loop.

If I press F10 while the HP logo is up, I can get into a "ROM based Set-up" and I don't know what to do when I get there, if there is a way to get to my files or get into a different type of safe-mode...

Answer 4

Please describe the booting up trouble and perhaps it can be resolved.

What is your system make and model?

What is your XP version and Service Pack?

Describe your current antivirus and anti malware situation:  McAfee, Norton, Spybot, AVG, Avira!, MSE, Defender, ZoneAlarm,

PC Tools, Comodo, etc.

You will never lose any personal files on your system unless you lose them by negligence, your own hand or trying things.

---

Don't guess what the problem might be - figure it out and fix it. I need YOUR votes and points for helpful replies and Propose as Answers. I am saving up for a pony!

Answer 5

A computer's hard disk can fail at any time, without warning, wiping out all of your files.  I recommend that you back up your files to an external medium right now!  You need a backup even if you're not planning to restore the computer.

A startup option called "restore default configuration" almost certainly restores the computer to factory settings.  What brand of computer is it?  What does the computer's User Manual say about that option?

Some computer manufacturers offer a "non-destructive" restore that preserves your data files while re-installing Windows.  But I wouldn't rely on that, because it's easy to make a mistake when doing a restore.  I'd back up my files before any type of restore operation.  And be sure to disconnect the backup drive from the computer before starting the restore.

---

Boulder Computer Maven

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional