There are several methods to fix your PC, including using the System Recovery program. Try these methods in the order listed here, or refer to the table that follows the list.
•Restart When you restart the computer, the PC starts over using the operating system and software in its memory. This is the simplest repair for your PC; just click Start, choose Turn Off Computer, and then click Restart.
•Turn Off Computer When you turn off the computer and then turn it on again, you force the PC to copy the operating system into its memory and to clear some tracking information. This may eliminate some problems that can remain after performing a Restart. To turn off the computer just click Start, choose Turn Off Computer, and then click Turn Off.
•Driver Rollback This Microsoft Windows XP feature is part of the Windows Installer program used with the Add or Remove Programs utility in the Control Panel. It can revert to the previous version of a driver program if an installation fails when you are installing a new version of the driver program. For more information, type Rollback into the Search box in Help and Support.
•System Restore This Microsoft Windows XP feature allows you to bring your computer configuration back to a previous time when a current software problem may not have existed. The feature does this by creating a “restore point” where it records the PC settings at that time and date. The installation of some software automatically sets a restore point for you, but it is recommended to manually set restore points, especially before installing or downloading additional software. When using Add Programs from the Add or Remove Programs feature under the computer Control Panel, the operating system automatically creates a restore point before it adds the software. If you experience a problem that you think may be due to software on your computer, use System Restore to return the PC to a previous restore point. For more information, type System Restore into the Search box in Help and Support.
• Application and Driver Recovery If the problem with the PC seems to be with only one program or one driver, it may be that the application program or the driver program is damaged. You can reinstall individual
•System Recovery Use the Compaq System Recovery program as a last resort to reinstall the software. Perform System Recovery using the hard disk drive partition first; see “System Recovery.” If necessary, next perform System Recovery using the recovery discs and choose Standard Recovery; see “System Recovery Using Recovery Discs.” Finally, if necessary, perform System Recovery using the recovery discs and choose full System Recovery.
Before using the Compaq System Recovery program or the Compaq Application Recovery program, use
System Restore.
NOTE: Your PC hard disk drive contains the System Recovery image in a partition area of the disk drive. The PC does not include recovery discs in the accessory box, but you can make your own recovery CDs or DVDs; see “Creating Recovery CDs/DVDs.”
When your PC stops working correctly, the Restart, Turn Off Computer, and Driver Rollback methods (described above) may resolve the problem. After you have tried these three methods, if needed, try the remaining actions, using the table that follows as a quick reference.
For the specific PC problem, try the method listed as #1, then #2, and then #3.
| Microsoft | Application | System Recovery | System Recovery |
| Recovery | from the hard | from the recovery | |
Problem/Status | System Restore | program | disk partition | CDs/DVDs |
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You installed a new application or | 1 |
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device driver |
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An application does not work | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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A device driver does not work |
| 1 | 2 |
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PC stops responding or does not work | 1 |
| 2 | 3 |
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You replaced the hard disk drive or |
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| 1 |
removed the partition |
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7