Restoring from a Startup disk

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To run System Restore from the startup disk 

If your computer cannot start Windows at all, you can run System Restore from a startup disk. This will return your computer to the state it was in prior to the problem. If you do not have startup disks follow these instructions. There are 2 types of disks you can create. I recommend the second.

The MS-DOS startup disk you create will allow you to boot into MS-DOS and can be created in Windows XP. Requires one blank floppy disk.

1. Insert a floppy disk into your computer's floppy drive.
2. Open My Computer, and then click the floppy disk drive to select it.
3. On the File menu, point to the name of the floppy drive, and then click Format.
4. Under Format options, click Create an MS-DOS startup disk.
5. Click Start.

Important Note: The MS-DOS startup disk only allows the system to boot into an MS-DOS prompt. The disk contains no additional tools and is for advanced users.

For a much better Startup disk with additional tools go I recommend Microsoft's Startup disks. Go to http://microsoft.com and search for the words "Startup Disks". They will give you download links for the file. Download the file and follow the instructions when you open it. You will need 6 blank floppy disks for this.

You may also try these links to download the disk which are good as of this writing but may change in the future.

Download Startup disk for:
Windows XP Pro
Windows XP Home

Once you have your startup disks follow these instructions:

1.	Start your computer with the startup disk in your floppy disk drive.

2.	Select one of the startup options from the Startup Menu.

3.	If the last action you performed on your computer before starting with the startup disk was a restoration, then a message appears that recommends that you revert your last restore.

4.	Type 1 to select Revert the Restore Changes Made to my System (recommended).

5.	If you select 2, you will not have the opportunity to revert this restoration from the startup disk again.

6.	To repair the condition you were originally trying to fix, use System Restore again to roll back to another restore point.

·	If you do not undo the restore changes when prompted, and you make other changes while running your computer from the startup disk, you will not have another opportunity to undo this particular restore from the startup disk.

·	You must create your startup disk when your system is stable. You cannot create one once your system is unable to start Windows.

·	Help may not be available when you start Windows from the startup disk. You may want to print this topic now for future reference.