Windows XP comes with numerous full-system recovery features, which allow the users to easily create the re-installation and recovery disks for this operating system. A recovery disk can be used for restoring the software, files, and settings of the computer, back to the way they were at the time of installation of the operating system. It can prove to be very beneficial in case of system failure, computer virus infestation, hard drive malfunction, and numerous other problematic situations that might prevent you from optimally using your PC. The following procedure shows how to create a recovery disk for Windows XP.
How to Make a Windows XP Recovery Disk
If you are using the Windows XP Home Edition, then it might not be equipped with the Backup Utility, and hence, you need to create it first. Here's you how you can do that.
Create Backup Utility for a Home Edition
First of all, insert the Windows XP Home Edition disk in your DVD/CD drive, and then go to 'My Computer'. Now, open the Windows XP disk folder and run the backup utility installer. For that, click open VALUEADD > MSFT, and then double-click on 'Ntbackup.msi.', which is the Backup Utility installation wizard. Once the installation completes, click the 'Finish' tab. You have now successfully installed the backup utility, which is the basic step for making the disk.
Create a Windows XP Recovery Disk
After creating the backup utility, you need to open it by clicking on 'Start Menu' > 'All Programs' > 'Accessories' > 'System Tools' > 'Backup' > 'Advanced Mode'. Now click on the 'Advanced Backup Wizard', and then click 'Next'. This will take you to a page showing the message - 'What to Backup'. Make sure you select the 'Backup Everything on this Computer' option, and then click on the 'Next' tab. Lastly, insert a blank disk in the DVD/CD drive and select the correct option from the available options list. Then click on 'Next' in order to initialize the process of making the disk.
How to Download a Windows XP Recovery Disk
You can follow the above mentioned steps to create the recovery disk for Windows XP, or you can download one from the official website of Microsoft for free. These ready-to-install recovery disks come with almost all the computer software files that can assist you in rebuilding your operating system. Note that this process requires a computer having a floppy disk drive.
Go to Microsoft's Download Center on their website, and download the appropriate Setup disks corresponding to the version of Windows XP installed on your PC. If you are not sure, you can get the XP version-name from its installation CD-ROM.
The download is one large program file. It creates the Setup boot disks for Windows XP. You will have to use 6 blank formatted, high-density floppy disks. When you are ready, click on the downloaded file to start extracting the contents. When you are prompted, insert the floppy disks one by one, until all six disks are created. Remember to label each disk with the number that is specified by the program. You have to use the same order during the setup process.
Now, insert the first disk that you have created into the floppy disk drive, and restart the computer. You may need to change the BIOS settings to configure your PC to load from the floppy disk drive. The setup should start automatically, and all you will need to do is keep inserting the floppy disks as you are prompted.
You will have to use the Windows XP CD-ROM to reinstall it on your PC. You can also do it through the USB. All in all, it is important to make the backup utility before you make the Windows XP recovery disk. It is one of the most useful computer repair tools, which you should now be able to employ for fixing your operating system.