button. This will pull up the Device Manager window where you can double-click on the piece of hardware that you had already installed and updated to enter it’s properties. As soon as you’re in the particular device’s properties section, you should click on the Driver tab. Within this tab you will see a button labeled Driver Rollback. Once you click on this button, it will ask for verification that you want to rollback the driver. Agree to this and follow the rest of the default instructions.
If you try to rollback a device whose drivers have never been updated, Windows will tell you so.
3) Last of the Known Good Configuration
Every single time you manage to load Windows XP successfully, Windows saves certain registry keys and applications settings on your PC. This way if you ever boot your computer and for some reason Windows fails to properly load, you can use the Last Known Good Configuration to boot Windows to the last known good settings
To put this configuration to use as your booting Windows, press the F8 key as Windows starts, and then select the Last Known Good configuration option. Your PC will then take the action of loading Windows using these previously saved settings.
4) Remember to Use the System File Checker
Every successful and proper version of Windows XP comes with a utility that will scan Windows system files on your PC and replace them if they seem to have been modified or mistakenly deleted. This is a very important tool as there are many viruses and malware that exist which will deliberately delete certain Windows system files.
The System File Checker uses different arguments to change its behavior as described below:
/SCANNOW - You would use this argument to make the SFC tool instantaneously check your computer for missing or distorted system files.
/SCANONCE - You would use this argument to make the SFC tool check your computer for missing or changed system files on the next reboot.
/SCANBOOT - You would use this argument to make the SFC tool check your computer for missing or imprecise system files every single ample times it boots up.
To launch SFC, click Start -> Run and enter: sfc /scannow to immediately have it run and check for the altered/deleted files.
5) Utilizing the Microsoft Backup Utility
Windows XP includes a backup utility that allows you to backup and restore data on your hard drives. Using this utility you can backup and restore personal data that you specify when you create the backup. Regular backups of your data is suggested to avoid losing that data in the case of a failure. The Microsoft Backup utility can be found in System Tools under Accessories in your Programs menu.
6) Take Into Account the System Restore
System Restore is a feature of Windows XP that allows you to fully restore your computer to a previous known working state in the event of a problem. This is done without loss of personal files or data such as word processing documents, spreadsheets, music, images, etc. This feature is enabled by default and runs in the background making backups after certain events happen on your computer. System restore functions are only available to an administrator of the computer, therefore if you are not an administrator, you will not be able to follow this tutorial.
System Restore protects your computer by creating backups of vital system configurations and files. These backups are known as restore points. These restore points are created before certain events take place in order to give you a recourse in case something goes wrong during that event.
If you would like to learn more about this feature you can read this tutorial: Using System Restore in Windows XP
Windows File Protection protects certain files that are essential for the operating of your computer and Windows from being overwritten, deleted, or changed. WFP creates backups of these files that it deems are essential into a directory named %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\dllcache. When WFP notices one of these files being modified in any way, it will restore that file with a copy found in the dllcache folder.
Windows XP comes with many features that will allow you to backup settings on your computer in case of catastrophic failure as well as prevent files being modified by malicious programs. It is important to understand how to use these programs to the best of your ability in order to have a secure working environment.
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