Sometimes mistakes happen. Whether the result of a false positive from antivirus software or a misunderstanding of a file's function, on occasion a valid system file can be inadvertently deleted or quarantined. Sometimes, the results can seem disastrous - a looping blue screen each time you try to boot up the PC. Other times, a stop error with a cryptic message may be the result. Here's how to replace the missing file(s) to get your system operational again.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 10 minutes
Here's How:
- Start your computer with the Windows Setup floppy disks or with the Windows CD-ROM.
- At the 'Welcome to Setup' screen, press F10 or press R. (Windows 2000 users will need to press F10 or R and then press C).
- You should now see a list of installations and the prompt "Which Windows Installation would you like to log on to?"
- Select the appropriate number for the Windows installation that you want to repair.
- Type the administrator password and press Enter. If the administrator password does not exist, just press Enter.
- From the recovery console, issue the following command:
expand D:\i386\filename_ C:\<destination>
where filename_ signifies the name of the file you want to extract, 'D' signifies the drive letter of the source you are extracting from and<destination> specifies the path of the folder to which you wish to extract the file.
- After the file has been extracted, type exit to leave the recovery console, remove the Windows Setup floppy or Windows CD-ROM and restart the system normally.
