The Windows XP Automated System Recovery Tool

How To Restore using the floppy disk and the backup you previously created.

1. Find your Windows XP installation CD and put it into the CD drive. Start the computer and allow the computer to boot from the CD (you did get a CD with the FULL VERSION of Windows XP, didn't you?)
2. During the text mode phase, on the bottom of the screen you'll see instructions to press F2 to Run Automated System Recovery (ASR). You have to be quick! When you see this on the bottom of the screen, press F2.
3. You'll see instructions to "Please insert the disk labeled Windows Automated System Recovery Disk into the floppy drive. Press any key when ready." Do what it says.
4. The ASR routine reads the information on the floppy disk and begins loading setup files.
5. The ASR routine informs you that it must delete and recreate all the partitions on the disks listed below. Note that it won't tell you the drive letters, but will give you a cryptic notation like "Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi (MBR)". You'll have to trust that this is correct. Press C to continue setup. The ASR routine then reformats the "boot" or main operating system partition. After reformatting the partition, the ASR routine reinstalls Windows XP. Now you know why you need that Windows XP CD! The best vendors will give you a full version of Windows XP, not some dopey "recovery CD."
6. The ASR routine restarts the computer after the files are copied. It will look like it is going through the typical Windows XP setup, but it won't go through the whole thing, so keep your eyes peeled!
7. The ASR Wizard will appear. Click Next. The Wizard will automatically recognize the location of your backup on the Data Recovery Source page. Click Next again. You may get a bogus message that the file can't be used, but then the restore will begin automatically. The backed up files are restored and the system restarts.
8. Log on and enjoy Windows XP just as it was when you ran the ASR backup Wizard!

CAUTION: Always make a separate backup of your data files (such as documents you've created in applications) on a regular basis. ASR does not restore your data.