Vista Tutorial - Startup Repair

**Brink**

How to Do a Startup Repair in Vista

Information

Startup Repair is a Vista recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Vista from starting correctly. When you run Startup Repair, it scans your computer for the problem and then tries to fix it so your computer can start correctly. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Startup Repair FAQs

Tip

If you only have a OEM Recovery DVD or Recovery Partition, then you can also create a recovery disc that will let you boot into the System Recovery Options screen (see screenshot below step 6 below) to run a Startup repair with the download from here: How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc . It cannot be used to reinstall Vista.

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

1. Boot into the System Recovery Options screen.

2. Click on the Startup Repair option. (See screenshot below)

3. The Startup Repair tool will attempt to fix your computer and get it booting up again. (See screeshot below)
NOTE: Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs. If repairs are not successful, you'll see a summary of the problem and links to contact information for support. Your computer manufacturer might include additional assistance information.

That's it,
Shawn

qwerty855 · 06-15-2008

Hi -

For step 5: What if there isn't an operating system listed?

It says check for drivers and i have a cd with all the drivers that came installed on my machine, i just dont know which one to use....

If you have any idea what im talking about please help

Thanks in advance

**Brink** · 06-16-2008

Hi Qwerty,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Go ahead and click Next anyway.

Shawn

qwerty855 · 06-16-2008

haha yea i eventually figured it out last night.

Thanks shawn

ps. all of the "How to" fourms you run are awesome

thanks again

**Brink** · 06-16-2008

LOL Qwerty, OK. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

Thank you,
Shawn

**motarola2** · 08-14-2008

2 thumbs up for startup repair, it is super usefull

pngzhengli · 08-26-2008

Hi, I do not have the CD. It does not come together with it when I bought my laptop. Can you pls advise me?

**Brink** · 08-26-2008

Hi Pngzhengli,

You can do what is in the Warning box at the top of the tutorial and create your one Recovery disc that you can use to run System Recovery Options from.

Create a Recovery Disc

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**Joan Archer** · 08-26-2008

	Quote:	Brink
	Hi Pngzhengli, You can do what is in the Warning box at the top of the tutorial and create your one Recovery disc that you can use to run System Recovery Options from. Create a Recovery Disc Hope this helps, Shawn

I've only just got my Vista machine, desktop, and that only comes with a recovery partition and the motherboard CD plus one for the monitor that came with the system.

Would this be something that would be useful to do now and keep for the future in case of any problems occurring.

The instructions that came with the machine just give the details to recover the machine back to factory settings, although that does include SP1, but of course that wouldn't help if it was just some file or other that got corrupted.

Thanks I'm going to enjoy looking around this place, and hopefully learning more about my machine

**Brink** · 08-26-2008

Hello Joan,

Yes you have it correct. It can be helpful to have and use the System Recovery Options screen at boot to try and repair your Vista installation instead of reinstalling it if needed.

Shawn