Fix An Unbootable XP with Last Known Good Configuration

Written by mypchell.com

If your computer does not boot into Windows Properly, there exists an easy option to fix the problem at your disposal. Using the Windows Advanced Options Menu to boot from the Last Known Good Configuration

Note: Click on any image for a larger view of that particular image.

What is the Last Known Good Configuration and where does it come from?
Answer – Every time you boot successfully, Windows XP records your registry keys and device drivers. The Last Known Good Configuration option in the Windows Advanced Options Menu tells Windows XP to load up the last successful boot registry and device drivers

How do I boot Windows XP so that it uses the Last Known Good Configuration?
Answer – Follow the below procedure

Getting to the Last Known Good Configuration is easy. First, start your computer. As soon as the BIOS has finished loading, begin tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Continue to do so until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears.

Once the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select Last Known Good Configuration

If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again

Other options (if Last Known Good Configuration does not work).

Try using System Restore To access System Restore, first boot into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Continue to do so until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears. Then selecting Safe Mode

Once Safe Mode has loaded. Go to System Restore (Click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, Then System Restore). Once in System Restore choose a restore point to Restore your computer.

If there are no restore points or the restore fails, then try to repair your boot sector

If that doesn’t work, as a last resort, do a Repair Install of XP.

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LEONG WENG HOE said:

	thank you for the helpful advise.It help me to finally solved my problem after trying in vain for a few hours.
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August 30, 2008
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Oman said:

	thanks for the info, ill try it later... it happens to my pc to not boot properly after installing avast.
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January 31, 2009
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etbob said:

	We had a computer which would'nt load all its startup programs due to a power failure. This saved the day! My guess is that windows saves the backup registry copy until the registry is altered, not just since the last successful startup of windows, since this computer was booting up successfully, just not loading up all of the normal software installed on it.
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