restore to a previous time

[zebra19]

Is it save to restore to a previous time as the only way I can access windows xp is by ctrl alt del. Also would I have to reactivate windows again which I have done so today

[MikeLitoris]

Hold up...

If you've activated windows today then surely you've only just installed it today???

Then there is no previous point for you to restore to!!

And what do you mean can only access windows by ctrl-alt-delete.... thats normal login key combo on some systems.

[wildwood]

As you are probably aware, you have 30 days in which to activate Windows XP. There are ways to prolong the activation period indefinitely that we won't go into as that is probably illegal.
You can restore your operating system to any time that a restore point was created, automatically or manually. Naturally, it makes sense to only restore to a point where you know the comp was running good. No re-activation is required after a system restore.
I suspect that your problem may be more than simply restoring, but it is worth a try.

[zebra19]

thankyou wildwood and MikeLitoris for your help. If you look at previous question from me at 18:45 it may make my problem clearer. Discovered any way I have no previous restore point. When I boot stops at screen telling me Tab for POST and Alt F2 for flash utility. It goes no further. If I do get into BIOS tells me it is running in safe mode. As I try torun through menus Capslock comes on and stops use of keyboard. Ctrl Alt Del at booting up eventually gets me through to windows. I would just like to boot up and get straight to welcome screen in Windows xp.

[rccatnap]

It seems like some of your system files have become corrupted, but on such a new installation, it is quite surprising.
A couple of questions.
Can you actually get to the Windows desktop?
Do you have the original Windows installation disk?
I the answer is yes, then there's an easy way to check your system files are OK.

[zebra19]

thankyou wildwood and rccatnap for your help- sorry for not replying sooner. There is only a system checkpoint for the 18th Feb, nothing previous to that. I can reach the desktop but have no windows xp instalation disk.