Automated System Recovery F2 key

[Chipmunk]

The instructions for Restoring the backup files and the ARS floppy disk is to
boot from the Windows XP CD and at the Startup Menu in text mode press F2. I
don't see this prompt. The only Menu I get is to Install Windows, Repair or
Exit. Where do I find this F2 selection?

 

[Mick Murphy]

Rob, below is straight from the horse's(MS) mouth:

"To recover from a system failure using Automated System Recovery

Make sure you have the following items before you begin the recovery
procedure:

Your previously created Automated System Recovery (ASR) floppy disk.

Your previously created backup media.

The original operating system installation CD.

Insert the original operating system installation CD into your CD drive.

Restart your computer. If prompted to press a key in order to start the
computer from CD, press the appropriate key.

Press F2 when prompted during the text–only mode section of Setup. You will
be prompted to insert the ASR floppy disk you have previously created.

Follow the directions on the screen.

Note ASR will not restore your data files."

 

[Tim Quan [MSFT]]

Hi,

The "Press F2 to run Automated System Recovery (ASR)" text shows at the
bottom of the screen. This text appears and disappears quickly. Therefore,
please be prepared to F2 as soon as you see this test.

I have included the following two articles including screenshots for your
reference:

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto-18.html
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/wxppasr.html

Please try the suggestions above and let me know the result.

Sincerely,
Tim Quan
Microsoft Online Community Support

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[Mick Murphy]

Rob, it is in the Microsoft XP disk, (not HP, Dell, etc recovery.)
It is a microsoft feature, which you are offered right at the start after
you press any key to boot from CD, checking computer's setup, etc.

Like the F2, it also flashes by very fast.
It is down the bottom of the screen, too.

The problem with it these days, is that it still requires you to have a
floppy disk to use it.

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb456980.aspx

Have a read of the above; that explains part of it.

 

[Chipmunk]

Hi Tim,

I was able to see the F2 message. It came after "Press F6 to install a 3rd
party driver..." After pressing F2 I got the message about inserting the ASR
diskette. After I did that and press any key when ready it did not show me
the screen about "Please wait while Setup formats the partition". I only saw
the messages on the bottom of the screen that went from Preparing for
Automated System Recovery to Starting Automated System Recovery to Setup is
loading files. Is my ASR diskette defective? If I press any key without
inserting the diskette in the floppy drive, the screen about inserting the
disk reappear. Only after inserting the diskette into the drive did it
continue, but there was no screen showing about Setup formatting the
partition.

Chipmunk

 

[Tim Quan [MSFT]]

Hi Chipmunk,

Thank you for the reply.

Please insert the Windows Automated System Recovery Disk into the floppy
drive and press any key when you are prompted to do that.

After that, it will continue automatically and you can ignore what shows on
the screen until the Automated System Recovery Wizard appears.

Once the Automated System Recovery Wizard appears, locate to your backup
file and click Next.

What's the result?

Tim Quan - MSFT

 

[Chipmunk]

Hi Tim,

The ARS Wizard didn't do everything automatically. After inserting the
diskette and pressing any key a new screen appear informing you that it need
to reformat the partition. You had to either press "C" to Continue or "F3"
to EXIT. After pressing "C" it began the format. When done, it then
prompted you for the location of the backup file. After it finishing
restoring the backup files, the PC automatically rebooted. What stump me was
the screen with the message to Continue or EXIT. I didn't see this on either
of those instructions with the link you provided. But the ARS did work
finally.

Thank You Again,

Chipmunk

 

[Tim Quan [MSFT]]

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I am glad to hear that the issue has been resolved. I appreciate your time
and I hope you will continue to enjoy using our products.

The restore process can be a little different for different computers.
However, generally their restore processes are quite similar. We can
restore the system according to the direction.

If you need my further assistance regarding this issue, please feel free to
let me know.

Tim Quan - MSFT