Summary:

The Last Known Good Configuration startup option allows you to recover from a problem by reversing driver and registry changes made since you last started Windows XP. Windows XP does not update Last Known Good Configuration information in the registry until the operating system successfully restarts in normal mode and a user logs on and is authenticated.

Using Last Known Good Configuration restores information for the registry subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet. Additionally, if you updated any device drivers, choosing Last Known Good Configuration restores the previous drivers.

Using Last Known Good Configuration might enable you to resolve startup or stability problems. For example, if a Stop error occurs immediately after installing a new application or device driver, you can restart the computer and use Last Known Good Configuration to recover from the problem.

When you are troubleshooting, it is recommended that you use Last Known Good Configuration before you try other options, such as safe mode. However, even if you decide to use safe mode first, logging on to the computer in safe mode does not update the Last Known Good Configuration. Therefore, using Last Known Good Configuration remains an option if you cannot resolve your problem by using safe mode.

To use Last Known Good Configuration from the Windows Advanced Options Menu:

1. Remove any floppy disks or CDs from your computer and restart your computer.
2. When prompted, press F8. If Windows XP starts without displaying the Please select the operating system to start menu, restart your computer. Press F8 after the firmware POST process completes, but before Windows XP displays graphical output.
3. On the Windows Advanced Options Menu, select Last Known Good Configuration.

You can also use Last Known Good Configuration by selecting it from the startup recovery menu. Windows XP Professionaldetects when the last startup attempt was not successful and displays a message that includes a menu of startup options.

Startup recovery menu:

The startup recovery menu is separate from the Windows Advanced Options Menu. A user manually invokes the Windows Advanced Options Menu by pressing F8, while the operating system automatically displays the startup recovery menu after an unsuccessful startup.

To Use Last Known Good Configuration from the startup recovery menu after an unsuccessful startup

1. Restart your computer. The startup recovery menu appears shortly after Windows XP starts.
2. On the startup recovery menu, select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked).

In some cases, other troubleshooting options might be preferable to choosing Last Known Good Configuration. If you know the specific driver causing the problem, you have the option of using Device Driver Roll Back in safe mode. This might be preferable because Device Driver Roll Back changes are limited to a single device. Also, consider using System Restore because it enables you to revert system registry settings by date.

 

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