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Microsoft Emergency Recover Utility
This Tutorial is for all versions of Windows 9x.

With Pictures  |  Print Version  |  Download msERU

Use it or lose it!

There is always the possibility that one day, for whatever reason, Windows is not going to work.  It might be from a new install of that great program you just got.  Maybe from Browsing the Net yesterday, and you picked up something you weren't aware of.  Or one of the programs already on your computer, decided to go ballistic and locks you out.  Could be one of many reasons actually.

And when that day happens, you can smile, type one in DOS command, and voila´ - you are back in business.  The old adage of, "An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure" fits perfectly to this situation.

Now you might hear about the bigger, better, pay money for programs that are available.  Which may all be true, but... the Microsoft Emergency Recovery Utility (msERU) is available to you "NOW." In ten minutes you can have protection from 99 out of 100 different reasons for your computer turning into a paperweight.  So let us proceed to installing and using msERU.

On your Windows 95 install CD, you will find msERU using: \other\misc\eru and contains all the files you need.  If you do not have the CD (or don't want to hunt for the ERU directory), you can download ERU as a 96KB ZIP file. http://www.potentproducts.com/download/ms/msERU.zip

The ERU program does not require an install. You simply Copy the whole ERU folder and then Paste it, wherever you want on your hard drive.  Hopefully though, you've already setup a Directory called "Utilities" and this would be a good place to put it.

5 Easy Steps

Here are the 5 steps for running msERU and remember, when using the program on your computer you need to click the "Next" button after each step.

  1. In the ERU Directory, click on eru.exe and you get the Welcome message.
     
  2. Choose where to store the backup information.  Because the information is too large for a floppy, choose "Other directory."
     
  3. You will see what is the "Default Directory" and shown as  C:\ERD  (Emergency Recovery Data).  You can go with the default or create a folder, called ERD, wherever you want on your hard drive.  A good place would be the "Utilities" directory mentioned above, or wherever you keep your other Utility programs.
     
    Important Tip: It's helpful to know the last time you used the ERU program so why not include the date, of when you are using it?
     
    Using the Default Directory it would look like this:  C:\ERD\100799  and don't worry that there is no such folder as it will automatically be created.  I now use a date format of; Year,Month,Day, and using numbers makes it easier to remember—for me.  This may not be so for yourself, so use whatever works for you and will be easy to remember.  You could also use  C:\ERD\oct0799.
     
    Remember, when you use msERU it will be used in DOS.
     
    This means:
       - no spaces in the Directory name
       - 8 characters maximum for Directory name
       - letters are case insensitive
         (Capital letters mean the same as small letters)
     
    I have also taken to never putting files I create, on the C:\ drive.  It is more likely, the boot drive or C:\ will have a problem, before any other drive or partition does.
     
  4. The files to be backed up are now shown.  These are all the important files needed to get your system back to the way it was.  For this Tutorial we will go with the Default and not worry about the Custom button.
     
    Note: The 10 most important files will be backed up. Files you do not have will not be copied.  This might cause an error message to appear and it's not a problem—can't copy a file you don't have.  Just click the "OK" button and continue.
     
  5. That's it!

Pretty easy and painless when you think about it.

Try a few practice runs first.  There are "no changes made to your system". A little trial & error will show you how to set things up, the way "you" want.

When To Use

Now we fast forward to that point in time when you need to use it.  Your system has been hosed.  Windows will not start and you are getting all kinds of weird error messages that could say anything.  But you have no fear.

You just turn on your Computer and it will boot by itself or you use a Boot Disk. Once you get into MS DOS mode, you need to navigate to where your "ERD directory" is, so it is important that you remember where it is or write down the path to it, and keep it handy.

Continuing with the steps as described above, means you have an ERD directory on the C: drive. The ERD directory is created, the first time you use the ERU program.

I would also like to remind you again, it is important to use ERU when your Computer is working properly.  As the ERU program is going to "restore" your Windows startup files and Registry, you want to restore your computer to when it was working properly.

Using the examples shown above, this is what you would type at the DOS prompt:

cd C:\ERD\100799\erd.exe

and then press the Enter key.

Underneath what you have typed, will appear a question that looks like this:

Control File = C:\ERD\100799\ERD.INF
Emergency Recovery Utility.
Press "Y" to recover, or any other key to exit _

Press the Enter key, ERD will do it's thing, and then you will see:

Please wait...  recovering files.
 
Recovery Completed Successfully!
The configuration files have been restored.  The
computer will need to be rebooted for the changes
to take effect.
 
To undo the recovery type: ERD.EXE /UNDO
Press Any Key To Continue
 
C:\ERD\100799

Now you give the Windows 3 finger salute (press CTRL + ALT + DEL at the same time) and your computer will restart.  Windows will now be back to what it was on the day you backed up with ERU.  Any programs you installed or other changes made to "system files", between that date and todays date - Will Not Be There!  This is why it's handy to use the date when you use ERU.

Although it will be necessary to reinstall these programs and redo system file changes, individual programs will still retain the necessary files and information previously saved, before you ran ERU or if your system crashed.  This means all your Accounting, DataBase, Email, and other "program specific" files, should be up to date from your last save.  Whew!!!

You now have an "immediate" way to protect yourself from loss of use of your computer.  Use ERU at a minimum once a week, and after you get 3 backups ahead, you can safely delete the earlier ones and just keep the most current.

For Best Results

Before using ERU, delete what's in the Recycle Bin, run Scandisk, then Defrag.  If you have MSRegClean, then use that also.  This will put your files into the best possible condition to back up.

I recommend that you use the Emergency Recovery Utility once a week and/or to create a new backup each time you make significant changes to your system; such as adding new hardware or software.  This is "especially important" after you've just installed a Windows system update or patch.

Make sure your Computer is in proper working order, before using the ERU program!  Remember that when you use these files to restore your Computer, you want to Restore it to a proper working condition.


Again, ERU is not foolproof, but as a Free program that you could be using right now, why would you take the chance and not be using it???

More information from Microsoft is available at:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/139/4/37.asp

Although the article seems to indicate Windows 95 only, ERU can be used for all versions of Windows 9x.  Some people find it easier to work with, than the options that come with Windows 98.  No feedback yet on how or if, it works with Windows ME.


Having a Problem?

Stop by at Your Potent Forum [ http://forum.potentproducts.com/ ] and Post your problem.  Please be as descriptive as possible.


With Pictures  |  Print Version  |  Download msERU

 

 
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 Thursday, March 28th, 2024 MST