Now in the Add/Remove program properties window, click on the tab Startup disk. Insert a floppy disk in the floppy drive and then click on create disk. This would create a bootable disk for your system. You can keep this disk in safe custody and use it whenever there is a system crash. It would be better, if you format this disk before using it as a bootable disk and also check with a virus scanner for any possibilities of virus. Another important aspect of handling system crashes is the restoration of necessary drivers and other programs, which are instrumental for running any hardware. In this regard one must take care to keep all necessary drivers floppies and CD-ROMs as long as one is using a particular computer. In the majority of the cases, non-availability of the drivers either makes the hardware redundant or the use of substituted drivers decelerates the performance of the hardware. For example, if you're using modem in your system and do not use the correct driver, you will not be able to derive the best performance from the modem although you may still use the modem by using the default Windows modem driver. Similarly for sound and graphics cards, it is very important to have the correct drivers.

The next important step in handing the crash is the identification of problem. This can further be divided into ascertaining whether the problem is related to hardware or software. Though it is difficult to pinpoint the problem and associated with hardware and software yet step-by-step tackling of this problem could help in pinpointing the problem. If the system does not boot at all and also does not show the hard disk or the C: drive you should first insert the bootable disk in the floppy drive and then after changing the boot sequence in the BOIS feature set up, by making A: as the first boot choice, restart your system.

Now your system will start using the bootable record on the boot disk. If the system recognises the hard disk, then you can easily start your operating system in safe mode and after applying the basic troubleshooting techniques like scan disk and disk defrag, you can troubleshoot the problem and correct the PC. However, even if on booting with a bootable disk, your system does not recognise the hard disk, then the actual trouble begins, as it will indicate some problem related to your hardware that is hard disk. In this case you must restart your PC and at the start up hit del to enter the BOIS feature set up. In the BOIS feature set up window, choose the option of its identifying the hard disk. In this option, the system will try to recognise the hard disk and if everything is all right with the hard disk, then it will recognise the hard disk and would show up the necessary information related to the disk. Now you should save the settings and restart Windows. Try restarting Windows, without using the bootable disk as the possible cause of system failure could have been eliminated by correcting the settings of hard disk in the BIOS feature set up.

If the system boots normally, then you can assume that your problem is solved. However, if it does not boot, then you may need to probe further for other possible reasons of system failure. You can adopt similar procedures of identifying the hardware or software related problems in all steps and should take the remedial measures once you have determined the problem correctly. However, in a majority of cases, you can also try loading the default BOIS set up for troubleshooting the system failure.

The next important step for surviving the crash is proper handling of the hardware. As mentioned in the previous articles, do not touch any hardware components with bare hands as it would lead to further damage due to the static electricity in human body.

Always try and refer the hardware or software manual for troubleshooting the problems. Sometimes, these manuals provide very valuable information for surviving the crash or other kind of failures.Despite all this, if you're not able to handle the problem yourself, then you consult a hardware professional.