Welcome
System Restore
What is it and how to use it.
by Wolfdave
System Restore was first introduced with Windows Me. It allows you to return your Computer to an earlier time.
So if your PC was working fine yesterday and it’s all screwed up today, you can use System Restore and return it to a time before it went crazy.
Windows will set restore points automatically as you use your PC. However, you should create a restore point yourself before making any changes to your system
Before adding any new software, for example. Or new hardware. Also before altering Internet or System settings. Before running a Registry cleaner or messing with files or the Start menu or uninstalling programs. Basically, before doing anything other than working on your PC.
To create a System Restore Point:
Click on Start – All Programs. Wait a moment for the full program list to appear, then move your pointer to Accessories – usually the First one at the top.
When the next list of programs appears, move your pointer to System Tools, another list will appear.
From this list, move your pointer to System Restore and left click, once.
You will now see a Welcome Screen, on the right of this screen are two buttons – Restore My Computer To an Earlier Time – Create a Restore Point. Click once on Create a Restore Point. Click next.
The next screen will ask you to choose a name for your Restore Point. Choose something you Will remember, ’Running Reg Clean’ or Uninstalling abc Program’ or just ’System ok’.
Then click on Create. After a few moments your Computer will confirm the restore point has been created. Click on Finish.
Now if your Computer starts acting crazy, restart System Restore and choose - Restore my computer to an earlier time. Find your restore point description and click next. If you are already having issues with your PC you can choose a restore point that already exists. Try to remember when the problem first started and choose a restore point, prior to that. You can go back several months.
Remember to close any programs you have running and save your work before using restore.
System Restore will also allow you to undo a restore, if this fails to solve the issue.
Personally, I would recommend you create a System Restore Point at least once a week. And always before adding any new software or programs, even Driver updates and the like.
System Restore is your first option for fixing - ‘It was working fine yesterday’ problems. Usually, if System restore fails to solve your problem, then most likely you will be looking at a hardware issue.