Use
System Restore to Undo Changes if Problems Occur
Windows XP Professional makes it easier to resolve
problems if they occur in your system. You can use System
Restore to remove any system changes that were made
since the last time you remember your computer working
correctly. System Restore does not affect your personal
data files (such as Microsoft Word documents, browsing
history, drawings, favorites, or e–mail) so you won’t
lose changes made to these files. Windows XP creates
“restore points” every day, as well as at the time of
significant system events (such as when an application
or driver is installed). You can also create and name
your own restore points at any time. Creating a restore
point can be useful any time you anticipate making changes
to your computer that are risky or might make your computer
unstable. If something goes wrong, you select a restore
point and Windows XP undoes any system changes made
since that time.
When
you run System Restore, a calendar is displayed to help
you find restore points. If you don't use your computer
every day, some days might not have any restore points.
If you use your computer frequently, you might have
restore points almost every day, and some days might
have several restore points.
To
create a Restore Point
1.
Access the System Restore Wizard through Help and Support
Center. (Click
Start, and then click
Help
and Support. Click
Performance and Maintenance,
click
Using System Restore to undo changes, and
then click
Run the System Restore Wizard.
2. Click
Create a restore point, and then
click
Next.
3. In the
Restore point description box,
type a name to identify this restore point. System Restore
automatically adds to this name the date and time that
this Restore Point is created.
- To
finish creating this restore point, click Create.
- To
cancel restore point creation and return to the
Welcome to System Restore screen, click Back.
- To
cancel restore point creation and exit the System
Restore Wizard, click Cancel.

To
view or to return to this restore point, from the
Welcome
to System Restore screen of the System Restore Wizard
select
Restore my computer to an earlier time.
Then select the date when the restore point was created
from the calendar in the
Select a Restore Point
screen. All of the restore points that were created
on the selected date are listed by name in the list
box to the right of the calendar.
To
set advanced restore options
1.
Open Backup. (Click
Start, goto to
All Programs,
point to
Accessories, point to
System Tools,
and then click
Backup.) The Backup Utility Wizard
starts by default, unless it is disabled.
2. Click
the
Advanced Mode button in the Backup Utility
Wizard.
3. Click
the
Restore and Manage Media menu and select
the files to restore.
4. Click
the
Start Restore button.
5. On
the
Confirm Restore dialog box, click
Advanced.
6. Set
the advanced restore options you want, and then click
OK. See the Notes section for a description of
each option.
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