Using System Restore
Published: September 7, 2006
Because there are so many hardware and software products that work with Windows, you may find yourself in a situation where a particular program or device doesn't work correctly with all the other programs and devices on your computer. Sometimes, installing new hardware or software can even cause a problem that makes your system stop working correctly. If this happens to you, your first step to fix the problem is to remove the new software or troubleshoot the new hardware problem. But, if neither of those approaches solves the problem, you can use System Restore to return your computer settings to the way they were before you installed the new hardware or software.
System Restore is a feature of Microsoft Windows XP that automatically saves a copy of important system settings and files so that you can easily restore those settings if something goes wrong. System Restore creates a backup copy every day and every time you install new hardware or software.
Note: System Restore returns system settings and system files to the state they were in on an earlier date. System Restore doesn't recover personal files or e-mail messages. This is a good thing if you only want to roll back your computer settings and not all the work you did since you made the hardware or software change. However, if you want to be sure you can recover personal files in the event of a catastrophic system failure, be sure to back up your files.
How to restore system settings to an earlier date
You should use System Restore only after you have tried other troubleshooting techniques to fix the problem you may be having with a hardware or software program. System Restore simply returns your system to the way it was before you installed the hardware or software—it doesn't fix your hardware or software problem. Once you've restored your system, you'll have to start the troubleshooting process again with the new software or hardware
To use System Restore
1. | Click Start, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. 
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2. | The System Restore Wizard opens. On the Welcome to System Restore page, make sure Restore my computer to an earlier time is selected, and then click Next. 
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3. | On the Select a Restore Point page, click the date on the calendar that you want to restore your computer to. Choose the last date when everything was working properly—before you made configuration changes, installed new software, or added new hardware. Then, click Next. 
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4. | On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. 
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5. | The System Restore Wizard shuts down Windows XP and restores your settings. Then, it restarts Windows XP and displays the Restoration Complete message. Click OK. 
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Now that you have restored your system settings to an earlier state, test your computer to determine whether the problem was resolved. If your system is working fine now, you’re done. If the problem still exists, you should immediately undo your System Restore recovery, as described in the next section.
How to undo a System Restore
To undo a system restoration
1. | Click Start, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore.
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2. | The System Restore Wizard opens. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Undo my last restoration, and then click Next. 
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3. | On the Confirm Restoration Undo page, click Next. 
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4. | The System Restore Wizard shuts down Windows XP and restores your settings. Then, it restarts Windows XP and displays the Undo Complete message. Click OK. 
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System Restore returns your computer to the state it was in before you ran System Restore. For more assistance solving your problem, read Guide to support options.
