How To Use System Restore (Windows 1. Vista, XP)The System Restore tool in Windows is one of the more helpful utilities available to you and is usually a great first step when you're trying to fix a major problem in Windows. In a nutshell, what the Windows System Restore tool lets you do is revert to a previous software, registry, and driver configuration called a restore point.

• Windows Vista Backup and Restore. Windows XP, System Restore uses a file system filter to keep track of system file changes. In Windows Vista, System Restore.
• Restore To Factory Settings – Guide for. For more information about System Restore on Windows.
• Windows Vista System Restore Guide. Lawrence Abrams. If you are currently having problems starting Windows Vista, you can use System Restore from the Windows.
• There might be a number of things to check before you reinstall Windows. If you’re sure System Restore is. System Restore may have.

How To Use System Restore (Windows 1. Vista, XP)The System Restore tool in Windows is one of the more helpful utilities available to you and is usually a great first step when you're trying to fix a major problem in Windows. In a nutshell, what the Windows System Restore tool lets you do is revert to a previous software, registry, and driver configuration called a restore point.

It also helps that it's really simple to do. Follow these easy steps to return Windows to a previous, hopefully working, state using System Restore: Time Required: Using the System Restore tool to undo/reverse changes in Windows usually takes anywhere from 1.

How to do a system restore in Windows 10. Like in the steps above. Use System File Checker To Repair Windows Vista System Files How to backup your data.

Important: How you access System Restore differs between Windows versions. Below are three separate procedures: one for Windows 1. Windows 8, or Windows 8. Windows 7 or Windows Vista, and one for Windows XP. See What Version of Windows Do I Have? Check out that linked how- to if this is your first time, or just search for it from the Windows 1. Cortana/Search box or the Windows 8/8.

Charms Bar. Tip: We're trying to get to the System applet in Control Panel, which can be done very quickly from the Power User Menu but it's only faster that way if you're using a keyboard or mouse. Press WIN+X or right- click on the Start button and then click System.

Skip to Step 4 if you end up going this way. Tap or click on System and Security within Control Panel. Note: You won't see System and Security if your Control Panel view is set to either Large icons or Small icons. Instead, find System, tap or click on it, then skip to Step 4. In the System and Security window that's now open, click or tap System. On the left, click or tap the System protection link. From the System Properties window that appears, tap or click the System Restore..

If you don't see it, make sure you're on the System Protection tab. Tap or click Next > from the System Restore window titled Restore system files and settings. Note: If you've previously performed a System Restore, you may see both an Undo System Restore option, as well as a Choose a different restore point option. If so, select Choose a different restore point, assuming you're not here to undo one. Select the restore point you want to use from those in the list.

Tip: If you'd like to see older restore points, check the Show more restore points checkbox. Important: All restore points that are still in Windows will be listed here, so long as that checkbox is checked. Unfortunately, there is no way to . The oldest restore point listed is the furthest back you can possibly restore Windows to. With your chosen restore point selected, tap or click the Next > button.

Confirm the restore point you want to use on the Confirm your restore point window and then tap or click the Finish button. Tip: If you're curious as to what programs, drivers, and other parts of Windows 1. System Restore will impact on your computer, select the Scan for affected programs link on this page prior to starting the System Restore. The report is informational only, but might be helpful in your troubleshooting if this System Restore doesn't fix whatever problem you're trying to solve.

System Restore reinstates the registry, local profiles. About System Restore. About System Restore. System Restore in Windows Vista creates a restore point if no other restore points were created in the last 24 hours.

Tap or click Yes to the Once started, System Restore cannot be interrupted. Do you want to continue? Don't let this scare you away - chances are, if you're doing a System Restore from here, it's because Windows isn't starting properly, leaving you with few other options. Still, it's something you should be aware of. Note: Your computer will restart as part of a System Restore, so be sure to close anything you might have running right now. System Restore will now begin reverting Windows to the state it was in at the date and time logged with the restore point that you chose in Step 7. You'll see a small System Restore window that says Preparing to restore your system.., after which Windows will almost completely shut down.

Next, on an empty screen, you'll see a Please wait while your Windows files and settings are being restored message. You'll also see various messages appear underneath like System Restore is initializing..,System Restore is restoring the registry.., and System Restore is removing temporary files.. All in all, this will probably take around 1. Important: What you're sitting through here is the actual System Restore process. Do not turn off or restart your computer during this time! Wait while your computer restarts.

Full System Restore Windows Vista

Sign in to Windows as you normally do. If you don't use the Desktop and aren't switched there automatically, go there next. On the Desktop, you should see a small System Restore window that says . The system has been restored to .

Your documents have not been affected. To undo a System Restore in Windows, repeat steps 1 through 6 above and choose Undo System Restore. How To Use System Restore in Windows 7 or Windows Vista.

Navigate to the Start - > All Programs - > Accessories - > System Tools program group. Click on the System Restore program icon. Click Next > on the Restore system files and settings window that should have appeared on the screen. Note: If you have two options on this screen, Recommended restore and Choose a different restore point, select the Choose a different restore point option before clicking Next > unless you're absolutely sure that the preselected restore point is the one you want to use.

Choose the restore point that you want to use. Ideally, you'd want to choose the one just prior to noticing the problem you're trying to undo, but not any further back.

Any restore points that you manually created, scheduled restore points that Windows automatically created, and any created automatically during the installation of certain programs will be listed here. You can not use System Restore to undo Windows changes to a date that a restore point does not exist for. Note: If you need to, check the Show more restore points or Show restore points older than 5 days checkbox to see more than the most recent restore points. There's no guarantee there are any but it's worth looking if you need to go back that far. Click Next >. Click Finish on the Confirm your restore point window to begin the System Restore. Note: Windows will shut down to complete the System Restore so be sure to save any work you might have open in other programs before continuing. Click Yes to the Once started, System Restore cannot be interrupted.

Do you want to continue? Your computer will then reboot as normal when complete. Immediately after logging into Windows after the reboot, you should see a message that System Restore completed successfully. Click Close. Check to see if whatever Windows 7 or Windows Vista problem you were troubleshooting has been corrected by this System Restore. If the problem still persists, you can repeat the steps above and choose another restore point if one is available. If this restoration caused a problem, you can always undo this particular System Restore. How To Use System Restore in Windows XPMake your way to Start - > All Programs - > Accessories - > System Tools.

Click on the System Restore program icon. Choose to Restore my computer to an earlier time and then click Next >. Choose an available date on the calendar on the left. Note: Available dates are those when a restore point was created and are shown in bold.

You can not use System Restore to undo Windows XP changes to a date that a restore point does not exist. Now that a date is chosen, choose a specific restore point from the list on the right. Click Next >. Click Next > on the Confirm Restore Point Selection window you see now. Note: Windows XP will shut down as part of the System Restore process.

Be sure to save any files you have open before continuing. System Restore will now restore Windows XP with the registry, driver, and other important files as they existed when the restore point you chose in Step 5 was created. This could take several minutes. After the restart is complete, log in as you normally do. Assuming everything went as planned, you should see a Restoration Complete window, which you can Close.

You can now check to see if the System Restore fixed whatever Windows XP issue you were trying to fix. If not, you can always try an earlier restore point, if you have one.

If the System Restore made things worse, you can always undo it. More About System Restore & Restore Points. The Windows System Restore utility will not in any way affect your non- system files like documents, music, video, emails, etc. If you were hoping that Windows System Restore would, in fact, restore or . Assuming System Restore is enabled and working properly, Windows, as well as other programs, should regularly create restore points at critical junctures like prior to a patch being applied, before a new program is installed, etc. See What is a Restore Point?

About System Restore (Windows)System Restore monitors system changes and saves the system state as a restore point. If a system problem develops as a result of a system change, the user can return the system to a previous state using the data from a restore point. Applications and the system can create restore points when system changes occur.

System Restore in Windows 7 checks every day and creates a scheduled restore point if no other restore points have been created in the last 7 days. System Restore in Windows Vista creates a restore point if no other restore points were created in the last 2.

System Restore is also made available to users in the Windows Recovery Environment or safe mode, making it easier for them to restore their computers to a state before problems occurred. For more information, see the following topics.