How to use System Restore

I don't know how we missed posting this tip, but somehow we did so now I'm rectifying the situation.

One of the best features of Windows XP (and now Vista) is the ability to undo many problems that we may cause ourself or the system causes through updates or other unknown situations. It is called System Restore and it allows you to roll back your system to a previous time when all was blissful without losing any valuable data like email, pictures, and other documents.

The safest way to perform a System Restore is:

1. Shut the computer off
2. Turn the computer back on and immediately start pressing F8 on your keyboard until a menu of choices appear.
3. Use the arrows on your keyboard to highlight the first "Safe Mode" option
4. Press Enter on your keyboard
5. On the next screen, press Enter again.
6. A black screen with lots of messages will roll across your screen. Don't panic this is normal.
7. When the Safe Mode log in screen appears, click the Administrator icon
8. On the next screen, click the NO option
9. You will no be transported to the System Restore utility, click Next on its first screen.
10. Now a calendar will appear with some bold dates, click on a bold date two or more days before your problem started happening
11. Click Next
12. Click OK
13. Your system will no perform the roll back (takes from 5-20 minutes) and will restart automatically.
14. Click OK on the System Restore that appears after reboot.

Keep these instructions handy, and you will find that it comes in handy from time-to-time.

8 Responses to “How to use System Restore”

1. Anonymous says:

   June 6, 2007 at 10:46 am

   Dear Rick, I have had avast onmy computer for over a year, I have not had any problenms with it until the last couple of weeks,now it won’t scan my incoming mail, the pop up says it can’t protect my incoming mail (error 10022) I have tried to get help from avast and so far what they have told me hasn’t been any help at all and I am at wits end. Thans.

   Reply
2. Anonymous says:

   May 28, 2007 at 9:50 am

   Thanks, Rick. With a discombulated desktop this morning, followed your instructions and now have my desktop in order again. My husband is just beginning his journey into the world of computers and your expertise has saved me more than once! Thank you!!

   Reply
3. Anonymous says:

   October 13, 2008 at 7:56 pm

   Hi
   Is there a system restore where you can date back to when you bought your computer (2006)Thanks

   Reply
4. Rick says:

   October 13, 2008 at 8:00 pm

   If you have a HP/Compaq, E-machines, Apple and a few other systems, you can use their System Recovery tools or disks to restore the computer to its factory state. If you have a Dell and other computers without the system recovery disks, you received a copy of Microsoft Windows and all support CD’s to restore the system from scratch yourself.

   Reply
5. Anonymous says:

   October 13, 2008 at 8:00 pm

   I have windows xp media center version on my computer.recently i put my friends cd in and im wondering if it wiped out my xp,I now have windows vista starter and i want to revert back to my windows xp.Is that possible.I would appreciate any info you can give me on this.Thank You

   Reply
6. Anonymous says:

   October 13, 2008 at 8:02 pm

   Im sorry Rick i now see this is to post comments on.Hope you can help anyways then i will post comments.Thanks

   Reply
7. Anonymous says:

   October 13, 2008 at 8:06 pm

   hanks Rick I forgot to tell you i have a product key and no disc as it was bought when i purchased my computer.computer.I have a Cisnet

   Reply
8. patrick douglass says:

   February 17, 2013 at 5:02 pm

   the best way is to go to a large computer dealer and buy a set of factory
   reset, your computer should have come with a set.
   In the future dont buy with out a set of factory restore dvds, internet people charge too much to get you thru this process. also most comunity college offer courses for just this same or simular fixes and in 90 days you wont have to ask any questions about your computer,you can also earn money fixing computers, i make 1000.00 a week doing this, i am 72 a retired fighter pilot

   Reply