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.