System Restore for Windows...Turn Back the Clock

 
System Restore
Most newly purchased computers come with a Restore disc. If your operating system is already installed, as most are, you should receive at least the restore disc and your installed OS, in case you ever have to do a complete re-installation on the computer. That’s a nightmare we don’t have to explore just now.

WARNING: Be certain of the decision to Restore before you do it. In older Windows versions, Restore cannot be undone. If you roll back to a point from last week, and yesterday, you transferred pictures your granddaughter’s senior prom into the computer, you may lose them. Always back up files you create on disc or exclude them. Older Windows versions may not allow this, so be careful!

System Restore should be located in the Start menu, in the Accessories tab. In Accessories, you’ll find System Tools. System Restore should be there. In newer Windows versions, you can have the computer create restore points for you. Windows XP does it automatically. A restore point is a time in the life of your computer that’s recorded and saved. You can “roll back” to that point if things go haywire.

Reasons to Restore are simple and often helpful. If you accidentally download a nasty bit of spy ware, or a virus, and your virus program just can’t kill it, you can Restore to a point before the virus appeared. This doesn’t always kill or get rid of a virus, or even spy ware, but its one of the Worse Case Scenario fixes. Don’t ever try to Restore as a knee-jerk reaction. Try your virus scan first.

Once you go into System Restore, you can tweak the Settings. For some programs or installations, you have to turn Restore off. This is the place where you do that, if you need to. I don’t suggest turning Restore off, unless you have to for a particular program. Always turn it back on. Restore can save you from the pain of losing everything or a bad installation. Clicking the System Restore Settings link will also show you a General tab that will tell you which version of XP you have, which Service Pack, and your registration information.