How To Use System Restore To Fix Your Computer Problems

Often times, installing computer software and/or device drivers can cause an unexpected change to your PC system’s configuration or cause windows to behave abnormally. If you are able to figure out the possible cause of the problem on time, uninstalling the software or driver could fix the computer problem in no time. But if on the other hand, uninstalling does not work or is not possible, you can use System Restore to restore your machine’s system to an earlier date when everything worked correctly.

System Restore is a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files such as documents, e-mails, photos, etc. System Restore uses restore points which contain information about registry settings and other system information that windows uses to return your PC’s system files and settings to an earlier point in time without affecting personal files. An interesting feature of system restore is that you can undo it if it does not meet your expectation. Every time you use system restore, a restore point is automatically created before proceeding so you can undo the changes made if they don’t fix your computer windows problem. However, you cannot undo system restore if your computer is in the ‘Safe Mode’ but you can run system restore again and choose a different restore point.

System Restore uses a feature called ‘System Protection’ to regularly create and store restore points on your computer. To be able to create and save restore points on any hard disk, the system protection must be turned on for that particular hard disk. To store restore points, you require the minimum of three hundred mega bytes (300MB) of free space on each hard disk that has system protection turned on. You must also note that system restore cannot run on any hard disk that is smaller than one gigabyte (1GB) storage capacity. Restore points are continuously and automatically created and stored everyday and just before significant system events such as installation of software or device driver. New restore points take the place of older ones as the storage space which system restore reserved fills up.

System Protection is the Windows feature that is responsible for creating restore points. Therefore, I recommend that you keep it turned on for all hard disks that contain important files so that you can use System Restore to fix your computer problems when the need arises.

To turn on System Protection on, follow the procedure below;

1. From the control panel, click to open System

2. In the left pane, click System Protection. If you are prompted for an administrative pass word, provide the pass word and give a confirmation.

3. To turn on system protection for a hard disk, select the check box next to the disk, and then click ok.

You can as well create your restore points manually. The procedure is outlined below;

1. From the control panel, click to open System.

2. In the left pane, click System Protection. If you are prompted for an administrative pass word, provide the pass word and give a confirmation.

3. Click the System Protection Tab and then, click Create.

4. In the system dialogue box, type a description and then click Create.

To use System Restore to fix computer problems and undo changes to windows, you need to take the following steps;

1. From the control panel, click to open Backup and Restore Center.

2. Under tasks in the left pane, click Repair Windows using System Restore.

3. Choose the restore point you want and click Next. Hint: System Restore automatically recommends the most recent restore point created before a significant change in your computer’s configuration such as software installation. You can as well choose from a list of restore points. Try using restore point created before the date and time you started noticing the problem.

4. Confirm your choice of restore point and click Finish.

To undo the changes System Restore makes to your computer system;

1. Click to open System Restore.

2. Click Undo System Restore, and click Next.

3. Review your choices, and then click Finish.

The file types that System Restore affects include windows system files, program files and registry settings. It can as well make changes to scripts, batch files, and other types of executable files on your computer. It has nothing to do with your personal files and hence cannot be relied upon to restore a deleted file. Before you run system restore make sure that your System Protection is turned on and that you have at least, 300MB of free space on your hard disk to be able to create and store restore points in your computer. After running System Restore and your computer problem persists, you can undo System Restore and try with another restore point, therefore, do not hesitate to use it.