Thomas W. Shay

System Restore in Windows XP - How to Guide

Everyone should learn how to use Microsoft’s System Restore.  With all the things that can go wrong with computer now a days, spyware, viruses, bad installs the average person needs to be able to Restore his PC back to a working state. 

System Restore will automatically create restore points when you do certain actions, like installing new software, drivers and some automatic updates.  It’s a very good idea to know how to set a Manual Restore Point.  I like to set a restore point before I do any deleting of programs, cleaning off viruses/spyware, ECT.  This way if anything goes’s wrong; you can get your computer back to a working state.  I then like to set another restore point after I get the computer running great.

FYI:  You will need to be logged onto your computer with administrator account.

How to Create Restore Point Manually

1. Click on “Start” > “All Programs” > “Accessories” > “System Tools” > “System Restore”.
2. On the “Welcome to System Restore” Page, click “Create a restore point” and then click “Next”.
3. On the “Create a Restore Point” page, create a name for your restore point.  I like to put what action I am doing, that makes me want to do a restore point.  Example:  “Before virus/spyware removal”.
4. Click “Create”.

How to Restore Windows if your computer is having issues.

If windows will not start:

Start the System Restore tool at a command prompt

1. Start your computer and start hitting F8.  You will get a Windows Advanced Options Menu, with lots of different choices of how to start your computer.  You want to use your arrow keys and move to “Safe Mode with Command Prompt”.  Hit your enter key and hit it again to enter “Microsoft Windows XP Professional”.
2. Log onto the computer with a administrator account and hit enter key.
3. Type in the following at the command prompt:  %systemroot%system32restorerstrui.exe and hit the enter key.
4. At the “Welcome to System Restore” page and click “Next”.
5. On the “Select a Restore Point” page, select the date and restore point you want and click “Next”.  A system restore message with list of configuration changes will open and you can click “OK”.
6. Click on “Next” to start the Restore process and when done it will reboot PC.  Log back in as administrator and you will see a “Restoration Complete” page.  Click “OK”.

If windows starts normally:Restore Point Manually

1. Click on “Start” > “All Programs” > “Accessories” > “System Tools” > “System Restore”.
2. On the “Welcome to System Restore” Page, click “Restore my computer to an earlier time” and click “Next”.
3. On the “Select a Restore Point” page, select the date and restore point you want and click “Next”.  A system restore message with list of configuration changes will open and you can click “OK”.
4. Click on “Next” to start the Restore process and when done it will reboot PC.  Log back in as administrator and you will see a “Restoration Complete” page.  Click “OK”.

How to Undo a Restore Point that you do not want:

1. Click on “Start” > “All Programs” > “Accessories” > “System Tools” > “System Restore”.
2. On the “Welcome to System Restore” page, click “Undo my last restoration” and click “Next”.  A system restore message with list of configuration changes will open and you can click “OK”.
3. On the “Confirm Restoration Undo” page, click “Next”.
4. When the Restore process is done it will reboot PC.  Log back in as administrator and you will see a “Restoration Complete” page.  Click “OK”.    

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