System restore is a component in Windows, which will allow the rolling back of all the system, files, installed programs and registry keys to their previous state inside the event of the system malfunction. System restore will help you in restoring all the computer files in the earlier format. It will undo all the system changes on your computer without affecting any of the personal files, like documents, photos and e-mails. Knowing how to run system restore can be helpful if you want some of your files to return to their original format.
Sometimes, when you install a program or driver, then it will cause some unexpected changes in your computer or will cause the windows to behave differently. Usually, when you uninstall, the program or the driver will correct the problem. If uninstalling the program does not help, then you will have to restore the system of your computer to an earlier date when everything was working fine.
In system restore you can make a new restore point manually, roll back to the previous point or you will have to change the system restore configuration. Old restore will be discarded for keeping the volume usage inside the specified amount. For most of the users, this will provide restore points for covering the last few weeks. Users who are only concerned with the performance and the space usage will disable the entire system restore.
The system restore will use a feature, which is known as the system protection, for regularly creating and restoring points inside your computer. These points will have information about the registry settings and some other systems information, which the windows use. However, system restore is not meant for backing up all the personal files, so it will not help in recovering the personal files, which have been damaged or deleted. You will have to keep a regular backup of all your personal files and the important data by using a backup program. Here are some different methods on how to run system restore.
Command prompt
- Start your system and press the ‘F8’ key on the keyboard for accessing the safe mode options.
- Choose the ‘safe mode with command prompt’ from the option of safe mode. Now, you will have to use arrow keys for getting all the options and then press ‘enter’.
- Now, you will have to login through an account, which has all the administrative privileges.
- Start typing ‘%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe’ inside the command prompt and then you can press ‘enter’. Now, the system restore will open.
- Now, you can use the system restore for restoring your computer to a previous point of restore and then you can restart your computer.
Safe mode
- First, you will have to restart your computer in safe mode. Once you start, you will see that the system restore option is not there in the folder of applications as it usually does. In this situation, you will have to go in the Help and Support center, which can be easily seen in the ‘start’ menu.
- Now the ‘Help and Support Center’ will open. You will have to select the ‘performance and maintenance’ option and then choose the system restore to undo all the changes. Later you will have to click on ‘run’ at the system restore wizard.
- The system restore wizard will start and all the steps for completing the restore will be the same as in normal restore. Once the system has completed the process of restoration, your computer will restart in normal mode.
- You must always remember that your computer has limited and basic function when in safe mode, and this never has the automatic creation for restoring points. This will mean that the restoration done in safe mode will not be reserved like usual. However, you can perform a restoration in normal mode to a date, which is later than the date of restoration in safe mode, if that restoration has happened earlier.
- Keep in mind that you might have to re-install certain applications, which were installed later than the date when your computer was restored, since you can reverse the restoration for recovering the malfunction.
Wwindows XP CD
- First, you will have to check the CD drives whether it is set to run in the start-up process. Now you must restart your computer and then press F12 or F2, and choose the boot menu. Choose the arrow keys for putting the CD drive on No.1 in the list. Save and exit, you must insert the windows XP disk when your computer has finished booting up.
- Restart your computer, and now you will have to act quick. There will be a text, which reads, “press any key to boot from CD”. Now, press any key on the keyboard for continuing and the prompt will disappear after three seconds. If you have missed the prompt then you will have to restart the computer again.
- If you press the key in time, wait for Windows to load all the files. You will have to ignore the prompt that asks you to install the ‘RAID’ driver. Now, press the enter key for starting the restoration once the menu has finished loading.
- If will get all the licensing terms, press F8 for accepting them. Select what kind of installation on windows XP you would like to perform. Mostly there will be only one option, if you get more options, and then make sure that you select the correct copy.
- Wait for some time for Windows to delete all the old files and for copying the new ones on the hard drive. After this, it will start installing Windows on the hard drive and will give the completion time.
- Wait for some time for the system to finish the installation and then you can restart when it is done. Now, you can customize the computer to fill in all your needs, but make sure that you choose the correct option. After this, you will be asked to register and fill the first user account. Click on the ‘next’ option and your computer will start.
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