How to Run System Restore

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.

Related Tags: restore point f2, system restore f12, how to start system recovery without f12, restore computer earlier f2, restore computer to earlier date press f2 loading, restore computerto earlier point from startup, can i restore system to date using f12, restore to earlier time from F2

How to Access System Restore

Most of you who do not know the purpose of System Restore tool should learn that it takes a picture of the system configuration. This is done so that the administrator can well return to a good known configuration when the system gets corrupt or important system files get deleted or corrupt. This article will tell you how to access system restore in your computer.

The restore can also be done when your system becomes unstable after installing a driver or application. This will help your system not lose personal data. System restore is specifically designed to create a restore point automatically each time your system recognizes a substantial change in application or file structure. System restore also provides flexibility to allow its users to make their own restore points at any point time they feel to do so. If any point of time your system becomes available then you will be required to use the system restore feature of Windows XP.

So here are the steps that you can employ to open and gain access to system restore tool. Take a look below and identify what error your system encounters.

“Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: “”\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM”

“Windows XP could not start because the following File is missing or corrupt: “”"\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE”

“This stop message”

“Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): “”\SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate”

“This system error”

“Unmountable boot volume”

Gain Access To System Restore by using the Command prompt

  • Before you start restoring your system, it is mandatory to be logged on to Windows XP with administrator privileges to finish the following steps.
  • If you want to verify that you are logged on a with administrator privileges, then visit Microsoft’s website.
  • Start using the System Restore tool if your system behaves unpredictably after you install a new driver or application, and uninstalling the application is of no help.
  • The most important point to note before you start system restoration with administrator privileges is that, if you have not set a restore point previously in the System Restore, then you cannot restore your system to a previous state.
  • If you are not sure on how to set a restore point then you can contact the support or can follow the steps below:
  1. Open StartàAll ProgramsàAccessoriesàSystem Toolsà System restore.
  2. Start System Restore tool and tick Create a Restore Point check box.
  3. Click next and do as the application prompts you to choose a restore point.
  4. Click Create to create a restore point.

Some people think that after using System Restore their system runs slow. To those users who feel the same, I would like to remind them that the system does not lose its performance after you use system restore. Process of system restoration takes a few seconds only and there is no loss in system speed.

The following steps explain how to gain access to System Restore tool using command prompt:

  1. Reboot your system. Press and hold down F8 key on your keyboard when your system starts up. Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt option.
  2. If you have installed more than one operating system on your computer, it will prompt you to choose an operating system which you wish to restore. Use arrow keys to select the required OS and press Enter key.
  3. At command prompt type “%system root%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe” (without quotes) and hit Enter.
  4. To restore your system to final working state follow and do as per the instructions displayed on the screen.

Always remember that before you start system restoration, log in with administrator privileges only. If you want to initialize System Restore tool using another safe mode option go through Microsoft’s support website.

There is not one but many ways to gain access to System Restore tool. So you will have to do a bit of research for this. System restore tool can be accessed from the Windows XP CD provided to you by your PC manufacturer or the vendor.

Related Tags: how to access system restore, STEPS ON HOW TO ACCES SYSTEM RESTORE, how to acsses systems, how to access to system restore, how to access systemroot, how to access system restore through run, how to access system restore in explorer, access system restore

How to Do a System Restore

There is nothing more frustrating than when your computer is not functioning properly. Various errors and notifications just pop up on your computer screen informing you about corrupt files now and then. It is even more frustrating when you are out of solutions to how to overcome this kind of problem. Now where you are right now is the right place to get a solution. This article will tell you how to use System restore tool to make your computer to return to a previous state.  For your note this particular article is for users with experience between “Beginners” and “Intermediate”. Here you will come to know how to do a system restore.

Now how does a system restore works? What does it actually do to your system when you choose to restore your system? The function of System restore tool is to take “snapshots”, more specifically; it backs up critical system files, few program files and registry settings. And this information is stored as restore points. In case, when your system is not functioning properly and various errors starts arising, then using these restore points you can return your operating system to a previous state or time when it was functioning correctly. System restoration can change batch files, executables and scripts. Personal files, like documents, pictures or e-mails are not affected by system restore. Only those files can be restored and recovered whose backups have been made. But what if your system does not start and your system just crashed.
How to Do a System Restore
How To Do A System Restore When Your System Crashes?

What if your Windows PC crashes? This is quite an irritating thing because this would take another 40 minutes of your life to reinstall new windows on your system. You may now require a system recovery. This task will become simple if you have already created system restore points your system with Windows Automated System Recovery Software. This would help in saving your time and not much data will be lost. But if have not taken a backup of your system, you will require to use the system recovery CD provided by your system manufacturer. This is another thing to learn about your computer. The process is a bit challenging but at the end your work will be done perfectly.

Before you start to recover, you will need following things:

  1. Automated System recovery Floppy
  2. Backup File
  3. OEM CD
  4. Windows XP CD

Step1. Turn your computer on. Press F8 key and wait for screen named Windows Advance Options Menu.

Step2. Among different options, select “Last Known Good Configuration”. Press enter. Select Windows XP and hit Enter again. Your computer will now be stored at last known restore point.

Step3. Click on Windows “Start” button. Select Programsà Accessoriesà System Tools. Choose “System Restore”. Select “restore Computer To An earlier Time”. Click “Next”.

Step4. Select a restore point. Follow prompts to restart system. Return To “System restore” and choose earlier restore date if you are still getting an error.

Step5. If you cannot run Windows, run restore from DOS. Hit “F8” key when computer boots. Choose “Safe Mode-Command Prompt Only”. Type “C:” in command line window screen. Type “systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe”. Choose a point to restore.

Step6. Keep your Windows XP CD in CD-ROM drive and restart your system. Press “F2” to run Automated System Recovery. Insert the Windows Automated System Recovery floppy disk into the floppy drive and press any key. Automated System Recovery will come into force as soon as Windows Setup starts to run. To select the lost backup file, follow the prompts.

Step7. Locate the recovery CD named Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Recovery. The CD should have label “System Recovery” and make sure computer manufacturers’ logo is present on it. Insert the CD in CD drive and restart your computer. Again follow the prompts to restore your system.

Related Tags: how long does it take to do system recovery