A System Restore point is just a snapshot of the state of your computer at a given time.  When you
run the Windows System Restore utility you are presented with 2 options:

1) Create a new Restore Point        2) Restore your computer to a Restore Point taken in the past.

The Windows Operating System is normally configured to take automatic Restore Points - called
System Restore Points.  These happen in the background without you knowing it and usually
happen once a day.  Some software programs take a Restore Point before they install
themselves.  You should always make a manual System Restore Point before making significant
changes to your computer - installing or uninstalling software, changing system settings like
screen savers and menu configurations.  When you run System Restore, a calendar appears
to help find Restore Points.  Automated Restore Points are taken only if the computer is switched
on. So some days in the calendar might be blank.  Some days might show several Restore Points.

System Restore Points can be very useful as they offer a fast and convenient way to fix computer
problems or repair an unstable system.  On a typical Windows machine the process of restoring to
a System Restore Point only takes a few minutes, 10 minutes max.  Taking a fresh Restore Point
usually takes only half a minute or less.  You only need to make a few clicks and the job is done.
So when troubleshooting computer problems always give this a try first - BUT REMEMBER! - take
a new one BEFORE you restore to an old one.  It takes only a few seconds.  A Restore Point will
also take a snapshot (backup) of the Windows Registry.

System Restore involves a restart of your computer.  This will happen automatically so it is good
practice to save all your work and close all other programs and windows before you do a Restore.

As part of this step-by-step procedure you will take a total of 5 System Restore Points.  These are
placed at strategic points throughout the process so that if things go wrong you don't have to go all
the way back and start again.  The process of Restoring to a System Restore Point is often referred
to as:

Rolling back the system

System Undo

Reverting to a checkpoint

System Rollback

Checkpointing

Essentially they all mean the same thing.

People often ask me the question "Will I lose any work if I do a System Restore?" 
The answer is no.  When you save a WORD file or upload photos from your camera to the hard drive
those files are treated as separate items outside of programs, applications and system settings.
If you typed and saved some letters yesterday and then today you restore your computer back to
two weeks ago those letters will still be there where you saved them.


How to run the System Restore tool (Windows XP)

Click start (bottom left)
Point to All Programs
Point to Accessories
Point to System Tools
Click System Restore


How to create a new Restore Point

Click the small circle button next to Create a restore point
Click the Next button
Type in a name for the restore point - spring1
Click the Create button


How to restore to a previous Restore Point

Click the small circle button next to Restore my computer to an earlier time
Select your desired Year, Month and Day from the calendar
Select a Restore Point in the window on the right - automated Rstore Points are named
"System Checkpoint".  In our case we will should see "spring2", "spring3", etc...
Click the Next button
On the next screen verify that the date and time of the Restore Point are correct and then click
Next once more.  Wait for your computer to restore and restart.


If you are using Windows Vista:

Click on the Start button to open your Start Menu. The Start button looks like this:
Click on the Control Panel menu option.

Click on the System and Maintenance menu option.

Click on the System menu option.

Click on System Protection in the left-hand task list.

You will now be at the System Protection tab in the System control panel. This tab allows you to
enable and disable System Restore as well as make new manual restore points.

More help with Windows Restore Points at www.bleepingcomputer.com