Windows Restore Points

Windows XP allows restore points to return to a previous state. This option allows you to return to a stable configuration. This is not a reinstallation of the system. Only the modified files are restored as they were when creating the restore point.

Some restore points are created automatically (install or uninstall software) but you can create others as needed.

Any restoration will increase by an automatic restart of Windows.

1. Points restoration and personal data

Only the system files are saved and eventually restored. Your personal files (text documents, spreadsheets, documents, images, sounds, videos, presentations ...) are not taken into account. Creating a restore point is therefore not a backup of your data!

Hence:

You can use your restore points without fear of losing your personal files.
You are strongly advised to safeguard from all your documents (on CD, DVD or external hard drives) to guard against any possible disaster.

2. Check service

The following service must be started automatically.

Go to Start,
Then in Run,
Enter services.msc,
Search Service System Restore Service,
Place it in automatic mode,
The start immediately.

3. Setting up partitions to restore

Each of the partitions (disks) should be set separately and individually, to allow the restoration.

Right-clicking on My Computer,
Choose the Properties menu (bottom)
Go to the System Restore tab,
Positioning individually on each disk and then
==> Click on Settings,
==> Check or uncheck "Turn off System Restore on this drive"
OK.

4 - Note

It may not be useful to permit the restoration to partition containing only personal data. The restoration may lose data. It is therefore better to make regular backups.

5 - Size of the backup and cleaning

The creation of restore points buys a lot of space on the hard disk. They are more numerous, more free space is taken. This size is limited. Even with the large hard disks today.

Because of this challenge of saving, it may happen that no restore point can be created. It must remove these restore points from time to time. The removal is done once for all hard drives.

To delete the restore points:

Go to Accessories and then System Tools,
Select Disk Cleanup,
Choose the first hard drive (C)
Wait a time (the time of verification of what can be deleted)
Go to the More Options tab,
Go to the bottom line "System Restore" to click on Clean
OK.

Warning! The deletion of restore points is irreversible!

6 - Create a restore point:

Go to the Start Menu Programs then on,
Then in Accessories and finally System Tools,
Select System Restore,
Select Create a restore point,
Click on Next,
Enter a name for the restore point: the name must be quite evocative,
Click on Create and restore point is created automatically.

7 - Restore a restore point:

Go to the Start Menu Programs then on,
Then in Accessories and finally System Tools,
Select System Restore,
Select Restore my computer to an earlier time,
Click on Next,
Choose the calendar posted on the restore point (left)
Choose from list on the right (if a choice is possible) the specific restore point,
Click on Next,
Click Next again,
The system will reboot to restore the files modified systems.

8 - Mysterious Disappearance of restore points:

The Kaspersky Anti-Virus scans restore points and removes the entire point of restoration if a virus has been found. This preventively to avoid the virus becomes active when using the restore point contaminated.

9 - Additions:

> To restore incomplete:
- Open the System module (Control Panel or by right-clicking the My Computer icon and then Properties)
- Go to the System Restore tab,
- Check Turn off System Restore on all drives,
- Restart Windows,
- Repeat this operation for this time uncheck Disable System Restore on all drives and restart Windows.

> If for one reason or another, you can not find System Restore in the Start menu, you can run it by doing this:
=> Start Menu> Run and type% SystemRoot% \ System32 \ restore \ rstrui.exe, then OK