SOHOLogics

System restoration with System Restore (1of2)

By: Christy Osborne

If your computer might be unstable or want your computer's settings restored, fear not. With System Restore, you can!

Whenever a new program or software update is installed on your computer, a change occurs. These changes can sometimes make your system unstable. If you have ever wanted to go back to the way it was, fear not. With System Restore, you can.

System Restore works a lot like the Undo command in Microsoft Word. You can use System Restore to remove any system changes that were made since the last time you remember your computer working correctly. System Restore does not affect your personal data files so you won't lose changes made to these files.

How Does System Restore Work?

Windows XP periodically takes snapshots of your computer. These snapshots are called restore points. Windows XP also creates restore points when major changes to your computer occur like when you install new device drivers and when new applications are installed. Also, you can create and name your own restore points at any time. When does System Restore help? If you have installed a program that has made your computer unstable, it’s time to employ System Restore.

Below, I will show you how to open system restore, choose a restore point, and return your computer to its previous stable state. To d so:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double click System.
   
   
   
   
2. Select the System Restore tab in the System Properties dialog box.
3. Use the slider to increase the allocated disk space, and then click OK.
   

System Restore and Multiple Hard Drives

Have more than one drive on your system? If so, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double click System.
2. Click the drive you want to monitor, and then click Settings.
3. In the Settings dialog box, use the slider to increase the disk space, and then click OK twice.

Clean Up Your Hard Drive with Disk Cleanup

Notice that the disk space allocated to System Restore cannot exceed 12%. If you need more space, you can run the Disk Cleanup utility to reclaim space. To open Disk Cleanup:

If you have never run a Disk Cleanup, do the following:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.
2. Click Analyze.
3. Then click Defragment.

The process will take some time to run, especially if you have never run one before.