System Restore allows you to roll back your computer settings in case you’ve installed software that causes PC instability or sluggishness. System Restore will not affect personal files such as e-mail, documents, or photos. By loading Windows from a restore point, you can undo the negative effects of bad drivers and updates.
Step by Step: How to Run System Restore
Step 1 Within the Start menu, click All Programs.
Step 2 Go to Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.
Step 3 Run System Restore using the Recommended Restore option. This will undo the most recent software installation, which can include updates and drivers that you added in the past few days. This option works well if you recently installed a piece of software and immediately noticed a problem.
Step 4 Alternatively, run System Restore by choosing a different restore point. This option gives you the ability to select a restore point from the last few created. Choose this path if you have been having computer issues for a while and have only recently pinpointed the problem.
Step 5 After clicking the Next button–and selecting a restore point if you opted to do so–click the Finish button to restart Windows with the selected driver or software update uninstalled.
If you are having trouble accessing System Restore, or if System Restore is not functioning properly, you can load it from Safe Mode. To open Safe Mode, restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly while Windows is rebooting.
Step by Step: How to Create a Restore Point
Step 1 Open System Restore from the Start menu by going to Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.
Step 2 Click the Open System Protection text near the bottom of the window.
Step 3 Select the drive for which you want to create a restore point from the menu. Creating a restore point prior to installing drivers or updates will ensure that you can roll back to your previous settings in the event that you experience a problem with the newly installed software.
Step 4 Click the Create button to create a restore point. You can reload to this restore point at any time through the System Restore tool. You can also give the restore point a descriptive name to help you remember which device you updated at that time.