System Restore will not affect your personal data files e.g. documents you have created, in general files you have created with different applications. You won't lose changes made to these files.

How does System restore work?

Windows creates an image of your computer. These images are called restore points. Windows creates restore points at the time of important system changes (such as a program installation etc) or you can create and name your own restore points at any time. If for instance your computer has started to give you problems after you have made a change or installation you restore to a point previous to those changes.

When you run System Restore, a calendar is displayed with restore points. The more often you use your computer then the more restore points you will have to choose from.

Before you open System Restore, you should save all the work you may be doing. Because System Restore will require a computer restart.

1. Click Start.

2. Point to All Programs.

3. Point to Accessories.

4. Point to System Tools.

5. Click System Restore.

6. Follow the instructions on the wizard.

Creating a restore point can be useful especially at times when you may feel that you could run into problems by some actions that you make or programs you install etc. If something goes wrong, you select the restore point you just created and System Restore undoes any system changes made since that time.

Using System Restore in Vista

There are two areas to access System Restore. Type restore into the Start menu search box. System Restore is at the top of the start menu. Or type rstrui into the search box and hit enter.

Create a Restore Point

1. Open System Restore. (See steps above.)

2. Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.

3. In the Restore point description box, type a name to identify this restore point. System Restore automatically adds the date and time that this Restore Point is created.

Creating a restore point

. To finish creating this restore point, click Create.

. To cancel restore point creation and return to the Welcome to System Restore screen, click Back.

. To cancel restore point creation and exit the System Restore Wizard, click Cancel.

To view or return to this restore point, open System Restore and in the System Restore Wizard select Restore my computer to an earlier time. Then select the date you created the restore point from the calendar in the Select a Restore Point screen. All of the restore points you created and the computer created on the selected date are listed by name in the box to the right of the calendar. PLEASE HELP