How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer

A System Restore can help fix problems that might be making your computer run slowly or stop responding. It will return your system to an earlier point in time. Your computer automatically creates Restore Points that allow you to restore...

Method 1 of 2:

Performing a System Restore

  1. Picture 1 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Open the Start menu. This is the 'Window' icon in the bottom left corner of your screen.
  2. Picture 2 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Click on the All Programs link. This is located at the bottom of the list of frequently used programs.
    1. Alternatively, you can click on Help and Support and type in 'system restore' in the search bar. This will give you a detailed description of what a System Restore is and include a link to open the System Restore guide. You can skip to Step 6 if you want to use the Help and Support menu.
  3. Picture 3 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Open the Accessories folder. This is where all of the programs that are saved to your computer by default are located.
  4. Picture 4 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Open the System Tools folder. This is where you manage system events and performance on your computer.
  5. Picture 5 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Click on the System Restore guide. This will guide you through the restoration process.
  6. Picture 6 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Select Restore my computer to an earlier time. Click Next to continue.
    1. You can force the system to create a Restore Point before you install a new program or operating system. That way, if anything goes wrong, it will be obvious which Restore Point you want to go back to.
  7. Picture 7 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Select a Date to restore your system to. Choose a date on which your computer was running fine, for example, before a system update or installing a program.
  8. Picture 8 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Click Next to activate the System Restore. Your computer will shut down, perform the System Restore and restart again.
  9. Picture 9 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Click OK when the system starts up. Congratulations! You did it! Your system has been restored to the date you selected and will be up and running like it used to.
Method 2 of 2:

Undoing a System Restore

  1. Picture 10 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Repeat Steps 1-6 above. When you have mistakenly restored your system to an earlier configuration that you do not want, you can undo the last System Restore.
  2. Picture 11 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Select Undo my last restoration. Click on Next to continue.
  3. Picture 12 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Click Next to confirm. You are confirming that you want to undo the last System Restore from the Restore Point shown. Your computer will shut down, perform the operation and restart again.
  4. Picture 13 of How to Restore Your Windows XP Computer
    Click OK when the system starts up. Great job! You have reversed the System Restore and are back to the way things were.
Update 04 March 2020
Category

System

Mac OS X

Hardware

Game

Tech info

Technology

Science

Life

Application

Electric

Program

Mobile