How to Create/restore a restore point in Windows XP

Before starting we must understand what actually restore point is basically it is  

 A restore point is a date and time in the past that you can restore important Windows files to using the System Restore tool.

 Setting a restore point lets you select a point in time when your computer is working as you want. Then, you can use the restore point to undo any unwanted changes to your computer in the future.

This method is rated: Easy.

To set up a restore point, follow these steps:

1. Close any programs that are open.
2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. The System Restore Wizard opens.
   
   Note If the System Restore Wizard does not open, the System Restore feature may be turned off. To turn System Restore on, see the "More Information" section in this article.
3. Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.
4. In Restore point description box, type a description for the restore point. Use a description that is easy to understand. If you are creating a restore point before you install specific software or hardware, you could use that information in the description.
   
   Note The date and time are automatically added to your restore point. Therefore, you do not have to use them in your description.
5. Do one of the following:
   • To finish creating this restore point, click the Create button. The System Restore Wizard notifies you when the restore point is created.
   • To stop creating a restore point and to return to the Welcome to System Restore page, click the Back button.
   • To stop creating a restore point and to exit the System Restore Wizard, click the Cancel button.
6. When you are finished, click the Close button.

Congratulations! You have successfully created a restore point, and you are finished.

Notes

• Windows XP automatically creates system restore points every day. Typically, it creates restore points before a program or a hardware device is installed.
• If you install a program, but then later you use a restore point that was created before you installed that program, the program will no longer work. If you want to use the program again, you must reinstall it.
• System Restore differs from uninstalling a program. To completely remove a program, you must remove the program by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel or by using the program's own uninstall program. For more information, search for the help topic "Change or remove a program" in Windows XP Help and Support.

Restore point verification

To view the restore point, repeat step 2. Then, in the Welcome to System Restore page of the System Restore Wizard, select Restore my computer to an earlier time, and then click Next. Then select the date when the restore point was created from the calendar on the Select a Restore Point page. All the restore points that were created on the selected date are listed by name in the list box on the right side of the calendar.

If this method worked

If the system restore point is created, you are finished!

How to use System Restore to restore Windows XP to a previous state

To use System Restore to restore Windows XP to a previous state, follow these steps:

1. Log on to Windows as an administrator.
2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   
   
   
3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click to select the Restore my computer to an earlier time option, and then click Next. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   
   
   
4. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system restore point in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next.
   
   
   Note A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   
   
   
5. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
6. Log on to the computer as an administrator. Then, click OK on the System Restore Restoration Complete page. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   
   
   

If you successfully restored your computer to a previous state and the computer runs as expected, you are finished.


If the restore process completed successfully but the computer does not run as expected, go to the "How to undo a system restoration after you perform a System Restore" section. If you received an error message, and the restore process was not completed, or if you cannot run System Restore, go to the "Next Steps" section.

How to undo a system restoration after you perform a System Restore

You may have unintentionally restored Windows XP to a previous configuration that you do not want. To undo the restoration, follow these steps:

1. Log on to Windows as an administrator.
2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   
   
   
3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click to select the Undo my last restoration option, and then click Next.
   
   
   Note A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   
   
   
4. On the Confirm Restoration Undo page, click Next. System Restore restores the original Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer.
5. Log on to the computer as an administrator. The System Restore Undo Complete page appears. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   
   
   
6. Click OK. You can now run System Restore again from a different restore point.