Event-Triggered Restore Points
Event-triggered restore points are created before key changes are made to the system. System Restore automatically creates a restore point before the
following events:
l
Application installations
—
System Restore creates a restore point before you install an application program designed for Windows XP. You may wish to
create a manual restore point before attempting to install an older program.
l
AutoUpdate installation
—
When you choose to install the update, System Restore creates a restore point before the actual installation of the update
begins.
l
Restore operation
—
The restore operation itself also creates a restore point for undo purposes.
l
Microsoft Backup Utility recovery
—
Before Microsoft Backup Utility (only available in Windows XP Professional) performs a backup recovery, System
Restore creates a restore point.
l
Unsigned driver installation
—
The INF installer of Windows detects unsigned device-driver installations. Drivers that are signed (electronically certified by
the device manufacturer) do not generate a restore point.
Manual Restore Points
If you are logged on to the computer as computer administrator or as a user with administrator rights, you may create and name an on-demand restore point.
(For information on types of user accounts, see "
How to Add Users
.") This is useful to create a checkpoint to return to before making a particularly risky
change, before leaving a shared system to other users, or at a particular state you believe is optimal.
To create a restore point, perform the following steps:
1.
Click the
Start
button, point to
All Programs
—
> Accessories
—
> System Tools
, and then click
System Restore
.
2.
Select
Create a restore point
and click
Next>
.
3.
Type a description of the restore point and click
Create
.
The date and time are automatically added to the description of the new restore point.
Restore Process
As the computer is used over time, restore points are collected in the archive without any management or intervention. If you encounter operating system
problems, you can use the System Restore feature to select any of the restore points presented through the System Restore Wizard.
If problems occur after installing a device driver, you should first attempt to use
Driver Rollback
. If that is unsuccessful, then use System Restore.
To return your computer to a previous, stable condition, perform the following steps:
1.
Click the
Start
button, point to
All Programs
—
> Accessories
—
> System Tools
, and then click
System Restore
.
2.
Select
Restore my computer to an earlier time
and click
Next>
.
The
Select a Restore Point
screen appears. The calendar on the left indicates in bold the dates on which restore points were created.
3.
Click a date, click a restore point for that date, and click
Next>
.
4.
Click
Next>
to confirm the restore point selection and complete the restore process.
After System Restore finishes collecting data, the computer automatically restarts and the
Restoration Complete
screen appears.
5.
Click
OK
.
If you are not satisfied with the results of the restoration, you can repeat the preceding steps, using a different restore point, or you can undo the
restoration.
To undo a restoration, perform the following steps:
1.
Click the
Start
button, point to
All Programs
—
> Accessories
—
> System Tools
, and then click
System Restore
.
2.
Select
Undo my last restoration
and click
Next>
.
3.
Click
Next>
to confirm the restoration undo.
After System Restore finishes collecting data, the computer automatically restarts and the
Undo Complete
screen appears.
4.
Click
OK
.
Driver Rollback
Windows XP device Driver Rollback can replace a device driver with the previously installed version. When you install a new device driver that causes system
instability, use Driver Rollback to reinstall the previous drivers. In the event that Driver Rollback cannot reinstall your previous driver, you can use System
Restore to return your operating system to its state before the new device driver installation.
To use Driver Rollback, perform the following steps:
1.
Click the
Start
button, and then right-click
My Computer
.
2.
Click
Properties
.
3.
Click the
Hardware
tab, and then click
Device Manager
.
4.
In the
Device Manager
window, right-click the device for which the new driver was installed, and then click
Properties
.
5.
Click the
Drivers
tab, and then click
Roll Back Driver
.
