System Restore

System Restore helps you restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. It is a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e-mail, documents, or photos.

Sometimes the installation of a program or a driver can cause an unexpected change to your computer or cause Windows to behave unpredictably. Usually, removing the program or driver corrects the problem. If removal does not fix the problem, you can try restoring your computer's system to an earlier date when everything worked correctly.

System Restore uses a feature called System Protection to regularly create and save restore points on your computer. These restore points contain information about registry settings and other system information that Windows uses. System Restore also detects the beginning of changes to your computer and creates a restore point before the changes are made. This allows System Restore the ability to restore to the point prior to the change to the computer. In addition, you can create restore points manually.

System Restore is not intended for backing up personal files, so it cannot help you recover a personal file that has been deleted or damaged. You should regularly back up your personal files and important data using a backup program.

The following list contains several common actions involving System Restore: