System Restore

[tincup]

A very useful tool for resolving problems on your computer is the System Restore Function.

If your computer suddenly starts acting up in a bizzare and unpredictable way, then probably one of several things has happened:
1. You got an automatic update from mother Microsoft that didnt install well or is in conflict with something on your system.
2. You may have picked up some sort of virus or malware.
3. You may have installed/deinstalled something that created a conflict or deleted key files (e.g., OCX files or dll files)
4. The computer gods are having some fun today by frustrating you.

The XP operating system checkpoints itself frequently. By that I mean, it takes a snapshot of all system software at a particular point in time. These checkpoints are done frequently, usually once per day.

If you do have a nasty problem crop up for unexplained reasons, one thing you can try to fix it is to do a system restore back to a point where things were running normally.

To do a system restore,
-click on Start
-click on Help and Support.
-click on "Pick a Task"
-select system restore.
Follow the instructions. There is a calendar which shows the checkpoint dates. The checkpoint dates are bolded. Just pick one from there and do the restore.

You can't hurt anything because you are simply putting your system software back to a point where you know things were good.

Note: The system restore only deals with system files. It will not affect any of your personal files you may have updated since the checkpoint date.

Dar

[Indy Anna Jones]

Not just for PGA, but any time you're installing or uninstalling a major program, I would suggest setting a restore point prior to doing the task. Follow Dar's guide to access the system restore program, then on that screen click on the "set a restore point" button, then next. This will give you a point that you know is good, and if something messes up, you can go right back to that prior point.