Well, we all have been there. We turn on our computer (boot up) getting ready to type that
school report, or business presentation and guess what, our computer just does not want to
work today. Whether it's the word processor, spreadsheet, or financial package that isn't
working, most people do not know that Microsoft Windows XP has a built in feature that
just may come and save the day. That feature is called "System Restore." 

Basically, System Restore is like a little hound that runs behind the scenes taking
"snapshots" of various parts of the Microsoft Windows XP operating system. So, if a part
of Microsoft Windows XP stops working one day, the System Restore utility is able to
reference one of the "snapshots" it took and restore your system from a previous day (a
day when your computer worked). It's kind of like going back in time to a day when your
computer worked. All your current data (Microsoft Word files, etc.) are still retained, so
you don't have to worry about losing any present day files. 

In order to restore your computer just follow these simple steps: 

1. Close any open programs.
2. Click on the Windows "Start" button (normally located on the bottom of your computer
desktop)
3. Click on "All Programs"
4. Click on "Accessories"
5. Click on "System Tools"
6. Then click on "System Restore"
7. At this point the System Restore wizard will launch. You will have two options: 

a. "Restore my system from an earlier date"
b. "Create a system restore point" 

If you just need to restore your system and get it working correctly again, just select
option "a" and click "Next." 

8. On this screen you can select a date from the calendar that you would like to try and
restore from. So, if you knew that your computer worked fine two days ago, just pick that
date on the calendar and click "Next."
9. The next screen is the confirmation window. Just verify the information on the screen
and click "Next." Windows XP will then reboot and try to restore your system with the
settings from the date you selected. 

The System Restore process can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much
reconfiguration Windows XP needs to do and how fast of a PC you have. When System Restore
is done, a screen will popup with the results of the restore. If it was successful, you
can then log into the system and start using the computer again. Any quirky issues that
you were having are now hopefully gone. 

Now, on step 7b above, I mentioned the "Create a system restore point" option. This option
is for when you want to force Windows XP to take a snapshot of your system just before you
install a program or alter any system settings that you are not sure of. It is like a
safety net for when you install any internet programs (sometimes riddled with spyware) or
system drivers (video, audio, etc). If you want to revert back to a virgin state just
create a restore point "before" installing any software. This way, if your machine starts
acting weird, you can just restore your settings from the selected point. 

With a little practice, the System Restore utility is easy to use and a great way to help
ensure the safety of your computer.