When you create a system restore point in Windows 7 you are, in effect, taking a snapshot of your computer’s settings while everything works correctly. If anything goes pear shaped later on, you can always return to that restore point quite easily. Often when we install new software, things go wrong, so you should always set up a restore point before you make any drastic changes to your system.
Fortunately for us, Windows 7 automatically creates system restore points (or checkpoints as they are known) once a day. On top of that, it also saves a restore point every time you successfully start Windows.
A system restore point contains Registry entries and copies of certain critical programs includingkey system files and drivers. It’s a “snapshot” of crucial system settings and programs. Reverting back to a restore point will replace your undesirable current settings and programs with older versions that date back to when the restore point was saved.
Windows 7 can usually detect when you’re about to do something significant to your system (for example, installing a new network card) and will create a restore point automatically. Alas, it can’t always tell.
But if you suspect that what you’re about to do to your PC endangers it, you can always save a restore point manually yourself.
Creating A Restore Point
It’s a good idea to wait until your system is running well and problem free before you create a restore point. When it is, do follow these steps:
- Make sure that you’re using an administrator account.
- Click the Start button, right click on Computer and select Properties. On the left, click on System Protection.
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Then, click on the Create button.
In the next window, name the restore point. You should use a meaningful description that gives you an idea about what you are currently doing. You can then identify which restore point you need if anything goes belly up. Click Create.
A confirmation message will be displayed after the restore point has been created.
If anything goes wrong, you can now roll back to this checkpoint. Let’s look at the process of rolling back your computer to a restore point.
Rolling Back To A Restore Point
If you make a change to your system and things go wrong, you might want to roll back to the last point in time that your system was functioning properly . To roll back to a system restore point, click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. System Restore presents a list of recent available restore points.
It’s a good idea to check what will be affected when you roll back to a particular restore point, so select it and then click Scan for affected programs. System Restore tells you which programs and drivers have system entries that will be amended and which programs will be deleted if you select that specific restore point. If you’re happy with the changes that willl take place on restoring to this checkpoint, click Next. You’ll then need to confirm the restore and click Finish to start the proceedings.
Note that system restore doesn’t change any of your data files, such as Excel spreadsheets and Word documents, etc. It just reverts to previous states of system files and system settings.