Questions About System Restore

What is System Restore in Windows?
System Restore is a Windows utility that allows you to revert your system's state to previous point in time. This allows you to undo damage caused by a program, update or driver.

What are "restore points?"
A Restore Point is a snapshot of your registry at a specific time. Restore Points are created each time you install or upgrade Windows, and updates are also created before each update via Microsoft Updates.

Do I need to create Restore Points?
You should occasionally create a Restore Point. Before Vista, Windows would generally create restore points after a major event, such as an update or a program installation that uses InstallSchield or the Windows Installer. If your system is running good, consider it part of a good preventive maintenance scheme to create a restore point.

Will I lose my data if I do a System Restore?
No. Windows restores programs and Windows files only and will not erase data such as photos, Emails, music, or any other personal files.

How do I start System Restore?
You can access the System Restore utility by going to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools and clicking System Restore. A Wizard will launch and help you either restore your PC or create an actual restore point.

Can I undo a System Restore?
Yes, you can undo a System Restore in the same manner by which you initiated the original system restore. You will now see an option to undo the last restoration.

I have a installed a bad driver. Do I need to perform a system restore?
No. Windows has the ability to roll back drivers. You can do this from the Device Manager under the System icon of the Control Panel. While a system restore will fix driver problems, its overkill in this point.

Do I still need to backup my system?
Yes. System restore is not a substitute for backing up your data.