ELM Bulletin - September 30, 2009
A Quick Computer Fix
We’ve all done it. We’ve come across an absolutely must-have utility for our computer and installed it without a second thought; only to realize too late that it conflicts with just about every other program on our computer. Short of a tactical strike what can be done? This month’s ELM Bulletin will give you a quick fix that will usually bring your computer back to the way it was.
Ever since the much (and unfairly) maligned Windows ME Microsoft has bundled a very powerful utility with the WIndows operting system. Know as System Restore, this utility serves a single purpose: To restore your computer back to the way it was at a specific point in time.
Unless it has been turned off, System Restore works in the background, taking snapshots of your system configuration each time it is started and whenever new software is installed (or installed software upgraded). When you have a problem and need to restore one of these snapshots all you have to do is start System Restore and select a restore point made before the problem began. Your system will reboot, restoring all files modified since that restore point and in about 20 minutes (if no other underlying problems exist) your computer should be back to the way it was way back when. (Though System Restore will not overwrite or delete your documents or email, you may want to make a backup copy just in case.)
The caveat is that System Restore is limited in how many restore points it can create by the available disk space on your computer; typically you might be able to go back a week or two at the most. I do not recommend going back further than two weeks unless there is a serious problems and System Restore is your last resort. System Restore is also not a good solution to remove viurs infections since by the time the virus is noticed it most likely has already been included in the saved restore points.
In general System Restore is best used to recover from very recent problems since it effectively removes any software installed after the selected restore point. When a recent problem cannot be resolved by conventional means, System Restore may just save the day.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this or any other issue.
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Peter Rhebergen Telephone |
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