If Something Goes Wrong

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Develop good computing habits

Data and system configuration backup in the Windows® operating system

The Windows® operating system offers some easy-to-use features for backing up your Windows® settings and your data—documents and other important files. Take advantage of these features to protect yourself from much more difficult and time-consuming restoration procedures, and to safeguard your valuable data from loss.

Saving system configuration with Restore Points

The System Restore feature of the Windows® operating system quickly creates Restore Points—‘snapshots’ of your Windows® operating system configuration—and saves them for later recall. If you experience problems after installing some new hardware or software, you can easily select a previously established Control Point to ‘turn back the clock,’ restoring the Windows® operating system to the state it was in just prior to the installation. This is much easier and more effective than uninstalling the hardware or software, which often leaves behind unwanted files and settings. It is also easy to undo a Restore Point selection, if you change your mind.

Follow these steps to create a Restore Point using the System Restore utility:

1Click Start, and then Help and Support.2Under Pick a Task, click Undo changes to your computer with System Restore.3Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.

4In the Restore point description field, enter a name that is descriptive enough to be easily understood in the future, such as “Before installing Brand X Accounting app.” Then click Create.

5The Windows® operating system creates the Restore Point and automatically stamps it with the current date and time.

Then, at a later time, you can re-establish your Windows® configuration using the saved Restore Point. To do this:

1Click Start, and then Help and Support.

2Under Pick a Task, click Undo changes to your computer with System Restore.

3Click Restore my computer to an earlier time, then click Next.