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All of us have gone through this. You turn on your PC to write that school report or business presentation and there you have it, our computer wants a holiday today. It may be the word processor, spreadsheet, or financial package which is not working, many of the users dont know that Microsoft Windows XP has an intrinsic feature which can save the day for them. That feature is known as "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.

If you want to bring your computer back (restore it), follow some relatively simple steps. First, you need to close down any open programs you are working on. Choose the Windows "Start" button (located near the bottom of your computer screen). Choose "Accessories," then "System Tools." Next, choose "System Restore." Now, your System Restore wizard will pop up. You will be given two options: "Restore my system" or "Create a system."

If you need to restore your system from a previous date, you can select option "a" and then click "Next." This screen will display a calendar. Use the calendar to pick a date in the past that you are reasonably certain your computer was working properly. The next screen is a confirmation of your request. Verify the information and if correct click "Next." The operating system will then reboot your computer and attempt to restore your system with the settings from the date you selected.

The operation of returning to a previous state will take a minimum of a few minutes to a maximum of half an hour. The time needed depends upon the speed of your machine, and how much the configuration files have been altered from the native state. Once the process is completed, the machine will tell you whether it worked or failed. If all went well, your machine should reflect the previous save state, allowing you to log in and start restoring files. Ideally, the machine should now perform as mediocre as Windows will allow.

Look again at the "Create a restore point" option. The purpose of this is to allow Windows XP to create a point 'frozen in time' that allows you to save the state of the system before updating drivers or installing a new program. It gives you a little piece of mind that you will be able to undo any problems should they arise. The best way to use this feature is to get yourself into the habit of always making a fresh restore point before making any major system changes or installations. In the event of a crisis, you can quickly undo the damage and bring your computer back to a clean slate. This is a simple utility to use and gives you tremendous piece of mind.