Step 1: Navigate to the Start -> Programs -> Accessories
-> System Tools program group and choose System Restore.
Step 2: Choose the Restore my computer to an earlier time radio
button and then click Next >.
Step 3: Choose an available date on the calendar on the left.
Note: Available dates are those when a restore point was created
and are shown in bold. You can not use System Restore to undo Windows XP
changes to a date that a restore point does not exist.
Step 4: Choose a specific restore point on the right.
Note: All restore points created on the date you selected in
Step 3 will be listed here. This includes any restore points that you created,
scheduled restore points that Windows XP created, and those created
automatically during the installation of certain programs.
Step 5: Click Next >.
Step 6: Click Next > on the Confirm Restore Point Selection
window to begin the System Restore.
Note: Windows XP will shut down to complete the System Restore
so be sure to save any work you might have open in other programs now.
Important: System Restore will not revert any of your non-system
files like documents, email, music, etc. to a previous state. These types files
are completely unaffected by System Restore. If your intention with this tool
was to recover a deleted non-system file, try a file recovery program instead
of System Restore.
Step 7: System Restore will now restore Windows XP to the state
that was recorded in the restore point you chose in Step 4.
Note: The System Restore process could take several minutes.
Your computer will then reboot as normal when complete.
Step 8: Immediately after logging in after the reboot, you
should see the Restoration Complete window.
Click OK.
Step 9: Windows XP will now continue to start.
Check to see if whatever Windows XP problem you were
troubleshooting has been corrected by this System Restore.
If the problem still
persists, you can repeat the steps above and choose another restore point if
one is available. If this restoration caused a problem, you can always undo
this particular System Restore
