Should i use system restore

And it could be very handy in an emergency. In order to use System Restore, you first have to enable it and create a restore point. Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

Cybersecurity Mobile Policy Privacy Scooters. Phones Laptops Headphones Cameras. Tablets Smartwatches Speakers Drones. Accessories Buying Guides How-tos Deals. Health Energy Environment. YouTube Instagram Adobe. Kickstarter Tumblr Art Club. Film TV Games. Fortnite Game of Thrones Books. If you use Vista, you've got much better backup tools at your disposal, so there's really no excuse for being caught without a backup in that OS see more on Vista's backup utilities below.

Here's a rundown on how to keep System Restore healthy in XP. Don't expect miracles. System Restore won't protect your PC from viruses and other malware, and you may be restoring the viruses along with your system settings.

It will guard against software conflicts and bad device driver updates. It doesn't affect data files in My Documents, Favorites, Cookies, and elsewhere, nor will it back up e-mail, or graphics files. New accounts will be wiped out.

If you created any new user accounts since the last restore point was set, they'll be erased, though any data files that user created will remain. Newly installed software is only partially removed. System Restore deletes executable files and DLLs added after the restore point was created, but not the programs' shortcuts and other files. Uninstall the applications using Windows Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel prior to the restoration, and then reinstall it afterwards, if you wish.

Disabling System Restore wipes out your restore points. Can you help us improve? Resolved my issue. Clear instructions. Easy to follow. No jargon. Pictures helped. Didn't match my screen. Incorrect instructions. Too technical. Not enough information. Not enough pictures.