How to Perform a System Restore on Your Home Computer

Whether or not your computer will continue to function after a series error depends solely on your ability to restore it back to its factory settings, which can be done easily on most operating systems.

Computer systems come in a variety of operating system platforms. Each operating system will have a different method in which to perform a system restore on your home computer. However, most operating systems are very user friendly, which makes a system restore operation after a crash relatively simple.

Windows

A Windows XP and ME operating system can perform a system restore by clicking start, programs, accessories, system tools and then system restore. A Windows Vista and 7 operating system can perform a system restore by clicking start and then typing the command "system restore" in the search box. Once the system restore option pops up, you can click the “restore to an earlier time” option and click next.
If the computer does not boot up, then you will have to boot into safe mode by pressing F8. If the computer can not boot, the installation CD will need to be put into the drive and you will have to restart the computer system. When the application pops up, click either install or the restore option. Agree to the terms and enter the product key. The installation CD will restore the PC to its orginal state.
If the computer will not boot from the installation CD for XP, you must start the computer and boot into safe mode by pressing F8. You will then have to type %systemroot%system32restorestrui.exe at the command prompt and press enter. This will bring up the system restore.
Keep in mind that errors can occur during the restore process. If this happens, go to start, then click programs, windows update and have Windows install all updates. After the Windows updates are installed, try the system restore option again.
How you perform a restore on your home computer depends on the operating system that is on the PC. If there are any problems not mentioned here, you will have to go to Microsoft for support.

MAC

Performing a system restore on a home computer that has a MAC system depends on if there was a previous back up of the computer system. A back up from a previous state can be restored by clicking on the “utilities” icon and click “restore from backup”. You must then select the backup device and continue the restore.
If there is no previous back up, the installation cd will need to be put into the drive and you will have to restart the computer system. When the application pops up, click either install or the restore option. Agree to the terms and enter the product key. The installation CD should now perform a system restore.