Windows Tips & Tricks

Check here each month for tips and tricks to help make your computer use easier and smoother.

Backup your Windows XP System Settings

If you are using Windows XP Home Edition, you have at your disposal a handy utility called the System Restore utility that will allow you to create a System Restore Point.  This is a snapshot of your system that you can restore to at any time, should you begin to experience problems with your XP Home computer.
To create a new System Restore Point in Windows XP Home Edition, click Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.  When the System Restore Utility opens, click "Create a Restore Point" then click Next.  Enter a name for this Restore Point (for instance, "Before Installing Office XP"), and click Create.  The utility will then take a snapshot of your system so that you can restore to that point sometime in the future.