Turning back hands of time on windows<\/p>\n
Zatni Arbi, Contributor, zatni@cbn.net.id<\/p>\n
Question: I download a lot of freeware and install games on my
\nPC. Sometimes the new software causes problems on my Windows XP
\nProfessional Edition. Unfortunately, I only have one Pentium 4 PC
\nrunning at 2.26 GHz, and this is the computer that I use for work
\nand play. If it refuses to start, I can't do my job. Is there an
\neasy way to back up my system before I install the new software
\nso that, should something go wrong, I can just restore it from
\nthe backup? --JR, Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Answer: Each time you install a new piece of software, it will
\nalter the Windows registry. The registry is a set of databases of
\nparameters that Windows requires in order to be able to function
\nproperly.<\/p>\n
For example, the registry will tell Windows what hardware
\ndevices your PC has and which drives they use, their respective
\ninterrupt calls as well as all local user accounts if you have
\nset up multiple accounts on your PC.<\/p>\n
We do not normally tinker with the Windows registry directly,
\nalthough Microsoft provides a utility called \"regedit\" for this
\npurpose. I don't recommend you use this utility unless you really
\nknow what you're doing. It is intended only for advanced users.<\/p>\n
If you make a fatal mistake in editing the registry, it may
\ncause your Windows to stall forever. You may be forced to pay
\nsomeone Rp 100,000 just to reinstall Windows, and you may also
\nlose your data in the process.<\/p>\n
In Windows XP there is a useful tool called the System Restore
\nWizard that is installed automatically when you set up the
\noperating system for the first time. Using the wizard is a much
\neasier way to back up and restore your Windows registry.<\/p>\n
Normally, the System Restore Wizard will take up a lot of your
\nhard disk space. The good news is that new hard disks have come
\ndown a lot in price while their capacity and performance have
\nincreased substantially. If you're fond of trying out new
\nsoftware, buy a new and larger hard disk.<\/p>\n
So what should you do before installing the trial version of a
\nnew software application? You have to create a restore point. It
\nshould be done at a time when you think your machine is
\nperforming at the peak of its efficiency.<\/p>\n
To load the System Restore Wizard and create the restore
\npoint, just click on the Start button, and then on All Programs,
\nAccessories, System Tools and then on System Restore. When the
\ndialog box appears, you will be asked whether you want to restore
\nyour system to an earlier state or create a new restore point. As
\nyou are going to install new software and change your registry,
\nyou will of course choose Create a restore point.<\/p>\n
After you click on Next, the wizard will ask you to give a
\ndescription of the new restore point. There is no need to include
\nthe date and time, as the wizard will automatically add this
\ninformation. You can type in something like \"before installing
\nthe 123 Free Solitaire 2004\".<\/p>\n
Then you click on the Create button.<\/p>\n
Once the latest restore point has been created, you can
\nproceed to install the new software. If it turns out that the new
\ntrial software performs some harmful activity to your system, you
\ncan then roll back to the system's condition just before you
\ninstalled the troublemaker. Just run the wizard again and choose
\nRestore my computer to an earlier time.<\/p>\n
By default, System Restore checks your hard disk every day.
\nYou'd better leave this function on, unless it is necessary to
\nturn it off -- for example, when you have to manually remove a
\nvirus.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind that System Restore does not erase the files
\ncopied to your hard disk during the software installation. To
\nerase these files, you will need to use the Add and Remove
\nProgram utility that you can find in the Control Panel. Or you
\ncan use the Uninstall utility if there is one included in the new
\nsoftware. System Restore only ensures that you can go back to the
\nway your computer started and ran right before disaster struck.<\/p>",
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