- Servers
- Desktops
- Laptops
- Tablet PCs
- PDAs
- Smart phones
- Digital cameras
- Camcorders
- Printers & multifunction devices
- Scanners
- Copiers
- Monitors & projectors
- Hard drives & burners
- Peripherals
- Productivity
- Accounting & finance
- Data management
- Graphics & publishing
- Web publishing
- Operating systems
- Security & utilities
- Downloads & trial software
- Handheld software
- Instant messaging
- Cell phones & plans
- Voice over Internet
- Telephones
- Routers & gateways
- Wireless networking
- Network adapters
- Internet access
- Web hosting
- Domain search
- Hotspot Zone
- Desktops
- Laptops
- Servers and storage
- PDAs
- Cell phones
- Monitors & projectors
- Printers
- Networking and wireless
- Security and utility software
- Productivity software
- Access, hosting, and services
- All business buying guides
Rob Vamosi's
award-winning
column on Internet threats and how to counter them
Delivered Mondays
CNET Security Center: Your complete source of antivirus and Internet security information.
How to recover from disaster with Windows Me or XP
Windows System Restore (available within Windows Me and Windows XP) takes periodic snapshots of your system, allowing you to return your computer to a previous working state. However, you must activate this feature before your system crashes. It is not available within Windows 2000 or Windows 98 SE, so if you are using one of those operating systems, you will need to purchase and install a third-party application instead, such as Norton GoBack.
Required attention span: 5 minutes Ingredients
Before you start, you'll need to gather these elements:
To turn on System Restore in Windows Me or Windows XP (before a system crash):
To use System Restore in Windows Me or Windows XP (after your system has become unstable):
More resources:
Windows resource center
By Robert Vamosi
Edited by Allen Fear
(October 6, 2005)
Edited by Allen Fear
(October 6, 2005)
Windows System Restore (available within Windows Me and Windows XP) takes periodic snapshots of your system, allowing you to return your computer to a previous working state. However, you must activate this feature before your system crashes. It is not available within Windows 2000 or Windows 98 SE, so if you are using one of those operating systems, you will need to purchase and install a third-party application instead, such as Norton GoBack.
Required attention span: 5 minutes Ingredients
Before you start, you'll need to gather these elements:
A PC running Windows XP
To turn on System Restore in Windows Me or Windows XP (before a system crash):
1
2
3
Uncheck the "Turn off System Restore" box, set disk space, and click Apply.
If there is one, remove the check mark by clicking it, then click OK to close the dialog box.
If there is one, remove the check mark by clicking it, then click OK to close the dialog box.
4
To use System Restore in Windows Me or Windows XP (after your system has become unstable):
1
2
3
On the displayed calendar, select the day before you installed the bad software.
4
Before it does anything, Windows displays a warning screen with information about the planned restore.
The restore process in Windows is reversible, so if it doesn't correct your problem, you can undo it. Click Next to start the restoration.
The restore process in Windows is reversible, so if it doesn't correct your problem, you can undo it. Click Next to start the restoration.
5
Restart your computer when prompted.
More resources:
Windows resource center 
