How to Restore User Files After a System Restore

Keep recent backups of all of your user files.

Microsoft's Windows has seen many improvements in its product cycle. When they introduced Windows XP in 1999, Microsoft implemented the "System Restore" feature, which allows users to "roll back" their system to a previous point in time, undoing any damage or corruption that may have befallen their operating system. During this process, though, user files can sometimes be moved around or deleted entirely. The only sure way to keep your user files in one place is to back them up before the system restore process.

Things You'll Need

• Flash drive
• Windows administrator access

Instructions

Backup

1. Place your flash drive into an available USB port, and wait for Windows to recognize it.

2. Click "My Computer or Computer" and double-click the flash drive's icon.

3. Drag all of your personal files and folders to the flash drive, and wait for them to copy. Depending on the number and size of your files, this may take a few minutes.

System Restore

1. Click on the Start menu and select "Accessories," "System Tools," then "System Restore."

2. Select the date you'd like to roll your computer back to. Try not to select anything more than a few days old, if possible.

3. Click the "OK" button and follow the prompts.

4. Allow your computer to reboot and check to see if your files are still intact. All of the files may be there, or you may be missing some.

5. Click on "My Computer or Computer" and double-click your flash drive's icon. Drag any missing files or folders from the flash drive to your desktop.

Tips & Warnings

• System Restore should leave all of your personal files intact, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Manually making a backup is the only way to be sure you'll have all of your files after a System Restore.

References

• Microsoft: Use System Restore to Undo Changes if Problems Occur
• University of Delaware: How to Back Up Data from a Hard Drive to External Media