Reference number: CH000589

How do I restore Windows XP back to an earlier copy?

Issue:

How do I restore Windows XP back to an earlier copy?

Additional information:

By default, Microsoft Windows XP creates backups also known as restore points each time a restore point is scheduled, manual restore points that are created by the user, and restore points created when a system setting changes.

When restoring the computer to an earlier date, the Windows XP system restore option will not erase any of your data. However, if any programs were installed since that date, it is possible that the program settings may be lost.

• Additional information about disabling Windows XP System Restore can be found on document CH000775.

Answers:

Users who are running Microsoft Windows XP can use Microsoft System Restore and restore their computer to an earlier date by following the below steps. This is an excellent solution for users who are working on computer that has recently encountered issues that cannot be resolved or explained.

Note: If you are unable to boot into normal Windows mode to perform the below steps, you may need to run the below steps through Windows Safe Mode. Additional information about how to get into Safe Mode can be found on document CHSAFE. Additionally, you could try loading the last known good configuration; information about how to do this can be found on document CH000626. 

System Restore can be opened by following the below steps.

1. Click Start, Programs, and then Accessories
2. Click System Tools and open System Restore
3. In the System Restore window, select Restore my computer to an earlier time and click Next and follow the steps to restore your computer to an earlier date.

When I run system restore I get a message saying no restore points are available

A computers System Restore points could be deleted by any of the below possibilities. Unfortunately when the system restore points are deleted or removed they cannot be recovered. 

1. The Microsoft Windows XP System Restore option was disabled on the computer.
2. The computers hard disk drive is out of disk space or low on disk space. Additional information about determining how much disk space is on the drive can be found on document CH000369.
3. Microsoft Windows has been reinstalled.
4. The restore point reached is maximum age of 90 days.
5. The "Clean up" option under the Disk Cleanup has been ran. When this option is performed it will remove all restore points.
6. The computers version of Microsoft Windows has been upgraded to a newer version of Windows. The Windows System Restore option is not designed to revert your computer back to an older version of Windows and when an update is ran it will disable any previous system restores.