Create a Restore Point with Microsoft System Restore

Windows XP

Use Microsoft System Restore to create create restore points, which can be done automatically or manually, to give you the option to restore critical system files and the registry in the event of a serious problem or virus related damage.

1. Go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools - System Restore
2. Select "Create A Restore Point." MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT SELECT RESTORE!
3. Enter a restore point description. Example (using date code+): 2008072901
4. done!

Windows Vista

You can create a restore point manually at any time.

1. From within Windows, you can type restore into the Start menu search box, and you’ll immediately see System Restore at the top of the start menu.
2. In the left pane, click System protection. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. Click the System Protection tab, and then click Create.
4. In the System Protection dialog box, type a description, and then click Create.

Windows 7

You can create a restore point manually at any time.

In Windows XP the "create restore point" was in the same place as selecting a restore point. In Windows 7 the option to manually create a restore point is no longer in the System Restore dialog (which is ordinarily accessed by typing "restore" into the Start menu search box, and selecting "System Restore"). Microsoft likes to move windows features around so they can sell more training.

To Manually create a restore point in Windows 7 do the following:

1. From within Windows, you can type "system protection" into the Start menu search box, and you will see "Create a restore point" as one of the options. Select it.
2. The "System Properties" dialog box will open with several options. Locate the "Create" button at the bottom of the dialog and click.
3. The "Create a restore point" dialog will open. Type in a name for the restore point and click "Create."

Windows 8 and 8.1

System protection is a feature that regularly creates and saves information about your computer's system files, programs, drivers, and registry settings as restore points for all drives that have system protection turned on. System Restore isn't available for the mobile device version known as Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1.

On a system with only a single user account that boots directly to the desktop (or Metro) without prompting for a login, system restore will work, however, the user may be prompted to grant administrator rights

1. Sign in as Administrator (or use a privileged account)
2. Open the Power User Tasks Menu, click on System or open the Control Panel (icons view), click on the System icon.
3. Click on the System protection link in the left pane.
4. Click on the Create button to create a restore point for all drives that have system protection turned on.
5. Type in a description name.

For additional information, see: Using Microsoft System Restore on Windows 8.1 - a page on this wiki specific to using System Protection (aka System Restore) for Windows 8.1.