https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln71741/restore-a-computer-using-system-restore-in-microsoft-windows-xp?lang=en#Inside-Windows
Restore A Computer Using System Restore In Microsoft Windows XP
Table of Contents:
How to choose a method
There are two ways to perform a System Restore in Microsoft Windows. The choice only depends on if the computer is currently able to boot into Windows or not. If the computer is able to get to the desktop (with the clickable Start in the lower left corner), then choose Method 1. If the system is unable to boot to the desktop or otherwise is unable to complete a System Restore using the selection above, then choose Method 2.
Method 1: Able to Access the Desktop
- Click Start, then click Help and Support.
- Under Pick a Task, click Undo changes to your computer with System Restore.
- Select Restore my computer to an earlier time, then click Next.
- Under, 1. On this calendar, click a bold date, select a date before problems were observed with the computer.
Dates in bold indicate a restore point is available for that date.
- Under, 2. On this list, click a restore point, click to choose a restore time from the list.
- Click Next.
- Verify that the desired restore point is listed, then click Next.
- After the computer restarts, the Restoration Complete page of the System Restore window appears. Click OK.
If the problem still occurs, try restoring the computer to an earlier restore point.
Method 2: Unable to Access the Desktop
- Turn off the computer.
- Turn on the computer and press the <F8> key every other second until the Windows Advanced Options window appears.
- Press the <Down Arrow> key on the keyboard and select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
- Press the <Enter> key on the keyboard.
- Log in as the administrator or as a user with administrator rights.
- At the command prompt (blinking cursor), type:
C:\Windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
and then press the <Enter> key.
-------------------
NoControlPanel
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
| Data type | Range | Default value |
|---|---|---|
| REG_DWORD | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Description
Prevents Control.exe, the Control Panel executable file, from starting. As a result, users cannot start Control Panel or run any Control Panel programs.
A value of 1 also removes Control Panel from the Start menu, and removes the Control Panel folder from Windows Explorer. If users try to start a Control Panel program by using another method, a message appears explaining that a policy prevents the action.
This entry stores the setting of the Disable Control Panel Group Policy. Group Policy adds this entry to the registry with a value of 1 when you enable the policy. If you disable the policy or set it to Not configured, Group Policy deletes the entry from the registry and the system behaves as though the value is 0.
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 (or not in registry) | The policy is disabled or not configured. Enables Control Panel and Control Panel programs. |
| 1 | The policy is enabled. Disables Control Panel and Control Panel programs. |
Change method
To change the value of this entry, use Group Policy. This entry corresponds to the Disable Control Panel policy (User Configuration\AdministrativeTemplates\Start Menu & Taskbar).
Note
This entry does not disable the programs that appears as folders in Control Panel, such as Network and Dial-up Connections, Scheduled Tasks, or Fonts. To disable these programs, use the Disable programs on Settings menu policy (NoSetFolders.
Tip
For detailed information about particular Group Policy settings, see the Group Policy Reference (Gp.chm) on the Windows 2000 Resource Kit companion CD.
For general information about Group Policy, see Group Policy in Windows 2000 Help.
To see a table associating policies with their corresponding registry entries, see the Group Policy Reference Table.
Related Entries
---------
The last tip is simply to try booting to "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" now, while everything is working correctly. Consider it a dress rehearsal.
Invoking
With Windows XP running, System Restore is invoked from the Start button with:
Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore
You can make System Restore easier to find by creating a shortcut to it on the desktop. When hovering over System Restore in the last step above, right click instead of left clicking and then "Send To" -> "Desktop (create shortcut)". Another way is to navigate to this folder:
c:\windows\system32\restore\
and right click on file rstrui.exe. Here too, send it to the desktop.
Note: The directory where file rstrui.exe lives is, technically speaking, the system root folder. Normally the system root is "c:\windows", but this is not mandatory. To be 100% sure, do Start -> Run and in the box enter "%SystemRoot%" this will open Windows Explorer at the system root folder.
Sometimes when invoking "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" Windows asks you to log in, sometimes not. If prompted, log in as as a user that is a member of the Administrators group. The Windows userid you normally use may work fine. If not, try logging in as user Administrator with a blank password.
Update: For more on System Restore see No Restore Point for youDecember 28, 2007.
