NOTE: You, the customer, are solely responsible for data security. WinBook strongly recommends that you perform a backup of all personal data contained on your system prior to performing this procedure. Warning: WinBook will NOT be held responsible for any data loss incurred during this process.

System Restore is designed to automatically monitor and record changes made to the core Windows system files and to the registry. System Restore can then allow you to undo (or "roll back") a change that caused instability in your system. This is accomplished by periodically recording a "Restore Point" (or System CheckPoint) that gives you the ability to roll your system back to the point in time when your computer was known to function properly.

System Restore is not intended to be an "uninstaller" or a backup program. If Windows does not function properly after installing software or drivers, you should use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel (or use the program's uninstaller) to remove the software before using System Restore.

System Restore monitors most system files with .exe, .vxd, .dll, .com, and .sys extensions. It does not monitor user-created files (for example, files that have .txt, .doc, or .xls extensions), the My Documents folder, Temporary Internet files (including the Internet Explorer History, Cookies, or Favorites files), the Recycle Bin, or the Windows Swap (.swp) file.
Restore points are created under the following conditions:
- Automatic System CheckPoints are created for every 10 hours of computer up time but only after the computer has been idle for 2 minutes. If this criterion is not met, then a System CheckPoint will be created once every 24 hours after the system has been idle for 2 minutes.
- Restore points are created by Installer packages that use the new Microsoft Software Installer (MSI) technology.
- Restore points are created by Installer packages that use InstallShield 6.1 Pro and later.
- Restore points are created when AutoUpdate (AU) installs an update package.
- Restore points are created when you use System Restore to roll your system back to a different Restore Point. However, if this is done in Safe Mode, a Restore Point will not be created.
- Restore points are created manually by using the System Restore interface
- The Restore Point and System CheckPoint files that are created under the above conditions are stored in compressed (.cab) format and are located in the _Restore folder (also known as the "Data Store") on the drive on which Windows Millennium is installed. The Data Store cannot be moved or modified. Each fixed disk on your computer will also contain a _Restore folder for indexing and monitoring purposes and each of these folders will contain a file called Srdiskid.dat.

To start System Restore, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. The first time you use System Restore, there are two options on the Welcome page:
- Restore my computer to an earlier time
- Create a restore point
2. Click Restore my computer to an earlier time and click Next. A calendar appears.
3. In the calendar, choose which Restore Point to roll your system back to.
4. Click Next. You are prompted to close all applications before completing the Restore process because the computer will restart.
5. A confirmation screen appears. Click Next the unit will now restart.
6. The unit will restart. After it has loaded Windows there will be one more confirmation screen, press Ok.

Manual restore points can be created before installing device drivers or software if you are uncertain how they will affect the overall performance of Windows. If you are unable to use the program's uninstaller to remove the software, you can roll back to the manual restore point that you created. To create a manual Restore Point, follow these steps:

1. Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.
2. Enter the description of your Restore Point and then click Next to confirm the creation.
3. Click OK or Home

The size of the Data Store is determined by the size of the Windows drive and is as follows:
- The minimum size of the Data Store is 200 megabytes (MB). If your Windows drive has fewer than 200 MB of free space after you install Windows Millennium, System Restore is disabled by default and you will have to manually enable System Restore after you have freed up sufficient disk space. If System Restore is disabled due to the low disk notifier, System Restore automatically re-enables itself after sufficient disk space is made available.
- On logical drives that are less than 4 gigabytes (GB), the maximum size of the Data Store is 400 MB.
- On logical drives that are 4 GB or larger, the Data Store is approximately 12 percent of the logical drive that Windows Millennium is installed on.
- Once the Data Store reaches 90 percent of the allotted size, it begins to "purge" older Restore Points on a first-in first-out (FIFO) basis until the Data Store reaches 50 percent of its allotted size. The actual number of Restore Points available after this purge occurs may vary, based on what software was recently installed.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. If you have noticed any problems with this tech article, or if you feel that something is not clear enough, please E-mail our Technical Support department by clicking on the link below. Please include the Technical Article Number and the specific area that you feel is inaccurate. Thank you. 
WinBook Tech Article Feedback

Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you as a service from the Technical Support Department of WinBook Computers. It is intended to assist you in the resolution of your technical problems or questions. If you feel uncomfortable implementing any of the information or suggestions contained herein then you should e-mail the WinBook Technical Support Department. WinBook will not be held responsible for any loss of information, data or programming as a result of the use of this TechNote.