Member Avatar for jladika

I need to go back and set my computer to a early date to reset my computer forgot how it do it please help

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Scriptowrite

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Quick summary and practical next steps (what the thread so far means)

Several replies point toward System Restore and, if needed, a repair install (see comments by , and ). System Restore only rolls Windows system files, drivers and the registry back to an earlier restore point — it does not recover the contents of personal documents. For a missing Start button or an empty taskbar (the situation described by ) there are faster, less invasive checks before reinstalling Windows.

Recover the desktop shell without reinstalling
When the taskbar/Start are gone, restart the Windows shell from Task Manager: open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del), use File → New Task and enter explorer.exe. If Explorer is running but faulty, end the explorer.exe process first and then start it again the same way. If the System Restore GUI can’t be reached from the normal interface, launch it directly from Task Manager with rstrui.exe. Editing registry keys (Winlogon\Shell) or running sfc /scannow are options only after backing up data and with care.

If the goal is to recover lost or overwritten file contents
System Restore will not help. First steps: stop writing to that drive, check the Recycle Bin, search the temporary folder (C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Temp), and look for app-specific autosave files (Office creates auto-recovery/temp files with names like ~$... or .asd). If those fail, create an image of the drive and use a reputable file-recovery tool (free or commercial) rather than working on the original disk. If unsure about any step, back up current data and consider professional help as suggested by .

Final note
A repair (in-place) install can fix broken system files while keeping programs, but always back up personal files first and be prepared to reapply service packs/updates afterward.

Recommended Answers

All 17 Replies

Member Avatar for Tomas Lopez

what computer system do you have?

Member Avatar for Tomas Lopez

go to control panel clic where it says computer mantainance, where it shows like a pie graph, and then on the upper left corner it says system restor or something like that.

hope it helped you a little, if not let me know.

Tomas Lopez

Member Avatar for jladika

thanks i have windows xp

Member Avatar for jladika

I tryed to go to control panel but i didnt see computer mantance what next

Member Avatar for Catweazle

Start > Help and support > Undo changes with System Restore

Member Avatar for Tomas Lopez

Ok when you go to control panel on the menu on the first column the last option says performance and maintenance clic that and then on the left should appear the system restore option.

Member Avatar for Catweazle

Not if Control Panel has been set to Classic View and the Task pane has been disabled it won't ;)

Try my way.

Member Avatar for jladika

part of my problem is i dont have start

the bar down on the bottom of the page is blank
any other way to get to start?

Member Avatar for Catweazle

Reboot into 'Safe Mode'

You do that by pressing the <F8> key repaeatedly during startup, after the inital POST screens are displaying, and before the Windows Logo screen displays. Choose 'Sfae mode' with the arrow keys from the menu of start options, and then log in as Administrator
Let us know afterwards if you get a Start button etc from there.


Please stop creating multiple topics about this. I know it is a stressful situation for you, but multiple topics being answered will lessen the benefit of assistance given. Keep it all in one place.

Member Avatar for jladika

thanks for you help
i didnt know that the other problems were all the same


in safe mode i only see 3 icons and start is not one of them

Member Avatar for Catweazle

You should try doing a refresh install of Windows

Member Avatar for jladika

tell me what a fresh start is
remember i am not very exper with computers

Member Avatar for dlh6213

tell me what a fresh start is
remember i am not very exper with computers

Not a fresh start, a refresh install (aka in-place upgrade, repair installation, or reinstallation). It is used to repair problems with Windows such as the one you're having. A description and complete instructions are in the link Catweazle gave ()

Member Avatar for caperjack

tell me what a fresh start is
remember i am not very exper with computers

I don't mean this as an insult ,but after reading this thread and helping you in another thread ,i think you should take you computer to a Computer repair shop or a friend /neighbour who know about computers , I think you will get into more trouble that you can handle .Good Luck

Member Avatar for well0120

Start > Help and support > Undo changes with System Restore

How can I go back to a previous state/hour or even day on Windows 2000 Server without having to use the back-up tape? Windows XP has the System Restore feature, but not in Windows 2000.

Member Avatar for BinaryMayhem

Start > Help and support > Undo changes with System Restore

try pressing CTRL+ESC and the same time, this should bring up the start menu... then try what catweazle said.

Member Avatar for Scriptowrite

Hi If no settings were done to go back to a set date, system restore won't revert back to a time needed. How do i get back then if only to a few hours earlier before we lost content in a file?

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