When a newly installed program crashes and starts causing annoying problems on your system, it can be very frustrating to try and get the situation back under your control. Fortunately for all users, Windows and Mac, there is a solution available that enables them to keep their files intact, that is, to bring the system back to the point before negative changes. Follow this guide to learn how to reset your computer, Mac or PC.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Repair Windows
Step 1. Understand how the recovery process works
Windows creates a restore point every 7 days, and every time an update is installed. This operating system can be restored to previous settings without the files you have modified or created in the meantime being affected.
System Restore does not back up files, so it cannot be used to recover files that have been deleted
Step 2. Launch System Restore
Open the Start menu and type "System Restore" in the search bar. Select "System Restore" from the program list. Close any software that may be open during the recovery process.
Step 3. Choose the restore point
System Restore will show you a calendar or a list of all the restore points on your computer. Select one that preceded the time your computer started having problems. Then click on "Next".
Step 4. Wait for the recovery process to complete
Once finished, Windows will restart your computer.
Method 2 of 2: Reset Mac OS X
Step 1. Understand the recovery options you have available
A Mac has several recovery options, all different, but for you to be able to perform a recovery, you must have previously set up a backup with Time Capsule. Otherwise, your options are limited to repairing the hard drive or formatting and reinstalling a fresh copy of the operating system.
Step 2. Set up a Time Capsule backup
Connect an external hard drive to your Mac that has at least the same (or larger) capacity as your hard drive. If you've never done this before, OS X will ask you if you want to set up the new hard drive as a backup. Choose "Use as Backup Disk".
Select "Encrypt backup Disk" if you want a password to be required to access your backup
Step 3. Wait for the backup process to finish
You can set up scheduled backups and even select specific files from the Options menu.
Step 4. Restore a backup with Time Machine
Restart your Mac and hold down the CMD + R keys during the OS loading process. This will launch the OS X Recovery Tool. From here you can select your recovery option. Choose "Restore From Time Machine Backup" to load the most recent disk image from your external disk.
- If you have multiple backups saved in the Time Capsule, you will be offered a list to choose from. Choose one prior to the time your computer started having problems.
- Unlike Windows System Restore, you can use Time Capsule backup to recover files deleted in the past, as long as you have a backup from when the files still existed.
Step 5. Perform a restore without a Time Capsule backup
If you don't have a Time Capsule backup, the only way to restore OS X is to format and reinstall. You can do this from the "OS X Recovery Tool". Restart your Mac and hold down the CMD + R keys during the OS loading process. Then select "Reinstall Mac OS X".
- Note: You will need to be connected to the internet to successfully complete a fresh installation of your copy of Mac OS X without the disk.
- Re-installing the operating system will erase all data you have saved, all settings and all previously installed software.
