{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-28T14:32:37+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-28T14:32:37+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:14:05+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33513"},"slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Operating Systems","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33524"},"slug":"operating-systems","categoryId":33524},{"name":"Windows","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33532"},"slug":"windows","categoryId":33532},{"name":"Windows 10","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33535"},"slug":"windows-10","categoryId":33535}],"title":"Windows 7 Troubleshooting: Restoring Files and Settings to Earlier Times","strippedTitle":"windows 7 troubleshooting: restoring files and settings to earlier times","slug":"windows-7-troubleshooting-restoring-files-and-settings-to-earlier-times","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Face it: Bad things can happen to an individual file, a program, or the entire computer itself. 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Working in Windows 7 isn't so hard if you consider the helpful hints in this list. You'll save time and prevent a headache or two!\n\n Don’t know what a certain button does in a program? Rest your mouse pointer over the button for a few seconds. A helpful box often pops up to explain the button’s purpose.\n\n \n If you’re baffled, try pressing F1, that “function key” near your keyboard’s upper, left corner. A Help window appears, often bringing hints about your current problem.\n \n To see what you can do with something in Windows, right-click it. A menu appears, listing all your available options.\n \n Press Alt to reveal any hidden menus in any program, including Media Player.\n \n To find lost windows on the desktop, hold down Alt and press Tab. Windows displays thumbnail images of open window. Keep holding down Alt, press Tab until Windows selects your desired window, and then let go of Alt to bring that window to the top.\n \n To share files with all the users of your computer, copy them into one of Windows’ Public folders: Double-click the name of any of your libraries, and two folders appear. The folder named Public is accessible to everybody on your PC (and even a network).\n \n If your computer acts weird after you install new hardware or software, use System Restore to set it back to a time when it worked. Click All Programs from the Start menu, click the Accessories menu and choose System Tools, and then click System Restore.\n \n Retrieve accidentally deleted files and folders by opening the Recycle Bin on your desktop. Right-click the deleted item and choose Restore to return it to its original location.\n \n To return to an older version of a file you’ve changed, right-click the file and choose Restore Previous Versions. When Windows lists the date of the version you want to retrieve, click the Restore button.\n \n","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null,"categoryList":["technology","computers","operating-systems","windows","windows-10"],"title":"Helpful Hints for Working in Windows 7","slug":"helpful-hints-for-working-in-windows-7","articleId":196075},{"objectType":"article","id":195743,"data":{"title":"How to Restore Previous Versions of a File in Windows 7","slug":"how-to-restore-previous-versions-of-a-file-in-windows-7","update_time":"2016-03-26T22:02:16+00:00","object_type":"article","image":null,"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Operating Systems","slug":"operating-systems","categoryId":33524},{"name":"Windows","slug":"windows","categoryId":33532},{"name":"Windows 10","slug":"windows-10","categoryId":33535}],"description":"A new feature in Windows 7 allows you to restore previous versions of a file that you’ve modified or even deleted. Anyone who has ever changed a file only to realize that it was better before they messed with it can appreciate the value of being able to retrieve a previous version of a file.\nThis feature was first available on Vista’s Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise versions, but now is available to all Windows 7 users.\n\n Navigate to the file or folder that you want to bring back from the crypt and right-click it.\nIf you accidentally deleted the file and can’t bring it back from the Recycle Bin, right-click the folder that used to contain the file.\n \n Choose Restore Previous Versions.\n\nWindows shows you the Properties dialog box for the file or folder you selected, opened to the Previous Versions tab.\n \n Click the Open or Copy button and copy the older version of the file onto your desktop.\nAvoid the temptation to click the Restore button. This button overwrites whatever version of the file you may have. You’re probably thinking “I didn’t like that version anyway,” but you might still be able to use some of it.\n \n Work with the restored version for a while and make sure that it’s what you want.\nWhen you’re happy with the result, copy the file to its original location and delete the other version.\n \n\nWarning\"> Windows 7 keeps track of all the previous versions of all files you open and change when it creates the system restore point for the day (usually around midnight). This creates a few issues you need to be aware of:\n\n The file must be located on the hard drive that contains Windows unless you specifically tell it to include the drive in its previous version runs.\n \n A file has to be closed when Windows runs a restore point in order to get the current version saved. So, don’t leave the files open overnight.\n \n","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null,"categoryList":["technology","computers","operating-systems","windows","windows-10"],"title":"How to Restore Previous Versions of a File in Windows 7","slug":"how-to-restore-previous-versions-of-a-file-in-windows-7","articleId":195743},{"objectType":"article","id":195225,"data":{"title":"How to Complete a System Restore in Windows 7","slug":"how-to-complete-a-system-restore-in-windows-7","update_time":"2016-03-26T21:56:25+00:00","object_type":"article","image":null,"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Operating Systems","slug":"operating-systems","categoryId":33524},{"name":"Windows","slug":"windows","categoryId":33532},{"name":"Windows 10","slug":"windows-10","categoryId":33535}],"description":"You can often repair software problems by completing a System Restore in Windows 7. Windows 7 is much less buggy than Windows Vista, but sometimes bugs in software and driver updates will cause your system problems. These system errors can include everything from the system running slowly to the system coming to a screeching stop.\nIf you start to notice these kinds of problems, you’ll want to manually restore your computer back to the way things were running before the recent software or driver update. In other words, to the way it was before the problems began.\n\n Save your work and then close all running programs.\nAlthough System Restore doesn’t bother your data files, it can mess up settings. It’s safest to just close everything.\n \n Choose Start→All Programs→Accessories→System Tools→System Restore.\n The recommended restore point isn’t always the best restore point.\nWindows 7 recommends that you restore to a recent system-generated restore point.\n \n If you’re willing to accept System Restore’s recommendation, click Next.\nSystem Restore presents a list of recent available restore points, shown on the left in the preceding figure.\n \n But if you want to look at other restore points, select Choose a Different Restore Point and click Next.\nPick a restore point — and see which programs will be affected.\n \n Click a restore point and click the Scan for Affected Programs button.\nSystem Restore tells you what will happen when the restore occurs. Some programs and drivers might be altered and some might be deleted.\n \n If you don’t see any major problems, click Next.\nSystem Restore asks you to confirm your restore point and warns you that rolling back to a restore point requires a restart of the computer.\n \n Click Finish.\nTrue to its word, System Restore reverts to the selected restore point and restarts your computer. Give it a test drive and see if your problems have disappeared.\n \n","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null,"categoryList":["technology","computers","operating-systems","windows","windows-10"],"title":"How to Complete a System Restore in Windows 7","slug":"how-to-complete-a-system-restore-in-windows-7","articleId":195225},{"objectType":"article","id":191695,"data":{"title":"How to Restore Your Computer’s Settings","slug":"for-seniors-how-to-restore-your-computers-settings","update_time":"2017-06-19T15:19:30+00:00","object_type":"article","image":null,"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Basic Skills","slug":"basic-skills","categoryId":33514}],"description":"Several events may result in unexpected, unwanted changes in critical files on your computer. Fortunately, you may be able to resolve problems by restoring your computer’s settings. System Restore, featured in all current version of Windows, allows you to go back to a specific restore point — a group of settings that were in effect last night, last week, or at some other time.\r\n\r\nBy default, System Restore creates restore points automatically every day, but you can also create them at any time.\r\nSystem Restore is most likely to work if you use it immediately after you notice problems.\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\nSave any open files on your computer and close all programs.\r\nMake sure that you have current backups of essential data files.\r\n\r\n\t\r\nLaunch System Restore in any of the following ways:\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\nWindows XP, Vista, and Windows 7: Choose Start→All Programs→Accessories→System Tools→System Restore.\r\n\r\n\t\r\nVista only: Click the Start button, type system restore in the Search box, and then click the utility’s name in the search results.\r\n\r\n\t\r\nWindows 7 only: Click the Start button, type system restore in the Search box, and then click Restore Your Computer to an Earlier Time.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe resulting window asks whether you want to create a restore point (set one manually) or choose a previously recorded restore point.\r\n\r\n\t\r\nFollow the appropriate step for your version of Windows:\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\nWindows XP: Select Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time and click the Next button.\r\n\r\n\t\r\nVista: Select Recommended Restore or Choose a Different Restore Point and click the Next button.\r\n\r\n\t\r\nWindows 7: Select Open System Restore and click the Next button.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\nIn the next window, select a restore point.\r\nIt’s best to choose one just before the day and time when you began experiencing problems. Don’t go too far back in time. Going farther back than necessary could disable good updates and changes that you made before the problem started. Try using restore points created just before problems started.\r\n\r\n\t\r\nClick the Next button.\r\nThe computer chugs along for a few moments, preparing the information it needs, and then restarts.\r\nWhen your PC restarts, follow the appropriate step:\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\nSuccessful restoration: If the restoration is successful, you see a screen like the one shown in the figure when Windows loads. Click the Finish button to close System Restore.\r\n\r\n\t\r\nFailed restoration: If the restoration fails, your computer restarts in the same condition it was in before you attempted to fix it. Repeat these steps with a different restore point.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTo undo restoration changes, open System Restore; select the Undo System Restore radio button and click Next. You won’t see the option to undo a system restore until you’ve done a system restore.\r\n","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null,"categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"title":"How to Restore Your Computer’s Settings","slug":"for-seniors-how-to-restore-your-computers-settings","articleId":191695}]},"relatedArticlesStatus":"success"},"routeState":{"name":"Article5","path":"/article/technology/computers/operating-systems/windows/windows-10/windows-7-troubleshooting-restoring-files-and-settings-to-earlier-times-209679/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category1":"technology","category2":"computers","category3":"operating-systems","category4":"windows","category5":"windows-10","article":"windows-7-troubleshooting-restoring-files-and-settings-to-earlier-times-209679"},"fullPath":"/article/technology/computers/operating-systems/windows/windows-10/windows-7-troubleshooting-restoring-files-and-settings-to-earlier-times-209679/","meta":{"routeType":"article","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"dropsState":{"submitEmailResponse":false,"status":"initial"},"sfmcState":{"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}
Face it: Bad things can happen to an individual file, a program, or the entire computer itself. Luckily, Windows 7 lets you restore your computer to when it worked correctly, reinstate a program's default settings, and revert to a previously saved version of a document.
Andy Rathbone's computer books, which include Windows? 2000 Professional For Dummies? and Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies?, have sold more than 11 million copies.
