Computer 101: The Importance of System Restore in Windows.

First for those who are not familiar with System Restore here is a description of what it does in Windows based system. The function of System Restore is to restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. What does this means; it means every time that we used the computer an automatic system configuration image is created on that particular day. Also if we install new software in the computer most of the time the computer activates the system restore function before the new software is installed. Sometimes, the installation of a program or a driver can cause an unexpected change to your computer or cause Windows to behave unpredictably. Usually, uninstalling the program or driver corrects the problem. If uninstalling doesn't fix the problem, you can try restoring your computer's system to an earlier date when everything worked correctly. Furthermore it's a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e‑mail, documents, or photos.

System Restore works by using the restore points to return your system files and settings to an earlier point in time without affecting personal files. Restore points are created automatically every week, and just before significant system events, such as the installation of a program or device driver. You can also create a restore point manually. System Restore automatically recommends the most recent restore point created before a significant change, such as installing a program. You can also choose from a list of restore points. Try using restore points created just before the date and time you started noticing problems. The descriptions of the restore points that are created automatically correspond with the name of an event, such as Windows Update installing an update. System Restore returns your computer to the state that it was in before the restore point that you chose. 

There are three methods you can use to access the system restore functionality. 

You can access the System Restore Wizard through the Start menu. To access the System Restore Wizard, click Start, point to All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then click System Restore. 

 You can access System Restore through Control Panel. To open the System Restore Wizard, click Start, Control Panel and double-click System. Click the System Restore tab and click More information about System Restore. Help and Support, click Performance and Maintenance, click Using System Restore to undo changes, then click Run the System Restore Wizard. 

You can access System Restore through Help and Support. To access the System Restore Wizard, click Start, and then click Help and Support. Click Performance and Maintenance; click Using System Restore to undo changes, then click Run the System Restore Wizard.

The more system restore points we have in our computer the better, because the more option the computer has in correcting windows error by using system restore the better. The system restore is a very important tool in fixing problems encountered by windows based system after installing a new program or a new driver for a particular hardware. By restoring the computer system configuration to an earlier state without affecting your personal files and documents to fix the windows abnormal behavior we have a tool that is very easy to use and very effective in solving software related error. System Restore uses a feature called system protection to regularly create and save restore points on your computer. These restore points contain information about registry settings and other system information that Windows uses. You can also create restore points manually.

Where do you find the System Restore tool? There are several ways on how to locate the system restore tool. The first is to go to the Start Menu and right click on the My computer and from the full down menu click on the Properties Tab, after clicking on the properties the system information will appear. On the Upper-Left hand side of the System information under the control panel home, click on the system protection. After clicking on the system protection the system properties dialog box will appear. There are five tabs on the system properties please locate the system protection tab. To start or create a system restore point manually just click the create button and then read and follow all the instruction to create system restore point manually.

System image backups stored on hard disks can also be used for System Restore, just like the restore points created by system protection. Even though system image backups contain your system files and personal data, your data files will not be affected by System Restore. System Restore isn't intended for backing up personal files, so it cannot help you recover a personal file that has been deleted or damaged. You should regularly back up your personal files and important data using a backup program. Another way of starting the system restore point manually is by opening the control panel and clicking the system icon to open the control panel and clicking the system protection. So if ever you find that your computer behaves abnormally after installing a program or update existing driver and removal of the newly installed program does not solve the problem then that is the time to use the tool called system restore.

I would like to hear you thought about system restore?

Computer 101: Hiding the Mouse Properties in the Control Panel

Before we begin the solution to this require in-depth knowledge of the registry or the policy editor of Windows Based system. The purpose of this method is to give network administrator and /or computer technician who are handling computers in not so controlled environment like internet cafes, public network and others who might need it. Sometimes it is better if some feature of the Windows OS is not reachable by person who have no idea what they are doing, they think changing a few color here and there is a showcase of how good they are at manipulating this windows feature. Let say you are working on an internet cafe where the computer is not very secure, the person using it can sometime do things which they think is good for them, but keep forgetting that it may be bad for the next person who is going to use them.

An example of this is our topic for today the mouse, yes that faithful old pointing device we called the mouse, which is very helpful in every way possible. It would be very difficult for anyone to use the present system of computer programs without the help of the mouse. This is where the problem begins since it is very easy to manipulate the mouse properties, just go the control panel and look for the mouse properties and double click to get an in-depth look at the basic and advanced of a mouse. We can change its color and appearance; the mouse can have tail while we drag across the screen and a whole lot more. Now if every person renting a computer on the internet cafe would do this change the mouse according to his liking, and then we would have a problem here. While this seems okay for some but it irritate most us, to most of us changing the appearance of the mouse to a running horse is a distractions from the things that we do while were on the computer. If you own the computer and you are the only who uses you computer then by any means go ahead and do what you like with it. But not in an environment where it is for public use with pay of course.

To solve the problem we just need to hide the mouse in the control panel so that no one will able to change the appearance and behavior of the mouse from its regular setting. Please watch the video below on how to proceed with the hiding of the mouse properties in the control panel of windows based system.

To summarize the video above, from the start menu click the RUN command and type gpedit.msc then press enter. The group policy editor will appear then click the user configuration then the Administrative Template then the Control Panel then select and double click the Hide Specified Control Panel Applets then got to the setting tab and select the enabled option and then click show then a dialog box will appear. From here click the ADD button and an input box will appear then type the name of the control panel applets that you want to hide, in this case type mouse then click the all the okay button and apply button until you are back at the group policy window. Close the group policy windows and refresh your screen several times. Now to check if the mouse properties has disappeared from the control panel, open the control panel and look for it, if we cannot see it then we will not be able to change it. The mouse properties should be hiding or nowhere to be seen on the control panel.