The Quickest Way to Create a Restore Point in Windows Vista

Written by: Lamar Stonecypher • Edited by: Rebecca Scudder
Updated Dec 1, 2009 • Related Guides: Vista | Windows Vista

In a perfect world, we'd all be more careful about backing up our PC before making major changes. In the world we actually live in, just having a way to "go back" often has to suffice. Here, we look at making going back easier.

In Vista, it’s a good idea to set a restore point, or go-back-to point, before installing new software or doing maintenance such as editing the registry, which may affect the stability of your PC.

Here’s the absolute fastest way to create a restore point in Vista that I've found:

1. Click start and type in “systempropertiesprotection”

2. If User Access Control is active, click Continue

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3. Click Create

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4. Enter a meaningful name for your restore point

5. Click Create and watch as it makes the restore point

6. Click OK to close the System Properties dialog.

And that's it - the fastest way to create a restore point in Vista.

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