To manually add restore points:
1 Close all open programs.
2 Click the Windows Vista start button, and then
click Control Panel.
3 Click System and Maintenance, and then click
System.
4 Click System protection.
5 Under Automatic restore points, select the disk for
which you want to create a restore point.
6 Click Create.
7 Follow the onscreen instructions.
For more information about software restore points:
1 Click the Windows Vista start button, and then
click Help and Support.
2 Type system restore into the Search box, and then click
Search.
Software Program and
Hardware Driver
Reinstallation
If an individual factory-installed software program or
hardware driver is damaged, you can reinstall it by using
the Recovery Manager program (select models only).
NOTE: Do not use the Recovery Manager program to
reinstall software programs that came on CDs or DVDs
included in the computer box. Reinstall these programs
directly from the CDs or DVDs.
Before you uninstall a program, be sure you have a way
to reinstall it. Check that it is still available from where you
initially installed it (for example, discs or the Internet). Or
check that the program is in the list of programs you can
reinstall from the Recovery Manager.
To check the list of installable programs in the Recovery
Manager:
1 Click the Windows Vista start button,
All Programs, PC Help & Tools, and then click
Recovery Manager.
2 Click Advanced Options, Reinstall software
programs that came with your computer, and
then click Next.
3 Click Next at the Welcome screen.
A list of programs opens. Check whether your program
is there.
To uninstall a program:
1 Close all software programs and folders.
2 Uninstall the damaged program:
3 Click the Windows Vista start button, Control
Panel.
14
4 Under Programs, click Uninstall a program.
5 Select the program you want to remove, and then click
Uninstall.
6 Click Yes if you want to continue with the uninstall
process.
To reinstall a program using the Recovery Manager:
1 Click the Windows Vista start button,
All Programs, PC Help & Tools, and then click
Recovery Manager.
2 Click Advanced Options, Reinstall software
programs that came with your computer, and
then click Next.
3 Click Next at the Welcome screen.
4 Choose the program you want to install, click Next,
and follow the onscreen instructions.
5 When you have finished reinstalling, restart the
computer.
NOTE: Do not skip this last step. You must restart the
computer when you are finished recovering software
programs or hardware drivers.
System Recovery
After you have tried the previously mentioned methods of
repairing your computer, you can run a system recovery
as a last resort to reinstall the factory-shipped operating
system, software programs, and hardware drivers.
System Recovery — System recovery completely
erases and reformats the hard disk drive, deleting all data
files you have created. System recovery reinstalls the
operating system, programs, and drivers. However, you
must reinstall any software that was not installed on the
computer at the factory. This includes software that came
on CDs included in the computer accessory box, and
software programs you installed after purchase.
You must choose from the following methods for
performing a System Recovery:
Recovery Image — Run the system recovery from a
recovery image stored on your hard disk drive. The
recovery image is a file that contains a copy of the
original factory-shipped software. To perform a system
recovery from the recovery image on your hard disk
drive, see "Starting system recovery from the hard disk
drive" on page 15.
NOTE: The recovery image uses a portion of the hard
disk drive that cannot be used for data storage.
Recovery Discs — Run the system recovery from a set
of recovery DVDs that you create from files stored on your
hard disk drive. To create recovery discs, see the next
section.