Recovering info from a few days ago

Hello,

For some reason my computer started re-starting on its own a couple of days ago and I have lost some of my settings and bookmarks. Until I can figure out the root of that problem I need the info I had bookmarked, etc. When I had a problem before someone showed me a way to go back a few days on my computer and restore the settings under "run" but I cannot remember what I am supposed to type in there in order to do that again. Can anyone tell me what that word is? You go to the start menu, go to "run" and type in this word (like msconfig, D:, etc.) select how far back you want to go and you get your settings back before the last changes were made. Thank you ahead of time!!!!

 

kuuipozparadise--PC starts automatically. Usually a sign of spyware. Look here
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;894278
or follow the procedure here
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=37074

(There also are many other references to this problem.
http://www.google.com/search?source...D:2004-31,GGLD:en&q=pc+restarts+automatically )

I think you should try to solve that problem first, before tackling the restoration of settings and bookmarks. Getting rid of the spyware could solve the settings and bookmarks problem.
The normal solution for restoring settings is to run System Restore. But with spyware, that could just reinstall the spyware unless you got rid of the spyware first and then pick a System Restore date well before the problem started. (You will probably also want to delete System Restore points that could contain the spyware, so you do not reinstall the spyware.)

 

To answer your original question:

Start > all programs > accessories > system tools > System Restore.

For more on using SR in this situation: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=49297&highlight=System+Restore

Regards - Charles

 

Thank you

Thank you both very much. Do you know what that word is though that you type in under 'run', or does it lead you to essentially the same place?

 

Hi kuuipozparadise,

I don't know if there is a run comand that will get you to SR, although you can get to it in safe mode if your system will not boot into normal mode: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449&sd=tech Perhaps that's what is being referred to.

I pinned SR to the Start menu because I create manual restore points on a regular basis. Right click the start menu short cut that I gave you the access for > pin to start menu option.

Regards - Charles

 

Start>run and type %SystemRoot%\System32\restore\rstrui.exe. That'll get you the same thing as going through the start menu.

 

Hi Zander,

%SystemRoot%\System32\restore\rstrui.exe is what is being referred to in the MS support doc. All in all, pinning the start menu item for SR is easier if used with any frequency.

Regards - Charles

 

thanks

OK, thank you. I'll work on that in a couple of days when I have a day off. I just don't want to take a chance on something going wrong and I don't have time to be there to fix it and then leave my husband alone with it. (very scary thought ) You've been great!

 

LOL, I must confess I didn't look at the article. kuuipozparadise (wow, that's a mouthfull ) asked and I responded. That's about all I have to say about that.

 

Noone concerned about the auto restart issue?

 

Hi Jim,

Understand your point and you did give pointers on how to start troubleshooting the problem.

From my experience, most users want the problem to go away by quickest and easiest method, and if going back to a restore point does so, problem solved. Don't forget that correcting this kind of problem usually takes skills most people don't have and don't want to take the time to learn, they just want to be able to do whatever they do with a computer. This I understand well from dealing with family, friends, and business associates.

Regards - Charles

 

I must confess to being guilty of this many times myself. But, why not? In this case, if a restore does work it could save days of posting back and forth trying to run down the problem. If it doesn't work, then it's time to tackle it head on (IMHO).

 

charlesvar and Zander--I agree you could go at this problem either way. If a System Restore point before any infection was chosen, it might (would) not get rid of the infection. But no harm in trying.