People are often nervous about installing new programs on their computer and for good reason. You never really know how a new program is going to behave. I often have friends and family who call asking whether or not they should install this program or that program on their computer.

Windows XP includes a great little tool that addresses this issue. The System restore utility can be used to return your computer to a previous state. For example, if I install a program that the rest of my computer does not agree with, I can easily restore my computer to the state it was in before the installation without having to reinstall Windows XP.

The System Restore tool does not affect folders or files. You can restore your system without losing your documents, e-mail, personalized settings, etc. It is even simple to use. The System Restore Wizard will walk you straight through the process of returning your computer to an earlier state making it something that even novice users can do. You can find the System Restore utility by clicking Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore.