Mo Bradley consumer advocate blogs on how to save money and side step rip offs.

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There is nothing more frustrating than when your trusty computer starts doing things it is not supposed to. When error messages pop up from nowhere and Microsoft files that came with the computer just disappear. There are a few reasons that can cause this and one of the main reason is a virus of larger or lesser degree. Power spikes can cause problems in your operating system and even regular Windows updates can cause issues you never had before. Now you can fix it yourself and it is free.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS: Firstly, It is important to know the difference between a SYSTEM RESTORE or SYSTEM RECOVERY . Restoring your system to a previous date when the computer worked fine may do the trick and to do this click start, click help and support and under Pick a Task, click Undo changes to your computer with System Restore, Follow the instructions on the wizard.

A more radical remedy may be required when your hard drive will not boot up, or when you can't get the computer to navigate through the windows you need for a restore point reset. This radical resetting of the computer is called a system recovery (not a system restore) This will put your computer back to factory settings but you will lose any files you had like pictures, music and word documents.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS : Each computer manufacturer has a special key you have to hit WHEN YOU POWER ON the computer Here are some of the keys,

HP and Compaq desk