Fixing Your Computer
I accidentally deleted some files. How do I get them back?
Open the recycle bin by pressing the Windows Key+M and then double clicking on the Recycle Bin. Also, you can open "My Computer" and find a link to the Recycle Bin on the left hand side. To restore a file, right click it and click on "Restore". To restore several items at the same time, click and hold on CTRL while selecting all the files you wish to restore. After you have done that, right click and select "Restore." The files will be restored to their original locations. If you deleted a file from the Recycle Bin, use this program (NTFS Undelete) to restore the file(s) you deleted. This program works because when you delete file(s) from your hard drive, they're not really gone because the operating system has just marked that space on the hard drive as blank, even though the file(s) is/are still there until they get overwritten by new files and programs. The program simply finds what the operating system is currently ignoring and tells you if the file has been overwritten with something new (this is also why professionally erasing your computer's data before giving it away or throwing it out is so important; an article on this topic is coming soon).
If you want to know more information about the file(s) in the Recycle Bin, right click the "Name" tab in the Recycle Bin window and select the other attributes you wish to see for all the Recycle Bin files. You can also click on the Name, Size, Type, and other tabs to sort them by their name (alphabetically), size (largest to smallest), type (pdf, jpg, mp3), and for any other attributes.
Use System Restore
Using System Restore: System Restore attempts to reset your computer's state back to to that of your latest restore point. Restore points are created regularly and save the computer's state at one particular time. Please note: restore points typically do not restore deleted files. Use System restore when in Safe Mode or when things get bumpy with your computer and you have registry problems, conflicting hardware and/or software settings, have accidentally downloaded a virus, and other problems. To use System Restore, go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then System Restore. Remember that if the System Restore doesn't fix any of your problems, you can always undo the system restore by going back to the System Restore wizard under System Tools.
Reinstalling Applications or Programs
Only reinstall applications or programs when:
-The application's settings are messed around so much that you can't run the program normally anymore and there is no way to reset the program's settings to it's default settings (even when you look it up in the Start menu).
-Core application files were deleted and the program runs with errors occurring.
-The application is infected with a virus or other piece of malicious software.
Don't Reinstall an Application if:
-It just makes itself the default program and makes all of your files and other stuff play on itself. You can change this by resetting your default programs (in Windows Vista/7, go to the Start menu, and select Default Programs).