A recovery system for a computer operating system and applications is described which uses selectable and configurable snapshots. In one example, a start-up sequence of the computer system is initiated, a plurality of snapshots in a hidden section of a mass storage device are identified before loading an operating system for the computer system, each snapshot containing an operating system, applications, and computer system configuration settings. One of the plurality of snapshots is booted including loading the operating system and applications of the one snapshot, and the start-up sequence is completed.