When having an issue with drivers or graphics or system file corruption, Windows System Restore is the easiest way to get back to a working condition of Windows 11/10. If you have created a system restore earlier, this guide can help you do a system restore in Windows 11/10.
Note: System Restore is not set to on by default. You should see if you have enabled it at some point or if Windows has created it. We have also explained how to create a system restore at the end of the post.
What Is A System Restore Point?
A System Restore is entirely different from a system backup. A system restore is created before any noticeable change like a driver update, software installation, or system update is done to your system. If anything goes sideways, you can revert your PC to its old state. A system restore does not affect your files and documents in any way.
A System restore uses OS files which are essential for restoring settings and the state of the computer. Volume Shadow Copy Service controls the whole process, which selects and separates the files.
How To Do a System Restore in Windows 11/10
These are three methods you can use to perform System Restore. If you do not find any system restore, enable it and create it often.
- System Restore from within Windows
- System Recovery
- Advanced Recovery
You will need admin account access to use this.
1] System Restore from within Windows
If your Windows Machine boots up normally and you can reach your Windows Desktop, follow the steps below to restore your computer.
Windows 11/10: Open Windows Search using Win + S and type Recovery. Click on the Recovery(Control Panel) link when it appears.
Windows 7: Type System Restore in Windows Start Menu or go to Control Panel > Action Center > Restore your computer to an earlier time
- The System restore windows will display a list of available restore points.
- Select a restore point that suits you best. If your System stopped working because of software installation, choose the restore point close to the date of installation of the software.
- If you want to find more hidden restore points, check on the option showing me more restore points.
- Use the Scan for affected programs to find how many of your existing programs might be impacted by this System restore. It is helpful if you want to save back those data and files.
- Select the restore point and follow the wizard. Once restore is complete, your System will be rebooted, and your computer will be in working condition.
If you have never created a restore point, create it immediately by turning it on. You can also use the One-Click System Restore Point Creator.
2] System Recovery
- Press F8 when your computer starts.
- Choose System Recovery, which should be the first option
- You will need to verify with an admin user name password
- Next, you will get five ways to recover the computer in case of a problem: Startup repair, System Restore, Windows complete pc restore, Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool, and Command prompt.
- Choose System Restore and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. It will be similar to what we have seen in the above section.
More on the recovery options:
- Windows Complete PC restore: It is useful when you have a backup of your PC or the drive where you installed windows.
- Command prompt recovery mode: It is only for advanced users
- Memory Diagnostic tool helps you troubleshoot memory issues on the computer.
- Startup Repair can fix problems from applications that prevent Windows from starting.
3] Advanced Recovery
While the process remains the same as Windows 7, Windows 11/10 Advanced Recovery offers an enhanced menu. You still need to press F8 to access the Advanced Recovery if you cannot access it from within the System. It is also called the Windows Recovery Environment.
- When in Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot.
- To restore from a system restore point, choose Advanced Options > System Restore.
- Then follow the on-screen instructions to return to the computer’s working state.
Restoring won’t affect your files, but it will remove apps, drivers, and updates installed after making the restore point.
I hope the guide explained how to do a System Restore in Windows 11/10/7. Let’s find out how to create one.
How to Create A System Restore Point In Windows
While Windows automatically creates restore points before any substantial changes to your system, there are chances that it may have been turned off for your computer. You may also want to create a restore point before doing a significant change manually. Let’s look at how to automatically and manually create System Restore Points in Windows.
1] Automatically Creating A System Restore Point In Windows
Follow these steps to make Windows create a system restore point every time your system goes through a substantial change:
- Search Create A Restore Point in Windows search.
- Open the first option that appears. It will open the System Properties window.
- Now, go to the System Protection tab in the System Properties window.
- Now, you’ll be able to see a Configure button. Click on it.
- In the Restore Settings section, you’ll see two options, Turn On System Protection, and Disable System Protection. Select Turn On System Protection to automatically create a system restore point before any significant change is done to your system.
2] Manually Creating A System Restore Point In Windows
Suppose you are planning to make a substantial change to your Windows computer and are unsure whether a restore point will be automatically created for the particular change. In that case, you can always go for the manual way. Here’s how to do it:
- Search Create A Restore Point in Windows Search and open the first option.
- It will open the System Properties window. In the window, open the System Protection tab.
- Now, you’ll see a Create button below the protection settings section.
- Click on it, and now you’ll be asked to name the Restore point for your reference. Click on Create to create the restore point.
Troubleshooting System Restore
Now that we are all done with creating a system restore and enabling automatic restore point creation, here are some of the issues you may encounter while using the utility and how to fix them.
I Am Unable To Restore the System From A Specific Restore Point In Windows. How To Fix It?
If you are unable to restore the system from a restore point, there is a chance that the files for that particular restore point may have been corrupted. You can try running an SFC scan in the command-line interface to fix this issue. If that doesn’t work, the only viable option that remains is using another restore point in place of it.
System Restore Is Taking up A Lot Of Space On My Computer. How To Reduce Space Usage?
You can configure how much space system restore uses on your computer. To do so, open the System Restore window by searching for it in Windows search. In the window, press the configure button, which will open another window allowing you to configure the system and restore storage usage. Deleting all the previously created restore points for the specific drive is also an option. You can use that as well to free up space on your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Rolling Back To Previous Version Of Windows And System Restore Same?
Rolling back to the previous version of Windows and System Restore is not the same; you also cannot roll back with System Restore. System Restore is used to reverse the effect of any change in settings, software update, or software installation. The Rolling back feature, on the other hand, is not always available. You can only roll back for a fixed period after installing a new version of Windows. Also, the feature works independently of System restore, and the rollback files are stored separately.
Can System Restore Fix Issues In My Windows PC?
Yes, System restore can fix various issues in your Windows PC. System restore works by restoring your PC to its previous state by reversing the changes. So if you are encountering issues after a recent change to your PC, System Restore can significantly help fix the problems.
Conclusion
That was all on creating system restore points in Windows and troubleshooting. It is always good to make a system restore point before making any change to your computer, and doing so manually will ensure no chance of missing out. We hope you found the article insightful. Please make sure to share this article with everyone.
This advice fails. Pressing F8 does nothing.
There are many more steps than this now. The version I’m working with is Windows 7, RC7 build 7100.
Press F8 during startup.
Select ‘Repair Your Computer’ at CLI prompt that appears.
Select a User at the ‘System Recovery Options’ GUI dialog box.
Enter User’s password.
Select the appropriate of the five options that appear at the ‘System Recovery Options’ GUI dialog box.
This advice FAILS… When i press F8 it brings up the “Restart windows in the (mode you wish)” option. As in if i wanted to start in safe mode…Safe mode networking/command… Last known working normal windows or a few other options. NOTHING that this says it brings up. Im assuming that the key to press relies on your Mobo? Because i dont get anything that remotely resembles Repair Windows or any other system restorative options.
This needs to be done int he upgraded version of Winodws 7, it also doesnt always work unless you are already having problems booting up.
This do not work as identified. This is not a recovery issue. I need someone with more experience with Windw 7 internet connection.
Any luckwith the research on window 7 internet connection apart form what was prescribe?
This does work as listed. If you keep pressing F8 when the computer is first booting up you get the right menu. It looks like it’s just the old Safe Mode screen, but there are more options if you read the descriptions at the bottom of the screen. This worked for me just fine.
use Start-all programs-accessories-system tools- system restore
Any1 know the service name for the system restore?
I want to disable it , bt it doesnt show under system protection, so i have to stop it via cmd
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net stop “???”
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help please
ooh and its win 7
I agree with Bobby, on my Compaq desk top, pressing F8 on my does nothing, and unfortunately, my computer didn’t come with a restore disk. But it did have a file titled factory image/recovery but this file is now empty, any suggestions?
The virus i had would not let me do a system restore while it was running but if you shut down your computer and then start it up, when the first screen( i have a Compaq) so when the first screen that says Compaq comes up hit F11 and the rest is easy just read and choose what you want to do.
“Harvey said:
I agree with Bobby, on my Compaq desk top, pressing F8 on my does nothing, and unfortunately, my computer didn’t come with a restore disk. But it did have a file titled factory image/recovery but this file is now empty, any suggestions?”
Harvey, the factory image/recovery you’re looking at is only your laptop’s system can see it and it will activate once you have a problem and needed to restore your system.
It’s not empty, but if you check the properties of that image, you’ll se how much it has.
There is a diff between system restore and pc restore( pc restore is available only for dell laptops where it brings the system back to factory seetings), however in system restore you can bring the system back to few days, ( the date when the system was working fine) and the way to do system restore is
Start, all programmes, accessories, system tools, system restore…
This will not delete your personal data….
Hope this help
Doesn’t help me at all. I have a Gateway. F8 doesn’t work and it just flicks back and forth. I tried system restore to factory settings where it saves my doc to a back up file. The process finished and restarted and nothing changed. I don’t want to do a full restore because if nothing changes I’ve erased everything for nothing. Any suggestions?
I just turned on my other computer (Windows 7) and it said it was unable to start. A window popped up just like the one on top of this page (System Recovery Options), I clicked on “Startup Repair” and then didn’t know which option to choose afterwards! Please anybody help!!!
Thanks a lot ……………
Regarding Windows 7. I am attempting to do a system restore (recover PC to factory condition).
I do not have the recovery discs and I did do the “F8” at the beginning as I booted up the PC.
This did nothing as I recall. I also recall pressing button “F11” as this command prompt works for my Windows Vista in performing a complete recovery of my Vista PC. I am left to contact the business who installed the PC at the home and ask for the recovery discs. I feel the “complete system restore/ recovery to factory condition” is necessary to start my PC from scratch. Please bring any comments or answers to our attention, we’d be very grateful-MIGUEL
i cant do a system restore. it wants me to uninstall my viris protection