System Restore is a very important Windows feature for fix certain types of computer problems automatically, without wasting time looking for the causes.This is a simple method for go back to the PC, undo any incorrect changes made to the system on our part or even following the installation of poorly designed software or after updating a faulty driver. When something doesn't work, if your PC has unexpected problems or new errors, the first thing to try is system restore, in order to return to the situation before the error, when everything was fine.
How to use System Restore
System Restore works a bit like a "time machine" for your computer, but it's different from backup. While the backup also restores all the files lost or modified between one backup and another, with the restore the changes made, for example, to the documents, are not canceled and even the files added or created between one restore and another, are not System restore works specifically on Windows system files and does not delete or replace personal files, so to be able to quickly restore the functioning of a PC or a notebook that has a tantrum, that freezes out of the blue or that suddenly stops working (freeze the screen without any reaction).
How to create restore points
For a start, it's important Windows is configured to automatically create restore points every week or after every system change and, therefore, after Windows Update updates or program installation. Restore points are Windows' way of keeping a copy of system files, some modified program files, registry keys, and hardware drivers. It may be convenient to create restore points manually before using optimizers or registry key changes, so you can go back in case of errors
In Windows 7 and Windows 8, System Restore is enabled by default on the disk where Windows is installed and not on other disks or partitions. In Windows 10instead, it is necessary enable system restore points since after the update or if we have never activated them before may be disabled.
To check the status of this important feature and be sure System Restore is enabled we open on the Start menu at the bottom left, we look for the word "restoration"and press on"Create a restore point".
In the "System protection"we look in the section"Security settings"to see if it is enabled for the PC's disk drives. To enable protection, select a drive in the list and click on the button"Configure". It is possible to activate system protection on the disc C only or even on all those present. In the activation window you can also adjust thedisk space usage to be dedicated to System Restore. On discs with little space it is better to keep it to a minimum while if there is no space problem I would say that a 4% can be fine. At this point the system can create restore points automatically after restarting the PC.
To create a restore point manually, we try again the word "restore" from the Start menu, this time we press on "Create a restore point"and, in the form"Protection system", click the button"Create"; we choose a name, perhaps to remember the reason for this creation and confirm.
How to restore system from bootable PC
To use system restore, if this service was already active e the PC starts up normally (problems occur randomly or only after a certain operation), you can search for it from the menu Start and, in the System protectionby pressing the button in the center "System Restore". On Windows 10 we can recall it by searching Restoration in the Start menu and choosing Open System Restore.
Then a wizard opens where you just need to go Next to restore the most recent restore point; if we want to choose the restore point we press on Show multiple restore points or up Choose a different restore point to see all the restore points created on your computer. After selecting the restore point to use, before proceeding, you can click the "Look for interested programs"to detect all programs that will be uninstalled during the process.
The recovery tool will then show two lists, one with the programs that will be removed, one with the programs and drivers that will be installed again (although, as mentioned above, they may not work well). Once ready we press on Come on and confirm the system restore by clicking on end.
The system restore procedure can no longer be interrupted once started and requires a restart of the computer and some time to finish, at least 15 minutes.
Finally, when Windows restarts, a message warns you if the restore worked or if no files have been changed and, if so, to cancel the restore and return to the previous state.
How to restore system from frozen PC
If the PC does not boot, freezes at startup or restarts i continue, we can use system restore from the Windows 10 advanced menu, which will start automatically after 3-4 failed or forced reboots (by pressing the PC Reset button or turning the PC on and off from the power outlet).
In the blue window that opens we select Troubleshooting, click on Advanced options and finally we press on System recovery.
The recovery procedure is identical to that seen on a working PC, we will just have to be foresight and always activate the restore points before the problem arises (if the restore points are disabled we will not be able to use this tool to restore the correct functioning of the computer ).
If we still use an old PC with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, we can restore the last restore point created by repeatedly pressing the F8 key at startup and choosing the item Revert to Last Known Good Configuration. In a previous article we had also seen how manage restore points using external programs as well.
Conclusions
Using restore points can save us the working day and get the computer back to working perfectly in a few minutes (on average no more than 15 for a complete restore), although we will also have to take into account the programs that will be uninstalled or system settings that will be modified based on those included in the recovery point.
In a guide similar to this we have explained how to restore system configuration even if the PC no longer boots, starting the tool from a dos prompt via command rstrui.
In Windows 10, then, there are other ways to fix all errors in one go using the Windows 10 reset or the refresh to clean the PC of all programs.