All computer owners periodically experience problems with Windows after installing the wrong drivers or making changes to the operating system. This problem can be solved by creating system restore points.
A Windows 10 restore point allows you to return your computer to the last stable state of your computer. When you create a restore point, Windows 10 backs up your system files. So, instead of having to completely reinstall Windows after you installed some wrong driver or caught a virus, you can simply roll back the system.
Restore points are created before installing Windows updates, and also automatically at the intervals that you set. The more free hard disk space you reserve for restore points, the more restore dates you will have to choose from.
The system allows you to manually create Windows 10 restore points. This may be required, for example, before installing programs that can somehow disrupt the system. In case something goes wrong, the owner of the computer can always roll back the system to the date when everything was working properly.
Please note that restore points contain only backup copies of Windows 10 system files that affect the loading of the operating system. Personal folders and files are not included in backups. If you want to back up personal files as well, then you need to make a full system image.
Windows 10 recovery settings
In order to view the current recovery settings on your computer, right-click on the Start menu and go to Control Panel.
Go to the "System and Security" section.
Go to the "System" section.
Click in the left column "System Protection".
The window that opens shows the protection settings for your disks. The status disabled means that no restore points are made for this drive, but enabled when restore points are made.
In my case, restore points are made only for drive C, on which the operating system is installed. In order to change the protection settings, select the disk you are interested in and click the "Configure" button.
At the top of the window, you can enable or disable the creation of Windows 10 restore points, and at the bottom, specify how much disk space you are willing to reserve for storing these backups. The larger the volume you specify, the more restore points will be stored. As this volume fills up, old restore points will be erased to make room for new ones. Usually, it is enough to store 2-3 system restore points.
In order to free up space on your hard drive, you can click the "Delete" button to delete all saved restore points.
Create a Windows 10 restore point manually
In order to create a Windows 10 restore point on the previous System Protection tab, click the Create button.
A window will pop up in which you must somehow name the restore point, in my case, for example, I called it "Restore point before installing an incomprehensible driver." The date and time of point creation will be added automatically. After that, click the "Create" button.
The process of creating a restore point will begin. It usually takes less than a minute. After completion, the "Restore point created successfully" window will appear (see the picture above). Now you can install that obscure driver that I was worried about and, in case of problems, roll back the system using a restore point.
Set up automatic creation of restore points
As mentioned above, Windows 10 automatically creates restore points before installing updates, and also makes it possible to do this manually. But for safety, it makes sense to set up automatic creation of restore points at the time interval you specify, for example, every day.
Right-click on the Start menu and go to Control Panel.
In the "Control Panel" in the upper right corner, select "View" - "Small Icons" and click on the "Administrative Tools" section.
Open Task Scheduler.
Alternately double-click on the items "Task Scheduler Library" - "Microsoft" - "Windows" - "System Restore".
An SR rule has already been created in the System Restore branch to create Windows 10 restore points. We just have to specify the interval after which this rule will work. Double click on the SR rule.
In the window that opens, go to the "Triggers" tab and click "Create".
In the next window, you can set the period when Windows 10 restore points will be created. You can specify the creation of daily, weekly, monthly, when the computer starts or when it is turned off, and so on.
You should choose the period for creating points based on the reserved hard disk space for storing backups, since when this volume is filled, the newest recovery points will erase the oldest ones.
After you have chosen the period for creating restore points, click OK.
Roll back Windows 10 to a restore point
Now that we have learned how to create restore points manually and automatically, we will tell you how to restore the system after a failure.
There are several ways to roll back the system using restore points - using the Windows 10 interface, using the command line, as well as using diagnostic tools.
System rollback through the Windows interface
The easiest way is when you can run Windows 10. In this case, we do everything as at the beginning of the article. Right-click on the Start menu and go to Control Panel. Next, go to the "System and Security" - "System" - "System Protection" section. In the System Protection window, click the Restore button.
The Restore System Files and Settings Wizard opens. Click next.
In the next window, check the box "Show other restore points". This list shows all possible restore points. The left column shows the dates when the restore points were created. The middle column has a description so we can identify the point.
As you can see in the screenshot below, the restore point called "restore point before installing the obscure driver" that I created in the second chapter of this article is listed as the last one created.
Finally, the right column indicates the type of creation of the restore point (manual, system, or installation), that is, under what circumstances the backup was created.
Also, you can click on the restore point of interest and click "Search for affected programs". The window that opens will display a list of programs that will be affected by the rollback to this restore point.
When you have selected the restore point to which you want to roll back the system, click "Next".
Windows 10, the restoration of which can return the computer to its original state, has several options for this action, let's look at restoring the Windows 10 system!
Since the OS itself is a rather complex structure, the frequent occurrence of problems and errors is understandable. On the other hand, as in any complex system, Windows also has tools for its recovery, the knowledge of which can help you relatively easily and without significant loss "revive" your computer and save important data.
How to restore Windows 10
Of course, the notorious Windows 10 system recovery tools differ in the specifics of their work and in terms of the end result. They will be discussed below.
To begin with, it is necessary to specify the situations in which it makes sense to return the OS to the previous state.
Windows 10 does not work correctly, an update (regular to the OS itself or a driver) or some application has also recently been installed.
Most likely, the reason is precisely what was recently installed. In this situation, you can. You can do this in several ways:
On the command line, run the command as an administrator, type rstrui - the return to point interface will open.
You can also access this window through the control panel - Recovery.
Pressing "Starting System Restore" The familiar interface will open.
After selecting a point and clicking on the "Next" button, the return process will begin, which takes several minutes (from 10-15 or more). This process affects installed applications and user files that have changed since the point was created.
In order to be able to restore Windows 10 using restore points, you need to make sure that they are created automatically. To do this, in the Control Panel - Recovery window, select "Setting up system recovery".
In the table of available disks, you need to check if OS protection is enabled. If enabled, restore points are created automatically. If not, the point will only be created manually. To create a point, click "Create" and specify the name of the point to be created.
To enable automatic creation of points (Windows OS protection), you must click "Configure ..." and select "Turn on system protection". 
If you cannot log in, you can use this function through recovery environment (WinRE). There are several ways to get there:
- On the lock screen (password entry), you must click "Shutdown", hold down the key. After reboot, select "Diagnostics" - "Advanced options" - "Command line"– run the rstrui command.
- Turn the computer off and on repeatedly using the power button (not the safest way). These manipulations will also allow you to enter the recovery environment and take further actions.
Windows 10 is not working properly, but no updates or apps have been installed recently.
This option is more ambiguous. The reason for the incorrect operation of the system may not be so obvious. In this case, resetting Windows 10 may help. To do this, open Settings, then "Update and Security".
To start the process, you must click "Start".
If the system does not boot, then you can enter the recovery environment () and select "Diagnostics" - "Reset the computer to its original state".
At the same time, we may be offered options for restoring the Windows 10 system:
- Keep Files - This will reinstall the OS while keeping all personal files, but will remove installed drivers and applications, remove any changes made to settings, and all applications preinstalled by the manufacturer (If you purchased a computer with Windows 10 installed, applications from the computer manufacturer will be reinstalled).
- Remove everything - this will reinstall Windows 10, remove personal files, remove installed applications and drivers, remove any changes made to settings and all applications preinstalled by the manufacturer (If you bought a device with Windows 10 already installed, then applications from the computer manufacturer will be automatically reinstalled). This option is also better to use if you are going to dispose or sell the computer, cleaning the disk can take several hours, but after that it will become very difficult to return the data.
- Reset to factory settings(if available) - this will reinstall Windows 7/8/8.1/10, remove personal files, remove installed drivers and applications, remove any changes made to settings, and reinstall all applications preinstalled by the manufacturer.
Important! After completing this procedure, the option to return to the previous assembly will no longer be available.
The system does not boot and you previously created a recovery disk.
To use this option, you must connect the drive to your computer. Next, after loading the recovery environment (WinRE), you need to select "Troubleshooting" - "Advanced Options" - "System Restore". As a result, recently installed programs, updates to the system or Office, as well as drivers that can cause problems on the computer will be removed, but personal files will remain intact.
Also, if there is a disk, it is possible to perform a reset (see the previous paragraph).
Learn how to create a recovery disc.
The system does not boot and no recovery disk has been previously created.
In this situation, installation media can help - a disk, a USB drive from which you can perform a clean installation of the system. If there is no such carrier at hand, then it must be created. You can do it this way:
- On a working computer, open the Microsoft Software website.
- Click "Download tool now", wait for the tool to be downloaded and run it.
- Select "Create installation media for another computer".
- Configure the required settings - language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit system).
- Follow the instructions for creating installation media until the process completes.
- Connect the newly created installation media to a non-working computer and turn it on.
After that, you need to boot from the installation media and select the option "System Restore". Further, the set of possible actions is similar to the previous paragraph of this article.
Computer won't boot, no recovery disc was created, and reset failed.
In this situation, there are no options other than performing a clean install. To do this, you will need to create installation media (how to do this is described in the previous paragraph of the article). In general, the installation process of the system, although it is global for the computer, is still not complicated. The main thing is to correctly configure the boot from the installation media. After downloading from it, you must select the item "Install Now". At the next stage, you will be prompted to enter a key to activate the system - you can enter it here or click on the button "I don't have a product key" to continue the installation of the system, activation in this case will need to be carried out immediately after the appearance of the desktop. You will then be prompted to read the license agreement and accept it to continue. The next step is to press "Custom Installation". After that, a window will appear with the partitions into which the hard disk is divided. You must select the appropriate section and click "Next". During the installation process, the computer will restart several times. As a result, a clean system will be installed, all applications and drivers will be removed. The files will be saved in the Windows.Old folder on drive C, if you wish, you can transfer them from there.
Within a month after upgrading to Windows 10 (and within 10 days after updating the assembly), it is possible to roll back to the previous assembly - this will return the computer, programs and files to the state in which the device was immediately before the upgrade. You can start this process either through the "Settings" (section "Update and Security" - "Recovery"), or through the recovery environment (WinRE, the login methods are described above).
In general, the options described above allow, if not completely returning the computer to its usual state, then at least returning it to working capacity. All of these options differ in execution time and the use of each of them depends on the initial problem.
Have a great day!
Your computer won't boot, what to do? During operation, this is possible due to the harmful effects of various viruses, your erroneous actions during the operation of the device, or the use of incorrect drivers. But do not despair, let's learn how to get out of this unpleasant situation with dignity.
You need to insure yourself against sudden problems in the future with the help of the recovery and backup functions built into the system. Thus, it is possible to restore Windows 7 without using third-party special programs, even when it is impossible to load System Recovery Options and the F8 key during the boot process has no effect.
So, let's learn insurance.
It is known that Windows 7 is equipped with a powerful tool " Recovery environment”, which is created automatically during the installation of this operating system. This happens in a hidden section that contains five additional tools for solving problems with malfunctions and malfunctions.
Remember that if you master these recovery tools well, then there will be no need for additional paid data backup programs.
The recovery tools are launched by pressing the F8 key, which must be pressed immediately after starting the computer. The menu "Additional boot options" will be displayed on the screen:
- Safe mode;
- Safe mode with loading network drivers;
- Etc.
Choose ""...
... and get into the menu "". Just what we need. We have the opportunity to choose the “System Restore Tool” we need from the five presented:
Note: During the installation of the Professional or Ultimate OS, a partition with the recovery environment is created automatically in the Recovery folder located in the root of the C: drive. In the Disk Management window, a hidden separate 100 MB hard drive partition is visible, which is designed to store the BCD configuration boot files and the system bootloader in the form of a bootmgr file. To see these resources, you need to go to Computer -> Management -> Disk Management. This section categorically cannot be deleted, otherwise you will not boot the system.
There are cases when there is no recovery environment partition, by pressing the F8 key, you see the "Advanced boot options" menu without the "Troubleshoot your computer" item. What to do?
You need an installation disk with Windows 7. We start loading the original disk and select the item "":
The System Recovery Options menu will appear on the monitor:
However, if there is no original installation disk or it is corrupted, then the "Windows 7 Recovery Disk" may become a way out of the situation.
Note: Looking at the screenshot, you see another hidden partition with a capacity of about 10 GB, it cannot be deleted either. In this case, we are talking about a laptop and its factory settings are stored in this section. This is another option for system recovery.
So, in the Select recovery tool menu, let's try to deal with the tab " Launch Recovery". We press and see that there is an analysis of the malfunctions that have arisen with their further elimination. The computer warns that problems were found in the settings and you need to select "Fix and restart."
Now let's deal with the tab "". This feature will help you select a system restore point that you created earlier. Works if the function was not disabled during system settings. There is a rollback back to the time when the system functioned properly.
The next option is the tab "". With the skillful use of this tool, there is no need for paid programs for data backup. This is a real help if you don't have the original Windows 7 installation disc, or if you accidentally deleted the laptop's factory settings partition.
And there are also problems when the action of the virus does not allow the operating system to boot. An excellent way out of the situation would be an archive image of your system on your hard drive, which was created when you installed Windows 7 on your computer earlier using the System Image Restore function. He must be protected.
Together with the Windows 7 Recovery Disk, the image will help you quickly restore the OS if the Advanced Boot Options menu does not load.
So, Start -> Control Panel — > .
Select the "" tab:
Under it, select "Local disk for storing the archive." The best option is when it is possible to place it on another hard drive, without an operating system installed.
Click "Archive" - and the process has begun.
The created archive with Windows 7 will look something like this:
Having such an archive, you will be able to deploy it in case of need very quickly. And if you have the same archive copied on a portable hard drive, then you will double protect yourself from trouble.
Now, if it is impossible to start Windows 7, we activate " Recovery Tool” by pressing the F8 key on the keyboard immediately after turning on the computer. In the drop-down menu "Additional boot options" select "":
Then choose ""...
... and in the menu that appears " Use the latest available system image».
Well, another option for system recovery is " Recovery disk". On this disk we write recovery tools to fix the OS boot failure or use it to restore the system from a previously created backup copy.
Let's create such a disk. To do this, we enter "" ...
... and in the menu that appears, select "" ...
... insert a DVD into the drive and click " Create disk».
Created in this way "" put in a safe place.
Restoring Windows 7 from a Recovery Drive requires almost no other tools. To troubleshoot, you need to set the priority drive in the BIOS of the computer, insert the disk and restart the computer.
This disk will help you avoid a complete reinstallation of the operating system from scratch, which will destroy all data and information in the installation partition, and this is very undesirable. With the disc, you simply restore the Windows 7 boot process.
Good luck to you, I hope the article will help you solve your problems.
Due to the presence of viruses, inconsistencies in drivers or software, the OS may fail. If your Windows crashes, don't panic. The situation can be corrected by returning the state of files and programs to the moment when the PC was working properly.
While running OS Windows 7, 10 or 8, certain errors and problems may occur. As a result of such failures, a new launch of the operating system in operating mode becomes impossible. In this case, it is not at all necessary to do a laborious reinstallation of the OS. It is enough to perform a system restore.
OS recovery using the recovery environment
At work, we use the following scheme of actions:
- Reboot the computer, press the F8 key during boot;
- Troubleshooting;
- System restore, OS restore point selection;
- click "Further" and again "Further";
- We press the button "Ready", reboot the system (in the Menu, select boot with the last known good configuration).
There are several ways that you can resort to resuming the operation of the OS. Some of them are based on reverting to saved settings. Others simply clear the data.
You can perform "resuscitation" of the OS in one of the following ways:
- by selecting restore points;
- using the command line;
- through safe mode;
- using the recovery environment;
- using an image/boot disk.
Restoring the operating system using system "resuscitation" checkpoints is one of the most affordable, effective and popular options. To apply it, you need to make a series of clicks:
- Panel "Start";
- "System Restore";
- "Further";
- "Select a restore point";
- "Ready".
This operation will fix the problems with the computer, undo the changes and return the system to a working state that allowed the PC to boot normally. Loss of data, files and documents does not occur during such recovery. All data is saved. The operation is reversible. You can roll back the system to a previous state of the computer and use a different restore point.
Many people ask themselves how to make a recovery point on their own (manually) in order to choose it in the future? To do this, in the same menu "Start" - "System Restore" You can create such a point yourself at any convenient and suitable time for you. It will be saved with the current date, which can only be remembered.
From a restore point
In computer engineering, there is such a thing as a restore point. These are saved PC settings. As a rule, saving occurs automatically with each successful OS boot. The easiest way to resume Windows 7 is to use exactly this data.
Press F8 when the computer boots up. This command will bring up a menu of system startup options. Next, select the Last Known Good Configuration option.
You can also use another method. Enter the properties of the My Computer folder. Find the System protection line, clicking on which you will open the dialog box of the same name. Click Recovery - Next. We set a key date, indicate the disks that are subject to correction, and confirm the actions. After rebooting, the PC should work normally.
No restore points
You can fix OS problems without having restore points. To do this, you will need to resort to the LiveCD program. It needs to be downloaded and written to a USB flash drive with the .iso extension.
Further, all actions will take place in the BIOS. You need to configure boot from a flash drive. To do this, in the Boot section, select USB-HDD in the First boot device line.
Before proceeding directly to recovery, copy all the necessary files to a removable drive. The LiveCD program provides a special menu for these purposes.
We will fix the system error using the backup copy. Connect the flash drive, open the folder Windows\System32\config\ . Files with the names default, sam, security, software, system must be moved to any other folder. In their place, we transfer similar files from the RegBack folder and restart the computer.
The described method will only help if the problem is related to the registry.
Command line
You can resort to "reanimating" Windows 7 from the command line if the PC begins to freeze or work slowly, however, the system boots up. Enter the menu "Start" and using the right mouse button, launch the command prompt as an administrator. Issue the rstrui.exe command, which will open the System Restore program. Click "Further". In the next window, select the desired rollback point and click again "Further". Upon completion of the process, the PC should work normally.
You can enter the utility in another way. We go to "Start". To call the command line, press "Run" and write the CMD command. We click on the found file CMD.exe and wait for the launch. Next, enter rstrui.exe on the command line and confirm the action with the Enter key on the keyboard.
It is not always possible to play it safe and create OS restore points in advance. There may be problems that block the option of such a "resuscitation" of the PC. Then you can use another, no less effective and easy option - restoring the Windows system using the system itself.
Based on the diagram:
- Icon "My computer"- right mouse button "Properties";
- "System Protection";
- In a new window, click "System Protection", restore button;
- "Further";
- Choose a restore point according to the date;
- Specify the system disks to be restored;
- Confirm the operations and reboot the system.
Restoring Windows 7 using Safe Mode
This method is preferred if the usual system boot is not possible. Then, after pressing the PC power button on the system unit, hold down the F8 key to call "Launch Menu". One of the menu options is "Safe mode". Select it and press Enter on the keyboard. As soon as Windows loads, we perform the algorithm of actions that we described earlier.
System Restore Windows 8/8.1
If you were able to start the OS, you can resume Windows 8 via "Parameters". Hover over the upper right corner and enter them. Click on "Changing computer settings" – . Chapter "Recovery" will offer several options:
- "Typical Restore with Information Preservation".
- "Delete data and reinstall OS".
- "Special Option".
Decide exactly what needs to be done. Then follow the menu prompts.
If you choose the latter method, in the window that opens, click on the diagnostic item. You will be offered the following options:
- "Reestablish";
- "Return to original state";
- "Extra options". This item includes the ability to roll back to the desired resume point.
To resume Windows 8.1 press Win+R and call sysdm.cpl . In the system properties window, on the tab "Protection" specify the required system drive. Click "Reestablish". Clicking "Further", you will be able to see a list of rollback points. Select the one you want and click "Search for affected programs". Changes that have been made to the PC since the selected moment will be deleted. End the process by clicking "Ready".
In the case of working with Windows 8, there may be problems, incorrect Internet operation, etc. To fix this, you can use the classic recovery method through restore points.
Another option is to roll back the system. To do this, open the menu "Start" - "Control Panel" - "Windows Update". Choose an item "Uninstall updates". You can do the same using the command line.
So, in the list of updates that opens, we remove those of them, from the moment of installation of which (we look at the date) problems and malfunctions began. Delete unnecessary files and reboot.
In Windows 8.1, you can perform a factory reset. Important files will not be affected during this operation. The method is effective, but for its implementation, the OS needs to boot without any problems. We use the algorithm:
- Right side of the monitor - "Parameters";
- "Change settings";
- "Renewal and Recovery" - "Recovery";
- "Recovery without deleting files".
If you cannot log into the system in the usual way, you must use the disk with the system. Load the installation disk, select "System Restore". We press the button "Diagnostics", And "Reestablish".
If you're having problems with Windows 10, press Windows + Pause. Go to "System Protection" and press "Reestablish" – "Further". Select the desired indicator and click again "Further". When finished, press "Ready". The computer will automatically restart and the changes will take effect.
One of the advantages of the "dozens" is the ability to return the settings to the factory settings. This helps avoid having to install the system first. To reset your data go to "Computer Settings" – "Update and Security" – "Recovery" – "Reset your computer". Click "Begin".
You can take care of the possibility of rollback in case of failure in advance. Resume points can be created independently or configured to be automatically created at the desired frequency. To do this, in the settings, in the Update and security item, select the Backup service. Specify where to save copies, click Add disk. After selecting a device, the function will be activated.
You can restore the Windows 10 system again through the use of restore points. In this case, the system will be rolled back to the moment when it was freely loaded and worked without failures. This recovery method is described at the beginning of the article.
If the OS is not loaded, then a warning table appears on the screen with the key "Additional recovery options". Click it and choose "Diagnostics" - "System Restore". We make a choice of a Windows restore checkpoint, we are waiting for a system rollback and reboot.
If such operations did not help and the computer continues to work incorrectly, you can roll back to the basic settings. Some programs and utilities, personal PC settings will be reset, and personal data will be deleted.
This technique is used extremely rarely if the other options described above do not help. The algorithm of actions in this case is as follows:
- "Start" - "Setting options"- tab "Updates and Security";
- Paragraph "Recovery"- button "Begin";
- Choose to delete all files or save some of them.
The system rollback after that will take 40-90 minutes.
Resume using the installation disc
One of the radical methods of fixing the error involves using the installation disk. After running it in BIOS, click System Restore. In the Troubleshooting section, select the desired action. Then follow the system prompts to complete the process.
