Windows 7 - System Restore

**Brink**

How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to do a System Restore to restore your Windows 7 system files to an earlier point in time. It's a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal user files, such as e‑mail, documents, or photos.

Note

System Restore uses a feature called System Protection to regularly create and save restore points of selected hard disks in your computer. These restore points contain information about registry settings and other system information that Windows 7 uses. You can also create restore points manually.

Warning

A System Restore will also uninstall programs and drivers (step 8 in Option One below) that were installed after the date on the selected restore point.

If you use System Restore when the computer is in safe mode, you cannot undo the restore operation. However, you can run System Restore again and choose a different restore point if one exists.

Tip

System Restore points are deleted after you restart your Windows 7-based computer

OPTION ONE

Through System Protection

NOTE: Be sure to temporarily disable your antivirus program first to prevent it from possibly preventing you from doing a system restore.

1. Open the Start Menu, type rstrui.exe in the search box, and press Enter.
A) Go to step 5.

OR

2. Open the Start Menu.
A) Click on All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and System Restore. (see screenshot below)

B) Go to step 5.

OR

3. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).
A) Click on the Recovery icon.

B) Click on the Open System Restore button. (see screenshot below)

C) Go to step 6 or 7 below.

OR

4. Open the Start Menu.
A) Right click on the Computer button and click on Properties.

B) Click on the System Protection link. (see screenshot below)

C) Close the System window. (see screenshot above)

D) Continue on to step 5.

5. Click on the System Restore button. (see screenshot below)

6. If You Have Not Done a System Restore Before
A) Click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)

B) Go to step 8.

7. If You Have Done a System Restore Before
A) Select (dot) Choose a different restore point, and click on the Next buton. (see screenshot below)

8. Select (click on) a listed restore point that you want to restore Windows 7 back to. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Check the Show other restore points box to see any restore points (older) that may not be listed here.

9. To Show Affected Programs and Drivers
NOTE: This will show you a list of programs and drivers that will be deleted and restored by the selected restore point.
A) Click on the Show affected programs and drivers button. (See screenshot above)

B) When done reviewing, click on the Close button. (see screenshot below)

10. Click on the Next button. (see screenshot below step 8)
NOTE: Make sure that the restore point you want is still selected (highlighted).

11. Click on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)

12. Click on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: This will immediately restart your computer to finish the system restore.

13. After the computer has restarted, click on the Close button. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

Through System Recovery Options at Boot

NOTE: This will allow you to restore Windows 7 to a earlier restore point with a Windows 7 installation disc or System Repair Disc from the System Recovery Options screen at bootup. This can be handy if you cannot startup Windows 7.

1. Using your retail Windows 7 installation disc or System Repair Disc, boot to the System Recovery Options screen.

2. Select the System Restore option. (see screenshot below)

3. Continue starting with step 6 or 7 in METHOD ONE above.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**joevelyn** · 06-12-2010

triede the solution. Hope it workded

**Brink** · 06-12-2010

Hello Joe, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm not sure what solution you mean, but I hope it worked for you as well.

**Suranjit** · 06-27-2010

Hi,

I am unable to do 'System Restore' in my laptop. I tried but after restarting I got a message like not successfully completed. I have attached a screenshot for that. I tried with different restoring point but not working !!!!!!!!!!

Please let me know if there is any other way to do that.

Thanks,
Suranjit

**Product FRED** · 06-27-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Suranjit

Hi,

I am unable to do 'System Restore' in my laptop. I tried but after restarting I got a message like not successfully completed. I have attached a screenshot for that. I tried with different restoring point but not working !!!!!!!!!!

Please let me know if there is any other way to do that.

Thanks,
Suranjit

According to this website (which is actually for Vista, but should apply to 7):

Error message created by System Restore, file backup and Defrag in Windows Vista:

Quote:

1. This can be do to the System Volume Information Folder attributes being set to Read-only.

The System Volume Information Folder is where Vista holds restore points or shadow copies.

For Windows Vista using the NTFS File System.
Click Start then My Computer.
On the Tools menu Then Folder Options.
On the View tab, click “Show hidden files and folders”.
Clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the change.
Click OK.
Right-click the System Volume Information folder in the root folder, and then click Properties.
If the Read-only attibutes is checked, uncheck it and click, OK
Now try creating a restore point.
Warning: Remember to hide the hidden System Files when done.

2. This error occurs because the recovery partition is enabled for File Backup or System Restore and is almost full. To work around this, do not select D:\ as a backup source. Also, go to System Protection in Control Panel and make sure that D:\ is not enabled for restore points.

**Suranjit** · 06-27-2010

Thanks for that link.

I read that but it seems that if I create a system restore point following the rules mentioned then I can use this system restore point later.
That means I will not be able to do any System Restore to any point before that. Is that correct??

Thank you again.

**bludgard69** · 06-27-2010

Hi,Suranjit.I don't know if this is at all helpful,but I used to use Zone Alarm security suite and something in the AV\AM locked some files to where I couldn't use sysyem restore.

I had to Recover to get rid of ZA.Use MSE now and haven't had the first problem.

**Hollow012** · 07-21-2010

When i go to my startup, i have two options to pick.
1: Launch Startup repair
2: Start Windows.
I pick 1 and i dont have a disk or something. so i picked 2 and it goes to the same page where i got to pick two options. pls help fast n reply asap or i will get scolding by my parents. thanks

**Brink** · 07-21-2010

Hello Hollow, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you unable to do a system restore from within Windows 7?

If so, you can also create a System Repair Disc to be able to use to do METHOD TWO in the tutorial with. Of course, you will still have to have an available restore point to select to go back to.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**trent3111** · 10-12-2010

umm i'm lost here. I looked around and this seems are close system restore as it gets and seems it only restores back to certain points. Or atleast thats what i think. But isn't there a option to completely restore your computer back to the original condition ( in other and exact words it deletes everything from your computer and only re installed windows 7? )

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