How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7
InformationThis 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.
NoteSystem 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.
WarningA System Restore will uninstall programs and drivers (step 8 in Option One below) that were installed after the date of the selected restore point.
A System Restore will replace the password of all local user accounts to what they were at the time of the selected restore point.
If you do a System Restore when the computer is in safe mode or Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), then you will not be able to undo the restore operation. However, you are able to still run System Restore again and choose a different restore point if available.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: To Do a System Restore in Windows 7 using System Protection
- Option Two: To Do a System Restore at Boot using System Recovery Options
OPTION ONETo Do a System Restore in Windows 7 using 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. Do step 2, step 3, step 4, or step 5 below for how you would like to open System Restore.
2. Open the Start Menu, type rstrui.exe in the search box, press Enter, and go to step 6 below.
3. Open the Start Menu.
A) Click on All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and System Restore, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)4. Open the Control Panel (icons view).
A) Click on the Recovery icon.5. Open the Start Menu.
B) Click on the Open System Restore button. (see screenshot below)
C) Go to step 7 or step 8 below.
A) Right click on the Computer button and click on Properties.6. Click on the System Restore button. (see screenshot below)
B) Click on the System Protection link. (see screenshot below)
C) Close the System window, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot above)
7. If You Have Not Done a System Restore Before
8. If You Have Done a System Restore Before
A) Select (dot) Choose a different restore point, click on the Next button, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)9. Select (click on) a listed restore point that you want to restore the drives that were included in the restore point back to how they were when the restore point was created. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Check the Show other restore points box to see any restore points (older) that may not be listed here.
10. 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)11. Click on the Next button. (see screenshot below step 8)
B) When done reviewing, click on the Close button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Make sure that the restore point you want is still selected (highlighted).
12. Click on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The listed drives here will be restored back to how they were for the selected restore point.
13. Click on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: This will immediately restart your computer to finish the system restore.
14. After the computer has restarted, click on the Close button. (see screenshot below)
OPTION TWOTo Do a System Restore at Boot using System Recovery Options
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.That's it,
2. Select the System Restore option. (see screenshot below)
3. Continue starting with step 7 or step 8 in Option One above.
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7
- How to Turn System Protection On or Off in Windows 7
- How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 System Restore
- How to Delete System Protection Restore Points in Windows 7
- How to Make a "Create System Restore Point" Shortcut in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- How to Add "Create Restore Point" to Context Menu in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- How to Create a System Restore Point in Windows 7
- How to Change the System Protection Disk Space Usage in Window 7
- How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
- How to See Windows 7 Reliability and Problem History with Reliability Monitor
- How to Do a System Image Recovery in Windows 7
- How to Backup and Restore the Windows 7 Registry
- How to Extract Files from the Windows 7 Installation DVD
- How to Create a Windows 7 System Protection Properties Shortcut
- How to Use System Restore to Change User Account Password
- How to Automatically Create A System Restore Point at Startup
- How to Create a System Recovery Shortcut in Windows 7
- System Restore General Troubleshooting to Fix Issues
- How to Restore Files and Folders in Windows 7 with Previous Versions
- How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista and Windows 7 when Dual Booting with XP
- How to Undo the Last System Restore in Vista and Windows 7
- How to Extract Files and Folders from System Restore Points in Windows 7 and Vista
- How to Enable or Disable Automatic System Restore Point Creation in Windows