System Restore

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 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.

   Tip

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

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 ONE

To 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.

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

C) Go to step 7 or step 8 below.
5. 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, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot above)
6. Click on the System Restore button. (see screenshot below)

7. If You Have Not Done a System Restore Before
A) Click on the Next button, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)

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)

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

11. Click on the Next button. (see screenshot below step 8)
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 TWO

To 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.

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

3. Continue starting with step 7 or step 8 in Option One above.
That's it,
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

 

[joevelyn]

triede the solution. Hope it workded

 

[Brink]

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]

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]

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:

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Lost here

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? )

 

[ryo]

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? )

the tutorial is restore back to the certain points. if you want to restore to the original (like as first time you fresh install) you can choose repair install http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
or what's the problems you got.. you can mention it,so we can help you

 

[marsmimar]

Hello trent and welcome to the Forum. A system restore provides a limited means to return your system to a previous point in time. A portion of the hard drive is set aside for these points. Depending on how much hard drive space is set aside, and how much data is to be included in the restore point, and how often restore points are created will determine how many restore points can be saved. For some people it might be a couple of weeks while for others it might be a couple of months.

System Restore - Windows 7 features - Microsoft Windows

There are two usual methods to return a computer to its original condition. Some manufacturers include their own recovery partition on the hard drive and a means to access that partition, usually via the start menu. On my Dell, for example, I have a Dell Backup and Recovery Manager in my start menu. I can use this to restore my machine to its original factory condition including all trialware and bloat.

The second method is to create your own system image and a companion system repair disk. Windows 7 has its own imaging tool/repair disk. Other people recommend a free alternative called Macrium Reflect. Both of these imaging tools let you image your entire computer to include operating system(s), updates, other programs, personal settings, files, folders, etc. In case of a crash or other problem you can return your computer to the exact state it was in at the time the image was created.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

But if all you want to do is install Windows 7 and nothing else, you can do a clean install. Only the operating system is installed and anything else on the hard drive is deleted during a format procedure.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[Jack8530]

Hey

Have you done this tut? System clean installation it will tell you how to wipe your pc

 

[lordvader]

I got a new Laptop
updated windows & drivers
& created a Restore point

wondering if i need to on system restore ?
or does that mean once i created a restore point
& it said Restore point created successfully
its already on ?

Thanks

 

[marsmimar]

I got a new Laptop
updated windows & drivers
& created a Restore point

wondering if i need to on system restore ?
or does that mean once i created a restore point
& it said Restore point created successfully
its already on ?

Thanks

Since you got the message that the restore point was created successfully, system restore should be on. You can verify that by clicking start > right-click Computer > click Properties > System Protection in left column. You should see the drive containing your operating system is "on".

 

[lordvader]

I got a new Laptop
updated windows & drivers
& created a Restore point

wondering if i need to on system restore ?
or does that mean once i created a restore point
& it said Restore point created successfully
its already on ?

Thanks

Since you got the message that the restore point was created successfully, system restore should be on. You can verify that by clicking start > right-click Computer > click Properties > System Protection in left column. You should see the drive containing your operating system is "on".

Yes it is
Thankyou Thankyou thankyou
+1 rep

 

[LouLou]

Restore - Windows 7 - No previous date

What happens if at point 7 you do not have any restore dates??

 

[marsmimar]

Hello LouLou and welcome to Seven Forums. If your computer is misbehaving and you're trying to repair it, without any restore points you just won't be able to use that particular fix. But there are other things you can try to effect a repair depending on what problems you're experiencing. If you're experiencing problems let us know what they are so we can help guide you to a solution.

If your computer is working just fine you can create restore points manually for one of those "just in case" situations we all have. This tutorial will explain how to do that:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html

Please post back and let us know what issues you're having.

 

[LouLou]

windows 7 restore

Hi thanks for the feedback. I have deleted some files in error! And was hoping a restore would help. I have created one as of yesterday but that doesnt help my situation. Emptied my waste bin also! Thank you anyway. Kind regards

 

[Tews]

Hi LouLou ... You may be able to recover these files with Recova ..