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

 

[mickeyg2008]

Can you tell me the difference in the system restore and the disc d. Tht is for recovery ? Thanks

 

[Brink]

The tutorial below can help show you how to. It includes a link to download a Windows 7 ISO to create a bootable Windows 7 installation DVD or USB with.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Before you start, be sure to also make sure that you have your product key number available on the COA sticker on the bottom of your laptop, or under it's battery. Without it, you will not be able to activate the new installation of Windows 7.

 

[Angel7827]

lost music and pictures

I did the system restore and it all went smoothly. when my laptop started up again,my music and picture folders were there,but when I opened them they had no files. The music file had all the iTunes folder, but all my music and MP3 files are gone. How do I get these back?

 

[Brink]

Hello Angel, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Since you had system protection turned on, you might see if you may be able to use Previous Versions from these folder locations to recovery your files.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85679-previous-versions-restore-files-folders.html
If that doesn't help, then you might see if the free program Recuva may be able to help recover them.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Kaktussoft]

Maybe you can add the fact that "system restore from recovery environment" doesn't create a "undo restore point".

system restore is also possible from "safe mode with command prompt": just type: rstrui.exe
system restore is possible from safe mode. Handy if system doesn't boot normally.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ron,

Thank you, but it's already there as the last item in the red warning box at the top. Is that the same as what you meant?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Hello Ron,

Thank you, but it's already there as the last item in the red warning box at the top. Is that the same as what you meant?

No I meant: If you perform a system restore from "recovery environment" it can't be undone. It won't create a "undo restore point"

 

[Brink]

Ah, ok. Did you confirm this yourself? I had always thought that you could undo a system restore unless it was done in Safe Mode or Safe Mode w/Command.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Ah, ok. Did you confirm this yourself? I had always thought that you could undo a system restore unless it was done in Safe Mode or Safe Mode w/Command.

Not 1000% sure, but I had that problem at a client machine a year ago as I can remember.

System Restore From the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

If for any reason you cannot boot into Windows, you can try to use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to run System Restore. In that case you will be doing what is called an "Offline Restore". Note: While in WinRE, System Restore is not able to create an undo restore point prior to any rollback. Therefore, undoing a rollback is not supported from WinRE.

 

[Brink]

Okey doke. Added.

 

[sapphyrblud]

Sysyem Restore Error

i made a a mistake once of forgetting to uncheck the box for 'always use this program to open this kind of file' and now all my programs attempt to open in adobe reader. i tried fixing this error with system restore but i always get a response that system recovery failed even when i switch off my antivirus. is there anything i can do to reverse the situation or fix system restore?

 

[Brink]

Hello Sapphyblud, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, you could download and merge the .reg files for the listed .lnk (LNK) and .exe options in the tutorial below to restore their default associations. This may also fix system restore if related to the association issue.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html

 

[Kaktussoft]

i made a a mistake once of forgetting to uncheck the box for 'always use this program to open this kind of file' and now all my programs attempt to open in adobe reader. i tried fixing this error with system restore but i always get a response that system recovery failed even when i switch off my antivirus. is there anything i can do to reverse the situation or fix system restore?

What file extension did you open with acrobat reader and forgot to uncheck "always use this program to open this kind of file"?

 

[sapphyrblud]

What file extension did you open with acrobat reader and forgot to uncheck "always use this program to open this kind of file"?

.lnk

 

[Brink]

What file extension did you open with acrobat reader and forgot to uncheck "always use this program to open this kind of file"?

.lnk

In that case you could do what I posted above for .lnk files to fix this.

 

[sapphyrblud]

What file extension did you open with acrobat reader and forgot to uncheck "always use this program to open this kind of file"?

.lnk

In that case you could do what I posted above for .lnk files to fix this.

thanks. it works

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[tobymeister]

System Restore vs. Program Uninstaller

I have a System Restore "effectiveness" question for any expert that cares to respond.

If I create a System Restore point (in Win 7 Pro) before I install a program that includes drivers (Intel PRO/Set Wireless Software, for example), and I later want to completely remove/uninstall the program and its drivers.....

Which is more effective at removing all traces of the program and its drivers (Program Files, ProgramData, Registry entries, etc.):
1.) using Programs and Features "Uninstall", or
2.) restoring the System Restore point that was created before the application was installed?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Toby,

If the program is fully compatible with Windows 7, then it should fully uninstall using Programs and Features.

With that said, you know as well as I do, that not all programs will always uninstall fully and cleanly without having some remnants left behind. Doing a system restore using a restore point dated before you installed the program will restore Windows back to how it was when the restore point was created leaving no trace of any programs installed after the date of the restore point.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[tobymeister]

Hi Brink,

Thanks for the quick reply. I appreciate your help.

Toby