Restore Windows: Create Restore Points … and More!

With Windows 7 Microsoft had already learned the lesson left by the much disowned Windows Vista, one of the worst operating systems in history, and with Windows 10 doubling the bet we get to today, where we find a well-designed, solid and stable, and also very complete in terms of the tools it provides, however, it is still a simple to use and easy-to-understand OS, mainly due to the fact that its operation has been greatly simplified, such  as the Windows update system , which is now completely transparent and does not cause problems of any kind.

However, errors can still occur, but Windows is ready for that too, thanks to the new included system restore tools . If you are interested in knowing how to do to restore the system to solve a problem, we advise you to read this post.

Why restore Windows?

Although both Windows 7 and Windows 10 are the safest and most stable versions of the operating system of all those that have been released,  it can always be subject to problems, which can come from a corrupted registry after a failed installation of an application, a Device driver not working properly, cheat games, or malware issues.

In the event that we do not have knowledge in computer repair, this can bring us a lot of problems, but fortunately we have at our disposal a fantastic tool:  Windows system restore.

This feature allows us to quickly and easily  go back to a previous point in Windows , that is to say, to a point in time when Windows was working correctly, with which the problems will disappear and everything will work again as the first day. But the best of all is that  this Windows system restoration does not affect our files in any way , so after the few minutes it takes us to restore Windows we can be working again.

However, before we can use this system restore function in Windows,  we must make sure that we have the “Restore Point” feature enabled  .

From this point we offer you the instructions to create a restore point in Windows, as well as the instructions to be able to return to said restore point in case of problems, both procedures that we should not stop taking into account when our information and programs are well protected against any eventuality.

As we know, a restore point is always going to be a truly useful tool for the recovery of all our data, system configurations and programs in the event of a serious error having occurred after the installation of a conflicting program, or it will even become It is essential at the time of accidental deletion of information from our system.

How to create restore points in Windows 7

To create a restore point in Windows 7, we will follow the instructions mentioned below.

Step 1

We click on the Start button.

Step 2

We move to the “My Computer” icon   and click with the right mouse button on it, and in the context menu that is displayed we select  “Properties”.

Step 3

When we select the option  “Properties”  a window will open where on the left side of it we can find a menu. Click on  “System protection”. 

Step 4

Click on  “Create”.

Step 5

At this point a window called “Create restore point” will be displayed . In the dialog box of the same we can enter a text to identify the restoration point , that is, we can give it a descriptive name with, for example, the date it was carried out and press the “Create” button  .

Step 6

In this instance, the system will begin to perform the requested action,  producing the requested restore point. This task may take a few minutes, always depending on the capacity and speed of our computer. 

Step 7

It should be noted that once it is finished, Windows 7 will notify us through a window that the task has finished successfully.

Restore Windows 7

Step 1

We open the Control Panel and click on the option “System and security”.

Step 2

Next, click on “Backup and restoration”, then click on ” Recover the system or computer configuration” and finally on “Advanced recovery methods”.

Step 3

Now click on “Reinstall Windows”.

Step 4

After that, click on “Restart”.

Step 5

After the computer restarts, the “System Recovery Options” will appear on the screen . Click on “Next” until the recovery options appear.

Step 6

Click on “Restory Management” to be able to return to the initial configuration and then on “Restore the operating system to factory default values”. Finally, click on “Next” until the Windows restoration process begins to take place.

Create restore point in Windows 10

To make sure that the “Restore point”  option  is enabled, and if not, enable it and create the first restore point, we can do the following:

Step 1

The first thing we have to do is enter the text  “Restore point”  in the Windows search box located on the taskbar, and then press  “Enter”.

Step 2

Once the “System Properties” window   appears, click on the disk on which we want to activate the  restore point option,  in the event that we have more than one data storage unit.

Step 3

When we have decided in which unit we will  enable the restore point system,  which we can do simply by clicking with the mouse over it, we click on the “Configure” button  .

Step 4

When the new window appears, click on the check button  “Activate system protection”,  leaving the other options as they are. Finally, click on the “Apply” button   and then on  “OK”.

Step 5

To finish enabling the function and create a new restore point, all that remains is to click on the “Create” button  ,  and in the dialog box that appears  we write a descriptive name for the restore point . After that we click on the “Close” button  .

From this point on, the restore point will be enabled.

Restore Windows 10

To solve any problem by  returning to a configuration in which Windows worked correctly,  we must follow the following steps.

Step 1

The first thing we have to do is access the  “Control Panel”,  which we can do by typing in the  Windows search box  located on the taskbar.

Step 2

When the Control Panel is executed, we move to the “Recovery” option  .

When the options open, we select  “Open System Restore.”

Step 3

Once the “Restore files and system configuration” window appears  ,  click on the “Next” button  .

Step 4

In the next window, click on the  last restore point that we have created , or on the restore point that we believe was the last Windows configuration that worked correctly.

In the event that we have any type of doubts regarding the date or time when we installed the application or device driver that caused the problem, we must always select the last restore point created.

It should be noted that if we want to know exactly which programs and drivers will affect returning to a previous configuration, click on the “Detect affected programs” button  .

Step 5

In the last window that appears, we will have the possibility to confirm that we want to  complete the system restore operation , and check that the restore point is the one indicated, otherwise we can always go back to correct any errors that may arise.

Step 6

For the system to  begin with the task of restoring the system,  and with this eliminate any problem that we have had up to this point, we only have to click on the “Finish” button   and wait for  Windows to finish setting  everything back to a previous state. .

How often should a restore point be created?

Undoubtedly, when something goes wrong after an update or the installation of a program, the first tool that users in trouble will turn to  is the restore point system,  since it allows us to solve any problem almost 100% effectively. that may have come up with the programs or their settings.

As we mentioned above,  the restore point system  creates a snapshot of the programs and their parameters, the Windows registry and many other settings vital to the proper functioning of the computer, storing them in a special location to have them available in the event that something change and damage the PC. This snapshot is nothing more than a backup image that will allow us to put everything in order again.

To accomplish this task,  Windows uses the Volume Shadow Copy service, which gives it the ability to compress items into a very small file, and allows the user to store as many restore points as desired.

In this sense,  we must understand that user data will not be stored in these restoration points,  that is, music, documents or videos that we may have saved on the PC, we must recover them by using a special utility.

Once a problem has arisen with the PC, and we decide to go back to a previous scenario to try to recover the operability of the OS,  all the changes we have made to it since the date the restore point was created will be reverted. This includes system files, programs, registry settings, scripts, and batch files. Everything that we have installed or configured after creating this restore point will be lost.

How often should we create a restore point?

While there are no rules to follow,  we can create these restore points simply based on our own needs  and the way we use the PC:

• Before installing programs or accessing websites of the online antivirus type
• Before making any changes to the Windows registry
• Before performing any file cleaning operations
• Before installing Windows updates

Restore points for all users

Obviously,  the frequency with which we must create these restore points varies according to the activities we carry out on the PC. In the case of an office computer or one dedicated to a very specific function, the frequency should be less, since it is equipment that is stable and in which few changes take place.

But if we are gamers, for example,  the frequency of creation of restore points  should be higher, since it is most likely that before each game session we touch or modify some parameter of the system to obtain the best performance of the platform.  The same happens with adventurers, those users who usually install or create applications for the mere pleasure of researching or learning.

conclusion

As we can see, the frequency with which the system restore points should be created varies according to the needs of each particular user. For most cases, the advice contained in the section  How often should we create a restore point?  they are more than enough, but for users with more complex needs it is recommended to use a script that performs these restore points automatically when the system starts in the background.

What to do when a Restore Point fails

One of the best tools that Windows users have available when having to solve any problem with the operating system or with the applications, is the option  “System Restore” , included among the options of this OS already a few years ago.

However,  this saving feature is not without its flaws, and it may not work correctly , thus losing the possibility of solving the problem that afflicts us. In this article we will learn  what to do in the event that “System Restore” fails completely .

The scenario is as follows: We download and install an application and it causes our operating system to behave erratically, even after uninstalling. Surely, the first thing we will resort to is  “System Restore” to put everything back in order. We access the Control Panel, click on the option, and after a few seconds, it presents us with an error warning, or it simply does not solve anything.

In this report we can find  some solutions that can help us in this critical moment , it is only a matter of being patient and following the instructions to the letter.

Try to use another Restore Point

The first thing we have to do in case of failure is to  try to use a restore point prior to the moment the problem occurred , because if we use a later one, the error will simply remain.

Step 1

To do this, click on the Start button   and enter  “System Restore”  and press the “Enter” key  .

Step 2

In the window that appears, we select the option  “Choose another restore point”  and click on the “Next” button  .

Step 3

To see all the available restore points, click on the “Show more restore points” check box  .

Surely, this simple procedure  will help us to solve the problem . But in the opposite case, we must continue reading.

Use Windows “Safe Mode” to restore the system

The “System Restore” option   is based on replacing the current system files with the ones we had saved in the so-called  “restore point”. In theory, this procedure should work perfectly, but there are problems that arise due to certain types of applications such as antivirus, which try to  protect the system by blocking the removal of these elements , which will obviously prevent the restoration system from complying with its function.

For this reason, it will be  necessary to start Windows in the so-called  “Safe Mode”  and start the  “System Restore” feature  from this scenario.

Basically, in safe mode Windows does not load startup applications such as anti-virus programs, folder protectors, and third-party hardware drivers, all of which can prevent “System Restore” from working.

To start Windows in safe mode

Step 1

We restart the computer and at the moment when the operating system is starting, immediately after the BIOS messages, we press and hold the F8 key  .

Step 2

Once the menu with the pertinent indications appears on the screen, select the option  “Safe mode”  and press the “Enter” key  .

Step 3

We execute  “Restore system” . After we have finished repairing the system, we  restart the PC , which in the next start will start with  Windows in normal mode .

Reinstall Windows

If all of the above fails, it  is very likely that the system restore files have been corrupted , in which case we will have to, unfortunately, reinstall Windows.

In this case, we must not forget  to make backup copies of all our files , since this process will destroy anything that we have stored on the computer.