Start System Protection and System Restore from the command prompt in Microsoft Windows

Start System Restore from a command prompt

You can start System Restore from a command prompt window if you cannot start your computer in any mode other than Safe Mode with Command Prompt. You need to have an administrator account to perform these steps. This procedure is for "restoring" and not for creation of a restore point. Microsoft KB-304449 Q304449

1. Start your computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
2. Login
3. At the command prompt, type "rstrui.exe," and then press Enter.

• This method goes directly to the "Restore system files and settings" dialog.

Start System Protection from a command prompt

System Restore is used to restore your system from an already existing restore point in Windows Vista/7 and System Protection is used to create a restore point. System Protection can not be ran directly from the command prompt. It can be accessed indirectly from one of two interfaces that you can open from the command prompt.

1. Run system restore "rstrui.exe" and then click the link in the middle of the dialog that is the last line of text which reads "To create a restore point,
   open System Properties
   ." --or-- You can go directly to System Properties by typing "sysdm.cpl" at the command prompt.
2. Click the "System Protection" tab and then the "Create..." button in the bottom right.

• Use this method to manually create a restore point or change automatic restore point configuration.

System Protection is actually one of the tabs in the System Properties dialog box. The "System Protection" tab has a button in the bottom right of the dialog which says "Create..." System Properties is a Windows Control Panel Applet and the command "sysdm.cpl" is one of the many useful Windows Control Panel Applet Commands.