Microsoft System Restore

The Microsoft System Restore tool will return your computer to a previous state. System Restore takes "snapshots" of critical system files and some program files and registry settings and stores this information as restore points. If your computer is not functioning correctly, you can use these restore points to return Windows XP to a previous state when your computer was functioning correctly. It can also change scripts, batch files, and other kinds of executable files on your computer.

System Restore does not affect personal files, such as e-mail, documents, or photos. You can only restore files that you have deleted if you have made backups of those files.

To perform the System Restore, you must be logged on to Windows as an administrator.

Currently this is discussed on Windows XP Backup.

On Windows XP and Windows Vista, System Restore is started by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, clicking System Tools, and then clicking System Restore.‍ Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Every time you use System Restore, a restore point is created before proceeding, so you can undo the changes if they don't fix your problem. If you use System Restore when the computer is in safe mode, you cannot undo the restore operation. However, you can run System Restore again and choose a different restore point if one exists.

Restore points are created automatically every day, and just before significant system events, such as the installation of a program or device driver. On some versions you can also create a restore point manually.

System restore points take up to 300mb of disk space each. Restore points are saved until the hard disk space System Restore reserves is filled up. As new restore points are created, old ones are deleted. If you turn off System Protection (the feature that creates restore points) on a disk, all restore points are deleted from that disk. When you turn System Protection back on, new restore points are created.

On Windows Vista you can turn System Restore on or off

1. Open System by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System.
2. In the left pane, click System Protection. Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. To turn on System Protection for a hard disk, select the check box next to the disk, and then click OK. To turn off System Protection for a hard disk, clear the check box next to the disk, and then click OK.

Create a Restore Point

Windows XP

Use Microsoft System Restore to create create restore points, which can be done automatically or manually, to give you the option to restore critical system files and the registry in the event of a serious problem or virus related damage.

1. Go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools - System Restore
2. Select "Create A Restore Point." MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT SELECT RESTORE!
3. Enter a restore point description. Example (using date code+): 2008072901
4. done!

Windows Vista

You can create a restore point manually at any time.

1. From within Windows, you can type restore into the Start menu search box, and you’ll immediately see System Restore at the top of the start menu.
2. In the left pane, click System protection. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. Click the System Protection tab, and then click Create.
4. In the System Protection dialog box, type a description, and then click Create.

Windows 7

You can create a restore point manually at any time.

In Windows XP the "create restore point" was in the same place as selecting a restore point. In Windows 7 the option to manually create a restore point is no longer in the System Restore dialog (which is ordinarily accessed by typing "restore" into the Start menu search box, and selecting "System Restore"). Microsoft likes to move windows features around so they can sell more training.

To Manually create a restore point in Windows 7 do the following:

1. From within Windows, you can type "system protection" into the Start menu search box, and you will see "Create a restore point" as one of the options. Select it.
2. The "System Properties" dialog box will open with several options. Locate the "Create" button at the bottom of the dialog and click.
3. The "Create a restore point" dialog will open. Type in a name for the restore point and click "Create."

Windows 8 and 8.1

System protection is a feature that regularly creates and saves information about your computer's system files, programs, drivers, and registry settings as restore points for all drives that have system protection turned on. System Restore isn't available for the mobile device version known as Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1.

On a system with only a single user account that boots directly to the desktop (or Metro) without prompting for a login, system restore will work, however, the user may be prompted to grant administrator rights

1. Sign in as Administrator (or use a privileged account)
2. Open the Power User Tasks Menu, click on System or open the Control Panel (icons view), click on the System icon.
3. Click on the System protection link in the left pane.
4. Click on the Create button to create a restore point for all drives that have system protection turned on.
5. Type in a description name.

For additional information, see: Using Microsoft System Restore on Windows 8.1 - a page on this wiki specific to using System Protection (aka System Restore) for Windows 8.1.

Extras

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.