Windows Inside & Out · Updates, Drivers & Restore Points · Lesson 3 of 5

Restore Points and System Restore

Save a snapshot of Windows and roll back to it when a change goes wrong.

A save point for Windows

In a video game, a save point lets you go back if things go badly. Windows has something similar.

A restore point is a snapshot of your computer's system setup at one moment. It saves Windows system files, drivers, installed programs and system settings, including the registry, which is Windows' big list of settings.

Here is the important part. A restore point does not save your personal files. Your documents, photos and music are left alone, both when you make one and when you go back to one. That is good news, because going back won't erase today's photos. But it also means a restore point is not a backup, a spare copy of your files. You still need one of those.

Windows makes restore points on its own before big changes, like installing an update or a driver. You can also make one yourself before you try something risky.

1. Open Start and search for Create a restore point. The System Protection tab opens.
2. Check that Protection is On for your main drive, usually C:. If it says Off, select the drive, choose Configure and turn it on.
3. Select Create, type a clear name and select Create again.

A good name says what you're about to do, like "Before new game". The date is added for you.

On a Mac, there are no restore points. Time Machine backs up both your files and the system.

On the practice computer, create a restore point named "Before printer software". Then install the printer software and see what happens to the sound. Finish the steps to go back.

Going back with System Restore

System Restore is the tool that takes your computer back to a restore point. Use it when something broke after a change and simpler fixes didn't help.

To open it:

1. Search Start for Create a restore point and select System Restore. You can also press Windows+R, type rstrui and press Enter.
2. Select Next. Pick a restore point from before the trouble started. Check the date and name.
3. Select Scan for affected programs. This shows which apps and drivers will be removed, because they were added after that point.
4. Select Next, then Finish. The computer restarts, which takes a few minutes.

Save your work and close your apps first. Keep a laptop plugged in so it doesn't run out of power halfway.

After it finishes, apps you installed after the restore point are gone. You can reinstall the ones you still want. Your files stay the same.

Changed your mind? System Restore makes a restore point of its own before it starts. Open System Restore again and you can choose Undo System Restore.

If Windows won't start at all, System Restore is also in the recovery screens. Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then System Restore.

Restore points only help if they exist. That's why it pays to check that protection is turned on before you need it.