If you are a Windows 7 or Windows 8 user and find yourself repeatedly reinstalling Windows from time to time in a tiresome manner, then you may not be aware of one of the best features of Windows so far, which is System Restore. This feature allows you to create a system restore point at a specific date, so when problems occur with your device, you can restore the device to how it was at that point in time. To put it simply, it is a Windows backup that you create on a specific date, let’s say today for example, and if there are issues the next day with your device needing a Windows reinstallation, or if the boot to Windows is not working properly, or any other issues, all you need to do is restore the device to that point, and your device will return to how it was yesterday. It is a feature of great excellence and we are about to explain it in a special way through the lines of this important topic.
Before starting the explanation, you should pay attention to and understand the concept and mechanism of System Restore. You are essentially taking your device back to a date in the past, so it is important to regularly create system restore points on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis, depending on your preference. For example, if you create a system restore point, reinstall Windows, and then go back to that point and apply it, programs will be deleted because you have reverted your device to a past date. Therefore, it is important to create restore points regularly in order to preserve all the changes and programs you have made on your device and not lose a lot of data and information.
Creating a System Restore Point
Right-click on My Computer and select Properties.
Then click on System Protection.
A window will appear, click on Create to create a system restore point.
Then give this point a name to make it easier to remember later. After that, the process of creating the point will start, wait until it is completed. Then a window will appear confirming the successful completion and saving of the system restore point.
System Restore
You can restore the system from within Windows using the same steps mentioned above, but instead of clicking on Create, click on System Restore to apply a saved system restore point. However, it is preferable to boot into Safe Mode by pressing F8 at startup and following the same steps as mentioned above, but clicking on System Restore instead of Create. The process is not very different, but it is better to restore the system in Safe Mode.
If your Windows is not fully functional and you cannot boot into Windows or Safe Mode, you can use System Repair to restore the system. For Windows 7, you can access System Repair by pressing F8 at startup and choosing Repair Your Computer to access it as shown in the following image:
Then click on System Restore, and then the stored system restore points will appear for you to choose from. Select the latest point you created to avoid losing recently stored data, then restore the system and your device will work again without the need to reinstall Windows or lose a lot of data.
As for Windows 8, if it is not functioning properly and you cannot boot into it, some devices allow you to use Shift + F8 to access the black screen and choose Startup Repair. If not, then there is no choice but to create a Windows 8 system recovery disc in order to access the system restore option. Note that the System Recovery Options screen in Windows 8 is slightly different as shown in the following image.
Nevertheless, select System Restore and restore the system by choosing a system restore point you created before. This feature is very special and I recommend using it so that you do not have to reinstall Windows and lose files, installed programs, and time. I hope the topic is useful and the explanation is clear.
