Restore windows 8 from a restore point. Rollback of the “eight” to the previous state
Hi all! Today I want to tell you how to create a point Windows recovery in Windows 8.1. Why is this needed and what is it, and what is its practical application, and most importantly, the benefits of it all. I guess, that this information will be very relevant to everyone Windows users 10, in which by default this functionality is simply disabled, for reasons unknown to me, apparently Microsoft has finally created an ideal operating system that cannot be broken.
Steps to create a restore point in Windows
What is a system restore point? Simply put, it is a certain state of the system to which you can return without losing data to the moment it was created. Let's assume you downloaded a new update or program, worked with it, and turned off your computer as usual and went to bed. The next day, including the computer, you receive blue screen or a bunch of operating system errors, you can spend a lot of time fixing this problem, or you can simply roll back to the state of the system before installing anything, provided that there is a rollback point. Let's learn how to do it.
Go to the properties of my computer
Select on the left Extra options systems.
go to the system protection item and click the Create button
set the name of the System Restore Point.
Creation will begin
After a short wait, you will see that the Restore Point has been successfully created.
If desired, you can adjust the size of the allocated space for points. To do this, click configure.
Firstly, at the top you can disable the protection altogether, which I do not advise you to do, and at the bottom you can use the slider to specify the size.
An antivirus installed on a computer, alas, does not provide a 100% guarantee of security, and one can hardly count on it carelessly when it comes to experiments with installing various third-party software, studying the functionality of the system at random, or web surfing on dangerous sites. You can feel much more relaxed in these situations when your protective arsenal also includes such a powerful tool as a point of return to the previous state of the operating system - to its state with certain settings, when there were no problems yet. A point that will save the system both from any experimental actions of the user himself and from external dangers.
Windows Restore Point: What is it?
The point of return to the past of the operating system is called a restore point. This is the fixed state of the system at specific date, for a certain time, with certain system settings and installed programs. Windows creates its own restore points: according to a schedule and before making changes system settings, before installing drivers and relevant programs.
Windows restore points can also be created by users themselves - either for prevention (in case the problem comes from outside, from the Internet), or before they are going to carry out any risky operations such as installing untested software.
In the future, system restore points will be used to roll back to them - in fact, to those dates and states where Windows 8.1 was fully functioning and there were no problems with it.
The process of rolling back the system to a point from the past does not affect user files (photos, video, audio files, documents, etc.) located on the system disk. Rolling back the system to a point from the past will only change system files, returning Windows settings to the date when the restore point was created. This means that the problems that actually caused the system rollback will be eliminated - incorrect operation of drivers, the introduction of viruses, etc. malware, consequences of unsuccessful optimization of the system registry, consequences unsuccessful installation some program, Windows slows down and freezes, etc.
We have already touched on this issue several times in our articles:
- How to create and delete a Windows 7 restore point - here's the process for working with Windows 7 restore points, plus listed methods selective deletion points and third-party software for working with them;
- Windows XP system recovery - this material describes the Windows XP recovery system.
How to create a restore point in Windows 8.1, and then roll back to it if necessary? Let's look at all this in the step-by-step instructions below.
Enable and set system recovery options
The ability to restore Windows 8.1 by rolling back to a restore point is usually a pre-installed option. In any case, this function is active if the system was installed from the original distribution image from Microsoft. An exception may be distributions of pirated Windows builds, where assemblers specially assemble a version of the system for low-power computer devices. In these cases, all possible settings are often disabled that the average user may not need, but will consume computer resources - for example, take up space on the system disk, as do the same recovery points.
To check whether the rollback recovery function is enabled in the system, let’s go to the “System Protection” section of Windows 8.1, where all this is located.
In Windows 8.1, unlike its predecessor - version 8, on the "Start" button leading to the start screen, it is possible to call up a context menu where you can quickly get to frequently used sections of the system. The “Control Panel” section is one of them. Let's take advantage of this opportunity.
A window with system parameters will open; here we are interested in the “System Protection” link option.
Next, the system properties will appear before us in the active “System Protection” tab. That's what we need. In the "Protection Settings" column next to the system drive with installed Windows should be marked “Enabled”. This means that a system rollback to a point from the past is possible. If the “Protection” option is marked “Disabled”, select system disk and click the “Configure” button.
In the window that appears, you must set the “Enable system protection” option to active. In the same window just below we will see the usage parameters disk space. The number next to the “Currently in use” indicator is the amount of memory that is currently this moment occupy all system restore points.
The “Maximum Usage” indicator must be set based on how much free space remains on the system disk. After all, let us remind you that each recovery point occupies a certain amount of disk space. Having reached the maximum disk space usage value, the system will automatically delete old restore points, thereby freeing up space for new ones to appear. This prevents the system disk from becoming cluttered.
All previously created automatically by the system and manually by users can be deleted with one button, thus freeing up space on the system disk. To do this, there is a corresponding “Delete” button below.
The “System Protection” section provides the ability to create a restore point for non-system drives. This function is disabled in systems from the original distributions, but each user can additionally enable it. It turns on in exactly the same way as in the case of a system disk. You must select a non-system drive and click the “Configure” button. Next, select the “Enable system protection” option and set the value to the maximum permissible limit hard disk space usage.
A recovery point for non-system partitions is quite impractical. As a rule, such partitions contain user files - huge warehouses of photo, video and music collections, software installers and other data that, in fact, need to be stored there so that they survive a system failure. Don't litter HDD recovery points for non-system drives, but it is better to store copies of files in cloud storage. This is a universal data protection tool that will save you even if your computer’s hard drive fails.
Creating a System Restore Point
To create a restore point on your own before experimenting with the system, in the “System Protection” section, click the “Create” button. In the window that appears, you need to enter a name and description so that in the future, if there are several recovery points, you can easily find the one you need. In addition to specifying the date of the restore point, it is also recommended to specify additional identifying parameters - for example, “Before installing the video card driver”, “Before installing such and such a program”, “Before visiting porn sites”, etc.
Set the title and description, then click the “Create” button. After this, we will see a notification that the point has been created. That's it - now you can start various experiments and random web surfing.
Reverting the system to a restore point
So, that ill-fated day came when experiments with third-party software were unsuccessful, a virus got into the computer, or the system simply began to slow down and freeze terribly. It's time to return to a moment from the past to give the system an opportunity to move along a different vector of events. To roll back the system to a certain point, we can follow the same path to the “System Protection” section, as indicated above, and click the “Restore” button.
But we can choose another way - through the “Control Panel”. We call it among the commands in the context menu on the “Start” button. Set the partition viewing option to “Small icons” and select “Recovery”.
In the window that appears, select “Run System Restore”.
Here you need to select the “Select another recovery point” option. This will allow you to select a point that was not automatically created by the system, but one that was once created manually. Click “Next”.
A list of possible recovery points will appear, from which we select the one we need.
To clarify the settings of the selected point, you can click the “Search for affected programs” button. There you can see a list of programs that will disappear from the system, since they had not yet been installed on the date the restore point was created. This is an additional identifier with which you can, for example, refuse a point created manually and select one automatically created by the system if it has a more profitable or more recent state.
We start the system rollback by clicking on the “Next” button and see information about the recovery process itself. Click “Finish”.
In the next window, once again confirm your desire to roll back to an earlier state of the system and the rollback process will start. It will take place mostly in the pre-boot state of the computer.
In some cases (depending on the accumulated information), the rollback process may not last 5-10 minutes, but perhaps as long as 20-30. After a system rollback, the computer will reboot and Windows from the past will appear before us - in the same state, with the same settings and installed programs as on the day the restore point was created.
A restore point will help you roll back the system, if it starts to freeze and slow down, to a working state. Such points are created either automatically by the system through certain time, or automatically when System Restore detects changes to the computer's configuration: installation new program or driver.
The user can also create a restore point manually. If your operating system works perfectly, then naturally it makes sense to create a restore point. In the future, when the system begins to work incorrectly, it will be possible to return it to working condition.
It is also better to create a restore point if you are going to install an unfamiliar program or new drivers on your computer. If after installation the system operation changes to the worst side, then it will be possible to return it to the state when it was fully functioning. In this case, the system will return all system files and Windows settings that were in place at the time the restore point was created. This will help you get rid of incorrectly working drivers, programs, downloaded viruses or unsuccessful experiments with the registry.
Please also note that all programs that were installed after the restore point was created will be deleted from your computer.
First, let's figure out how to create a restore point. Move the mouse cursor to the lower left corner, and when the “Start” square appears, press the right mouse button. A window will open with the most frequently used commands, select from the list "Control Panel".
Here we will be interested in the point "System Recovery Setup".
A new window will open "Properties of the system" on the tab "System protection". Here, please note that opposite that section hard drive, on which the OS is installed, “Enabled” was indicated in the “Protection” section. Only in this case will it be possible to roll back the system to the desired restore point.
If it says “Disabled”, click on the “Configure” button, then mark the item with a marker "Enable system protection" and click "Apply", "OK". In the same window, just below, you can see the maximum allocated volume on the hard drive for recovery points and how much space they currently occupy. In the event that the allocated volume runs out, the system will delete old recovery points by date and create new ones.
To create a system restore point, click on the “Create” button. A window will appear "System protection". In the field you need to enter a description for the point and click “Create”. It is not necessary to write the date and time of creation, as the system will do this automatically.
Then wait until the system completes the process and the following window appears.
Now you can carry out the necessary actions with programs, drivers and any other system components.
If the experiment fails, consider what needs to be done to roll back the system to working condition.
Let's go "Control Panel" – "Recovery" In this window, select the item "Run System Restore".
A window will appear in which it will be specified that all user data will not be affected during recovery: photos, music, videos, but the latter may be deleted installed programs or driver. Click Next.
If you have system restore points created automatically, then you need to select "Select a different restore point" and click "Next".
A list of available points will open, select the one you need. If in doubt, press the button "Search for affected programs". The system will analyze and show which programs and drivers will be deleted after recovery. When you decide, select the desired restore point and click Next. Wait for the process to complete. The computer will then restart and the system will return to working condition.
Now you know how you can create a restore point manually, and if you find problems with your computer, roll back the system to a working state.
Watch the video on how to create a restore point:
Watch the video on how to restore the system from a checkpoint:
Rate this article: Not every PC or laptop user knows, and this means that if any problems arise with the system, you will be completely helpless, because the very creation of a checkpoint and Windows rollback 8.1 to it, if necessary, will be closed to you.
Step-by-step instruction about working with restore points Windows 8.1 talks about enabling and setting system recovery options, creating a checkpoint and rolling back the system to it if necessary.
Not many people understand that a restore point Windows systems 8.1 is not the system protection that an antivirus can offer - it’s something else. It will probably be quite difficult for you to understand that even no matter how good it is, it cannot save the system from “crookedly” installed software or dangerous resources, about which the antivirus warns about visiting, but still allows you to visit the pages of these sites. It is clear that the antivirus plays an important role in protecting the system, but a restore point is exactly what you need to turn the use of the licensed Windows 8.1 OS into a measured navigation through the Internet with full confidence that if something goes wrong , then you can immediately “roll back the system” to its original appearance. In addition, a restore point can save your system from yourself, because an accidentally pressed button, a pulled power cord from the socket or something else is your doing, so you can more than put your efforts into destroying your OS.
What is a restore point in Windows 8.1
For those who do not know, I would like to clarify that a “system restore point” is a recorded (saved) state of the OS on a specific date with a specific time, where the operating system has specific settings and installed software. In fact, it should be that the operating room itself must create a restore point before any significant action with the OS, but in practice, it turns out that such a restore point is not always created. That is why it is best to create a restore point yourself to be sure that you have “it” in the system in case a problem arises in the system.
In general, it is advisable to create a restore point before: installing new drivers, installing new software, visiting resources with a dubious reputation, etc.
In any case, no matter what problems you have, knowing how to create a restore point in Windows 8.1 and having it always in the system, you can avoid colossal problems.
For those who are worried that when “rolling back the system” using a restore point, personal ones may be lost: photos, videos, slides, documents, etc., I would like to say that system recovery only affects system files that can be directly damaged and nothing more Togo! Accordingly, if the reason for the failure of your system is new drivers, then they will be eliminated, but if it is software, then it will be removed, etc.
How to enable and configure system recovery options
If you have, then as a rule, you should not have any problems, because a pre-installed or personally installed licensed OS always has an active recovery point function. More often than not, a restore point is not automatically created if you use a non-licensed operating system that simply does not have such an option, because the one who went through the OS and made it easier to install and as fast as possible in operation, made sure that the OS did not have any anything unnecessary, including the ability to restore the system.
In order for you to have the opportunity to independently check whether your system is working in the mode of creating a restore point, you need to go to the section called “System Protection” of Windows 8.1, where everything will be clearly visible.
It is also important to know that in Windows 8.1, unlike its predecessor Windows 8, on the “Start” menu button itself, it is possible to call up a context menu, from where you can go to frequently used sections of the system, which means that from here you can get to the section called “ Control Panel":
As soon as the window with the parameters of the entire system opens, you must select the “System Protection” option.
Now all the system properties will be in front of us in the active “System Protection” tab >>> go to it >>> “Protection Settings” >>> now we need to find the mark that is located next to the installed Windows, it looks like “Enabled”. This type of mark indicates that the rollback system for system recovery is enabled.
If you see a mark like “Disabled,” then your system is not creating restore points! In this case, you need to select the system disk and click on “Configure”:
A window will open in front of you where you need to activate “Enable system protection”. Here you can see how much memory the system uses to create a restore point; this option is located in the “Currently used” item.
The “maximum usage” option should be set based only on the remaining free space on the hard drive. Remember that each system restore point has a specific size and as soon as it is reached, a new system restore point will be created, and when the space on the system disk for using restore points runs out, the system will automatically erase the old restore points and write them in their place new.
You can independently delete all recovery points made by you or the system; to do this, you need to use the “Delete” button.
If many people know about what is written above, then here’s what how to create a restore point in Windows 8.1 not on the system disk, only a few know, since this option does not provide for automatic operation of the system and must be activated manually. To activate this option, you need to do almost the same as with the system drive, only you will need to select not the system drive, but any other >>> click on “Configure” >>> “Enable system protection” >>> set the maximum allowable hard disk space.
As for creating a restore point for non-system drives, this is probably not a practical option and is practically not worth using.
Creating a restore point in Windows 8.1
In order to create a recovery point yourself, you need to go to the “System Protection” section >>> click on “Create” >>> a window will appear that will require you to specify a name and description of the recovery point, so that it can then be easier to identify among other recovery points :
As soon as the name and description are written down, click on “Create” >>> enter a notification about the creation of a recovery point.
Using a restore point to perform a system rollback in Windows 8.1
In order to use the created restore point at the most critical moment, you need to select “Restore” in the “System Protection” section >>>:
You can also use the “Control Panel” (opened using the “Start” menu) >>> set the option responsible for viewing partitions to “Small icons” >>> select the “Recovery” item.
The system protection feature is designed to undo unwanted changes to the system and restore previous versions files. Using System Restore, you can fix problems in Windows that arise after installing programs, drivers, or after changing registry settings.
The operating system itself periodically creates restore points when installing programs, drivers, and updates. You can also create a restore point manually at any time, before installing any program that you are not sure how to operate, before making changes to the registry, or before changing other important computer settings. Access to creating restore points and restoring to occurs through the system function "System protection".
Setting up system protection
There are many in various ways to go to system protection settings:
■ Open.
This computer Properties System protection.
System System protection.
Execute
In this window, click the button Tune... You can:
■ Enable or disable system protection
■ In the section Disk space usage You can specify the maximum amount of disk space used by System Protection. As it fills up, old restore points will be deleted to make room for new ones.
■ Also from this window you can delete all previously created recovery points from your computer by clicking the button Delete
After making changes in this window, click the button OK
Creating a restore point in Windows 8.1
In the window Properties of the system, on the tab System protection click the button Create…
Next a window will open System protection, where you enter a description for the restore point you are creating. You can write any text in this field. The date and time when this restore point was created will be added automatically.
After entering a description, click the button Create
The process of creating an operating system restore point will begin. Windows systems 8.1
After completing the process of creating a recovery point, the system will inform you that the recovery point was successfully created.
System Restore
There are many ways to start the system restore process:
■ Open Control Panel → System → System Protection.
■ Press right click mouse on icon This computer on the desktop and in the appeared context menu choose Properties, and then in the window that opens, click System protection
■ Press the key combination + X, select the item in the context menu that appears System, and in the window that opens click System protection.
■ Press the key combination + R, and in the window that opens Execute enter (copy and paste) the command:
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL sysdm.cpl,4
■ Press the key combination + Pause/Break, and in the window that opens, click System protection
In the window that opens Properties of the system, on the tab System protection click the button Restore…
A window will open System Restore, press the button Further
The next window will show you the latest restore point.
Place a checkbox next to the item Show other restore points to display all available restore points on your computer. Here you will see the date and time the restore point was created, its description, and the type of restore point. The recovery point type displays information about how it was created - automatically by the system, manually by the user, or before installing the program
Select the required point, and then click on the button Find affected programs. In this case, you can read the help information that the operating system will provide you with.
The process will begin scanning your computer for affected programs and drivers.
After the scanning process is completed, a window with the received information will open. Here you can find information about which programs and drivers will be removed from the computer, since they were added to the computer after this recovery point was created, and which programs and drivers may be restored
After reading this information, click the button Close
After the required system restore point is selected, click the button Further
In the window Restore Point Confirmation, read information about the selected restore point, click the button Ready. Before doing this, close all programs and save open files.
The system will issue a warning about the impossibility of interrupting the recovery process, press the button Yes
After loading the operating system, a window will open with information about the successful completion of the Windows recovery process. Your computer will be restored to the date on which the restore point was created.
Cancel System Restore
You can cancel the last system restore if you accidentally selected the wrong point, or the restore did not bring the desired results. This is possible due to the fact that before recovery, the operating system creates a checkpoint.
To cancel System Restore, run it again.
The system will prompt you to cancel System Restore or select a different restore point.
