How to Create System Restore Point in Windows 10 PC?

Sometimes, things could go awfully wrong with your Windows PC. This usually happens especially after a recent software or driver install which wreaks havoc and causes the system to slow down, ‘freeze’ or behave abnormally. Fortunately, Microsoft Windows has a recovery tool known as System Restore, which can help you remediate these abnormalities. This tool allows you to roll back the changes made to your system back to a time when everything was functioning well.

System restore reverses changes made to your Windows 10 registry keys, Windows files and settings and restores them to their previous settings before all went haywire. It’s therefore essential for any Windows user to create a restore point in their PC so that they can rollback the system back in time when it was working fine. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to create a system restore point in Windows 10. Instead of restoring, you can also try booting your PC in safe mode for troubleshooting purposes.

Managing System Restore Point in Windows 10

1. Create system restore point
2. Rollback using restore point
3. Troubleshoot and fix issues related to system restore

1. How to Create System Restore Point?

To start off, type “System Restore” in the search field located at the taskbar as shown below. Click on the “Create a restore point” option under “Best Match”.

You will see a “System Properties” pop-up dialog box appears. Go to “System Protection” tab and look under “Protection settings” section. Click on the main drive and then hit on “Create” button.

Another dialog box will open prompting you to type a description for your restore point.

After typing the description, click on “Create”. Thereafter, the system will start creating a restore point. This takes about 2-3 minutes. After successful creation of the restore point, a pop up prompt indicating successful creation of the restore point will be displayed. Click on “Close” and hit “Ok”.

2. How to Rollback Using Restore Point?

Now that we have successfully created a system restore point, How can we go back in time in case we run into an abnormality in the system? To make use of the restore point, follow the steps below.

As earlier mentioned, type “system restore” in the taskbar and click on “Create a Restore Point”. In the “System Properties” dialog box, click on “System restore” option under “System Protection” tab.

In the “System Restore” dialog box, click on “Next”.

Possible restore points will be listed. You can choose whichever you prefer but it’s preferred that you choose the most recent restore point.

At the bottom left, you’ll notice a “Show me restore points” checkbox. Check it to reveal more restore points. In my case, additional restore points were as listed below. As you may have noted, restore points can also be created automatically by the system during events such as Updating Windows and uninstalling software to mention just but a few.

After selecting your preferred restore point, click on the “Finish” button. Thereafter, the system will start configuring itself for system restore and will reboot to apply changes made. This process take a while and can last up to 10 minutes. This takes your PC to an earlier point in time before the restore point where everything was working properly.

3. Troubleshooting System Restore Point Issues

You may foresee different issues when using system restore point function in Windows 10. Below are some of the tips to ensure the function works properly.

3.1. Turn On Protection

By default system protection is turned on in Windows 10 for the installation drive (generally C drive). But on certain occasions, especially after auto upgrade, it might have been disabled. In such case, when you are in “System Properties” dialog box, choose the installation drive and click on the “Configure…” button. You will a new dialog box with the name “System Protection for Local Disk”. Here you can enable system protection by selecting the “Turn on system protection” option.

3.2. Turn On System Restore from Group Policy Editor

Press “Win + R” shortcut keys to open “Run” dialog box. Enter “gpedit.msc” and hit enter. You will see “Local Group Policy Editor” will open. Navigate to “Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > System Restore” option. Click on the “Standard” tab, here ensure the state for both the settings, “Turn off Configuration” and Turn off System Restore” are showing as “Not configured”.

If the state is showing different, double click and set the option as “Not Configured” for both options.

3.3. Generally automatic restore points are created during critical installation like Windows upgrade. You can also create a manual restore point as explained above before installing apps and software.

3.4. Ensure to allocate sufficient storage space on each hard drive partition for saving system restore points.

3.5. If system is not allowing you to restore, check your computer for malware and scan thoroughly using latest antivirus software.

Conclusion

In this article, we have walked you through how you can create a restore point and how you can restore or roll back your system to an earlier point in time when your PC was working fine. We have also seen that restore points can also be created automatically by the system. Perhaps of importance is to note that during system restore, Only Windows files and settings are rolled back; personal files remain intact.