How-To Geek
Create a System Restore Point in Windows 7
When System Restore was introduced in back in Windows Me it has helped save some major computer snafus on several occasions. The feature is still included in the new Windows 7 operating system and today we will take a look at how to create a new restore point.
Create a Restore Point
It is recommended that you create a restore point before installing new software or making any major changes to your computer. Often times when you install new software you’re given the choice to create a point but if not you can do one manually as well.
Right-click on My Computer and go to Properties.
Next click on the System Protection link.
The System Properties dialog screen opens up and you will want to click on Create.
Type in a description for the restore point which will help you remember the point at which is was created.
The time it takes to create the restore point will depend on the amount of data, computer speed etc.
All done! Now if something goes wrong you have the satisfaction knowing that you can go back in time to the point before the changes were made.
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Comments (43)
Programmer by day, geek by night, The Geek, also known as Lowell Heddings, spends all his free time bringing you fresh geekery on a daily basis. You can follow him on Google+ if you'd like.
- Published 08/13/09
So, in this OS, are restore points actually going to work, meaning actually restore? Or will it be like in XP where every restore point you try to restore gives you the error message, “System can not restore this restore point”.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention this. Just ask anyone in IT about what an epic fail System Restore is in Windows XP.
System Restore has saved me many times, when I have tried to install programs and have made a mess of it. Windows ME was useless, so I don’t think I used it then, I got rid of that OS ASAP! But with Windows XP and Vista it has been a must have and must use utility in my toolbox.
Mr Bill
I would agree that System Restore has gotten better than when it first came out. In Vista and Windows 7, it is now much more reliable, but you still need to test it. Easy to do on a single machine, but difficult on a large deployment.
Still, even with the latest versions of System Restore there are times when it won’t work or won’t do what you need. Having a Restore Point available is NOT as good as having a full backup. Also, remember that System Restore does not operate on most data files, only system and program files.
I am using Windows 7 RTM, and have installed quite a few of my programs already. Uninstalling some of them is a pain as Windows 7 complains they are not truly installed for some reasons…
I uninstalled one of these program using Revo Uninstaller and it created a system restore for me automatically. It then removed the program and told me it was gone. I rebooted the PC and could not boot at all. It was freezing with weird colors in the background.
It was my first experience with not being able to boot in Windows 7, and I used the System Restore (which was also a first) and everything is working like a charm.
I can’t say for other OS, but this Windows System Restore option saved my OS this time.
Now that I know how to manually create some, I might just do that to help me in the long run.
Dominic
Hi, in XP restore point could go backwards months to set point through out the year. I can’t seem to do that with Windows 7 is there something I am not seeing. The features went back to the beginning of the month but that was it. I set the restore point feature when I installed which has beed two months now back in August. Thought maybe you might be able to respond. Thanks
Thank you,
All help should be this good and as simple.
Best regards.
John.
Thanks for the help…I could do the restore point in XP, but I just thought they took the option out in 7. As far as the comment made about not being able to restore to an earlier point, be sure to try more points than just the one you think you want: I thought it was over for my system tonight having tried the first restore point which resulted in that message…so I tried one a little further down the line and got everything working again, though I had to reinstall a thing or two. (I partitioned for Ubuntu 10.04 beta-2, so I knew I was playing with fire, but I think it’s all good now…)
Will System Restore all my settings back to date I specify(size of icons, text size & screen saver) for some reason I am having difficulty changing text size…the ‘apply] button is there but not hi-lighted so it would’nt work.
Thank You. Restore point created successfully.
I can’t create more than one restore point. Why?
If I click the “Open System Restore” button, create a restore point, close it and click the button again, all I’m given is a choice to restore my files and settings to a previous restore point. There is no option to create a new one. wtf?
Thank You. Restore point created successfully.
good work . thank you brother
I need help. The restore points I create using Windows 7 seem to be wiped out the next day after rebooting the computer. I have followed the above steps diligently and have even added 10GB of disk space under configuration. There has to be something else that I’m missing. Please help!
it says “the restore point could not be be created for the following reason: (0×80070005)
please help please
Thanks a lot. I don’t get why Microsoft and some other companies change interface in a non-sense way. why now we can’t create restore point from system restore from accessories. just unnecessary change and annoying.
i m using windows 7 and i have created restore point but after some days when i check the restore point i don’t find those restore point i have created before. Why? Please help me anybody. why this is happening.
Thank you
Thank u very much, it help me to create the restore. lets see does it really work in future?
any way once again lots of thanks..
Thank you! Thank you!
Windows 7 is new to me and I got frustrated but all’s good now :)
I wanted to create a restore point before I tried out some new software.
restore point in win7 is really awesome its save my OS completely so many times
dats ppl who complain it they create restore point in win7 and after some days they came back and check desired point and they find its vanished so i have suggestion for them…
restart ur pc
hit F8 before STARTING WINDOWS splash screen
now in booting option choose REPAIR COMPUTER
now its show u different restore methods
check system restore
in system restore u can see ur desired point
if not then its very disappointment
in this case
i must say u u take complete backup ur system files ( C:) and save in different parts of ur HD (D: or E:) its also very helpful in win7 and i tested it
its also work fine shine like white wine :)
and yes one more thing if u cant see ur manual or auto restore point in system restore then check on SHOW MORE SYSTEM RESTORE option in system restore window maybe its helpful for u TYT ;) :)
Thanks alot for the direction, but there is one problem with my PC or Windows I dont know which my windows,,
My Computer/Properties/Protection (Doesn’t have this option)
to Abdul Saboor
if your My Computer don’t have that option….
you just need to do as bellow;
click at Start button…
select Control Panel…..
click at System….
click at System protection….
and then you can see Create… button at the bottom…
click that Create… button….
after that just follow like top of this page…(follow the instruction)
Anyone have a way to automate creation of the restore point? I’d like to run it in the middle of the night – Every night – - -
Maybe something to do with using Win 7 Task Scheduler to execute the utility that actually does the create?
Can you backup onto USB or anything??
cool it works. Thanks
I have windows Home premium with my friend laptop so the system is not accecessible now and I tryed to restore from dos mode . but it giving this message
“No restore points have been created on your computer’s system disk. to crate a rstore point open System Protection.”
so what I have to do on this stage there is no recovery media created on this laptop.so how I can recover my laptop os and applications ? please help me.
Can you enter an exact date and time to put the computer back to?
Thanx
thanx yaar
Koi Khaas Gal nhi aa tan meinu pta hi si
Thanks a lot
Thanks a million.
Many Thanks
Hi,
Is it possible to create a restore point manually say today is 20 th aug can i create restore point manually for 20th july………
And the windows updates are required to be turned always do it cause any problem for the system performance….
what is Protection settings
I have two partitions c:\ (with windows 7) and w:\ (personal files)
apparantly the w:\ partition the protection status is off.
is there any possibility that I can create a restore point for only w:\ drive by just change the protection status to On?
thanks
Thank`s a Lot.
Thank you for making this information available. I had no idea how to do it until I found your page. Your explanation is clear and easy to follow. Thank you!
In Windows XP, click Run on the Start menu, type %systemroot%\system32\Restore\rstrui.exe and then press ENTER. You can create a restore point from there.
In Windows Vista and 7, press WINDOWS LOGO+R, type systempropertiesprotection and then press ENTER. You can create a restore point from there.
thanks a tonnnnnn……
i was lookin for this………
regards
Amber Singh
New Delhi, India
hey der is a problem shown while creating restoring point .. a dialogue box is showing every time
saying
“there was an unexpected error in the property page :
system Restore encountered an error .Please try to run restore again. (0x 81000203)
Please close the properties page and try again. ”
So please tell me a solution for this … I’ve belie on u !
@Michael Highman
Thanks for the XP info. Seems like it would have been included in the article.
I have a Vista computer, looks like Windows7? I want to restore back more than the 1 month it allows. I tried create a restore point. I don’t understand and am not computer saavy. I am used to seeing the calendars where you can pick a date that you wanted. I need to go back to August 1st most likely. I am having issues where constant new tabs pop up when on internet and a lot of windows errors are popping up saying programs aren’t working. I have swept with WebRoot a couple of times. I just want to restore to a time when I know all was working. How can I do this?