How to Restore Your Computer System?

How Does System Restore: Working

Windows periodically generates System restore points, both on a weekly basis and whenever a new Windows update is installed. These restore points allow Windows to revert to previous system settings without impacting any files you’ve modified or created in the meantime. However, it’s essential to note that System Restore does not back up files, so it cannot be relied upon to recover deleted files.

It is also understood that when a recently installed program stops working and begins causing chaos in your System, it can be quite annoying as you struggle to regain control of your computer. Follow this article to know how to restore your Mac or PC and bring your System back to functionality.

How to Restore Windows Using System Restore Tool

System Restore is a recovery tool for Windows that permits you to reverse specific changes made to your operating System. Think of it as an undo feature for critical parts of Windows. When you use System Restore, it reverts certain files and settings such as drivers, registry keys, system files, and installed programs back to their previous versions and configurations.

System Restore selectively affects Windows files, which are often the culprits behind issues that prompt you to use System Restore. For example, if your computer acts strangely after a driver installation, restoring to a state before that installation can often resolve the problem.

Any programs installed during the intervening period will be uninstalled when you restore your computer to a previous state. For example, if you’re reverting to the state from a week ago, programs added during that week will be removed.

Note: System Restore doesn’t back up your files, so it won’t help recover deleted files. Its primary purpose is to restore system stability and settings.

Create System Restore Point in Windows:

Microsoft’s System Restore feature acts as a safety net for your PC. If anything goes wrong, it allows you to roll back your System to a previous state, swiftly resolving any issues you encounter on your Windows device. Creating restore points in Windows is an important process that should be used correctly.

For Windows 10:

Follow the steps to enable System Restore Points in Windows 10:

1. Type Create a Restore Point in the search bar and click Open.
   
   If the Protection of the system drive shows as On, it means the System restore point is already enabled.
   
   If the Protection of System drive shows as Off, Choose the System drive and click Configure.
   
2. Choose Turn on System Protection and set the Max Usage of disk space. We recommend a range of 5% to 10%.
3. Click OK. The System Restore Point will now be enabled. The maximum usage you set will determine how much disk space is allocated for restore points. As space fills up, older restore points will be automatically deleted to make space for new ones.

For Windows 11:

Adhere to these steps to create a system restore point in Windows 11:

1. Press Win + S to open the Windows search.
2. Type Restore point and select Create a restore point from the search results.
3. In the System Properties window, go to the System Protection tab.
4. Ensure that Protection is set to On under the Protection Settings section. If it is currently set to Off, click the Configure button.
5. Select Turn on System Protection.
6. Next, adjust the slider to allocate the desired storage size for saving restore points.
7. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

This will create a restore point that allows you to revert your System to a previous state if needed.

Restore Windows 10:

Suppose you encounter an error or an unknown issue after installing or modifying system settings. In that case, you can use the recovery feature to apply a restore point and undo the changes to fix the problem.

Undo system changes from the desktop:

1. Go to Start.
2. Search for Create a Restore Point, and open the System Properties page.
3. Click the System Restore button.
4. Note: If the option is greyed out, it means no restore points are available.
5. Click Next.
6. Select the restore point that you want to use to undo changes and fix issues on Windows 10.
7. Click Scan for affected programs to confirm which apps will be removed because they were added after creating the original restore point.
8. Click Close.
9. Click Next.
10. Finally, click Finish.

Once you have completed the steps mentioned above, System Restore will restore your computer to its previous working state. If due to this process, any apps get affected, please reinstall them after the process finishes.

Restore Windows 11:

Suppose something unexpected occurs on Windows 11 due to an installation or changes in settings. In that case, you can use a restore point to take your device to an earlier state and undo the changes. You can perform this task from the desktop.

1. Go to Start.
2. Search for Create a restore point, and open the System Properties page.
3. Click the System Restore button.
4. Click Next.
5. Select the restore point that you want to use to undo changes on Windows 11.
6. Click the Scan for Affected Programs to view the apps that will be removed during this process.
7. Click Next.
8. Finally, click Finish.

How to Restore Mac?

Now let’s know about the Mac recovery as there are several options available. However, to successfully perform a restore, you need to have previously set up a Time Capsule backup. If you haven’t done so, your alternatives become more limited. In such cases, your recovery options include:

• Repairing the Hard Disk: You can fix issues related to your hard disk. However, this won’t restore your System to a previous state.
• Formatting and Reinstalling macOS: If you lack a Time Capsule backup, your last resort is to format the disk and reinstall a fresh copy of macOS.

Note: Remember that having a backup in place is important for a smoother recovery process. Without it, consider these alternatives carefully to ensure the best outcome for your Mac.

Configure a Time Capsule Backup:

1. Connect an external hard drive to Mac. Ensure it has equal or greater storage capacity than your Mac’s internal drive.
2. If you’ve never set up a Time Capsule before, OS X will prompt you when you connect the drive. Choose to configure it as a backup disk.
3. Optionally, select “Encrypt backup disk” if you want to add password protection to your backup files.
4. Wait for the backup to complete. You can also schedule automatic backups and specify specific files in the Options menu.

Restore from a Time Machine Backup:

1. Reboot your Mac and hold down the Command key + R during startup. This opens the OS X Recovery Tool.
2. Select Restore from Time Machine Backup to load your latest disk image from the external drive.
3. If you have multiple backups stored on the Time Capsule, you’ll be presented with a list. Choose one from before the issues started.
4. Unlike Windows’ System Restore, a Time Capsule backup can retrieve files deleted in the past, as long as you have a backup from when the file existed.

Restoring Without a Time Capsule Backup:

1. If you lack a Time Capsule backup, the only option is to format and reinstall OS X.
2. Access the OS X Recovery Tool by pressing Command+R during the Mac reboot.
3. Select “Reinstall Mac OS X”.

Note: You’ll need an internet connection to reinstall macOS without a disc successfully. Keep in mind that this process deletes all saved data, programs, and settings.