Whether you use it for work, study or otherwise, your PC needs various applications, as well as installing updates or drivers for peripherals. Unfortunately, things don’t always go well, but fortunately, there is a feature in Windows 11 which allows you to restore major system files and registry settings. Microsoft’s operating system automatically creates restore points before installing drivers or making major changes, but you can also create your own. In this article, we will explain what restore points are, how to create them and how to use them.
What is a restore point
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, the “System Restore”Allows you to restore the system to a previous state, in order to resolve any malfunctions due to drivers or other potentially dangerous installations. In practice, “snapshots” of the system and registry are saved, which can be restored later in the event of a problem. This data is saved inside a hidden folder called “System Volume Information”, located on each HDD or SSD.
How to create a restore point
First of all, open the Start menu and search for “Restore Point”. In the results that appear, select “Create a restore point”.
A system properties window will open with the “System protection” tab selected: from here you can manage the restore points in Windows. Click the “Create” button at the bottom of the window.
In the window that appears, type the name of the restore point, choosing one that is self-explanatory and clearly describes why it was created: for example, “Before installing Office”. Next, click on “Create”.
You will see a progress bar and finally a message stating “Restore point creation complete”. Click on “Close”.
You have now successfully created your custom restore point.
If you want to automatically create restore points in the future, you can use the same “System Protection” tab in “System Properties”. Select the drive you want to protect, then click “Configure”. In the window that appears, select “Turn on system protection”, then click “OK”. When finished, click “OK” or close the “System Properties” window.
How to restore a restore point
To restore a restore point, we will use the same “System Protection” tab as seen above. First, open the Start menu and type “Restore Point”, then click on “Create a Restore Point”.
In the “System Properties” window, click on “System Restore”.
In “System Restore”, click “Next”. On the next screen you will see a list of the restore points available on your PC. Select the one you want to restore and click “Next”.
After that, a summary screen will appear. Click on “Finish”.
Note that continuing will restore a previous system snapshot. Use this option with caution and to resolve otherwise unsolvable problems. If you are ready to begin the restore, click “Yes” on the final warning screen.
At this point, the system will automatically reboot and begin the recovery process. When finished, if all went well, you will be able to log into Windows and use your PC as normal.
