Objective
System Restore in Windows allows you to take the Windows Registry back to a time when an issue did not exist on the computer. We can use System Restore to remove entries in the Registry that could be either causing the issue or blocking our troubleshooting attempts.
To run the System Restore in Windows 10, follow the steps below:
Audience
- Students
- Faculty
- Staff
- Guests
Environment
Procedure
- Click the Windows icon and type msconfig in the Search area, then click on the System Configuration icon.
- Once you are in the System Configuration area, click on the Tools tab in the top right, then select the System Restore option and click the Launch button in the lower right as show below.
- When System Restore is launched, this screen will appear. Select Choose a different restore point and then click the Next button to continue.
Note: The recommended restore point is listed in the Choose a different restore point section, so you can still choose it after viewing all the options.
- At the next screen, you will select the date to which you would like to return the registry to, then click the Next button.
Note: You can check the Show more restore points box to view additional restore points if a suitable one is not initially listed.
- Confirm that you want to perform the System Restore by clicking the Finish button.
At this point, the system will reboot and restore the Windows Registry back to the date selected. This process can easily take 10 - 20 minutes. Be patient and set the customer expectations accordingly.
It is important to remember that any data on the computer such as music, Word documents, videos, etc will not be removed. However if a person has installed any programs or performed any updates AFTER the selected date, these items will have to be re-installed to connect them to Windows and guarantee that they will function.