How to use System Restore in Windows 7

Description: How to use Windows 7 System Restore to recover from software problems. A System Restore is used to recover from problems caused by software that was working a short time ago but has suddenly stopped working or is not working correctly. Windows 7 has the ability to make what are called "restore points" which make a snap shot of the programs and settings of the computer at a specific time. Win 7 does this automatically when updates are applied but it can also be done at any time a user wants to do this. The restore will go back to a previous registry, and to previous software that was installed before the restore point was made. System restore can be accessed through several paths.

1. The first is by using the search function found in Windows 7.
   • Click on Start
   • Type the word restore in the "search programs and files" field.
     
     
   
   
2. The Control Panel is another path.
   • Click on Start 
   • Control Panel 
   • In the top right, change view to small icons
     
     
   • Click on the System Icon (alphabetical order)
     
     
   • In the window that opens, look to the top left and choose System Protection
     
     
   • In the pop-up box choose the System Restore button
     
     
   
   
3. The repair section of the F8 menu is also a path.
   • Power off the computer
   • Press the power on button and immediately start tapping F8 about twice a second.
   • A black screen with white writing and several menu items will appear.
   • One item will be Repair Your Computer
   • Move the arrow buttons on the keyboard to highlight this and then choose the repair menu by pressing the Enter (return) key on the keyboard.
   • Choose System Restore from the list of options.
4. Using System Restore
   • There are two options on the opening screen:
   • Recommended restore  - This is the latest restore point that has been created.
     
     
     
     
     • Click on Scan for affected programs to see a list of programs that are known to have been changed since the restore point was made.
       
       
   • Choose a different restore point
     
     
   
   
   • This will be a list of all the restore points available.
     
     
   
   
   • First put a check in the box in the lower left "show more restore points"
   • Choose the restore point date to go back to.
   • Then click on "scan for affected programs"
   • A list of programs that will be changed or restored will appear.
     
     
   
   
   • Close the box and if this is the desired restore point, click next
   • A "confirm your restore point" box appears.
   • Click on the Finish button to complete this.
     
     
   
   
   • The computer will take about 5 minutes to finish this restore and the computer will reboot. When this is finished log back into the computer and test to see if the issue has been resolved.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Delete Restoration Data and Proceed to System Boot Menu Windows 7

A resume from hibernation is interrupted or fails to complete a resume. When you restart, the Windows Resume Loader appears.

1. When you restart your computer after a failed resume from hibernation you see the following window:
   
   
   
2. If you had any documents with unsaved changes you should try the "Continue with system resume" option. Use the arrow keys to highlight the option and press "Enter."
3. If it still fails to boot to Windows, turn the computer off and then on.
4. The Windows Resume Loader will come up again.
5. Make sure "Delete restoration data and proceed to system boot menu" is selected. If not, use the up and down arrows to highlight it and press "Enter."
6. Windows should start normally. Unfortunately, you may not be able to recover any unsaved changes to documents.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Windows 7 Backup and Restore Tool

How to Create a Backup

1. Click on Start and type "backup" without the quotes in the Search bar.
   
   
   
   
2. Once the Back and Restore tool has opened, select "Set up Backup".
   
   
   
   
   
3. The next step is to select where the backup file will be saved. Removable drives are usable, but you will not be able to set a disk image backup there. The drive selected for the Backup cannot contain the data that you wish to backup.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click Next.
5. Next choose the way the files will be selected for the backup.
   
   
   
   
   
   • Let Windows Choose (recommended)
     Allows Windows to backup a default set of folders and user setting files as well as a System Image. This is the recommended setting.
   • Let me choose
     Provides options for you to choose which files and folders are backed up and whether or not to include a system image.
6. Click Next.
   
   
   
   If "Let Windows choose" was selected, click "Save settings and run backup".
   
   You can change the schedule for backups by selecting the Change schedule link. There are options for Daily, Weekly, and Monthly as well as the Day of the week and hour of the day.
   
   
   
   
   If "Let me choose" was selected, choose the files and folders as well as whether or not a system image is desired.
   
   Certain types of media such as flash drives do not support the creation of system images.
   
7. Click Next.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Verify the selections that are made and select "Save settings and run backup".
   You can change the schedule for backups by selecting the Change schedule link.
   There are options for Daily, Weekly, and Monthly as well as the Day of the week and hour of the day.
   
   
   
   
   Windows will show the progress of the backup.View Details will reveal the actual progress and percentage of completion of the backup.
9. When the backup has completed, click Close to exit.
   
   
   

Restoring Files or Folders from a Backup

1. Click on Start and type "backup" without the quotes in the Search bar.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click on "Restore my files".
   
   
3. If you know the name of the file, click "Search".
   
   
   
4. Enter the name of the file in the text field and hit Search. All files matching the criteria will be returned. Select the files you want and hit OK.
   
   If you want to restore a single file, click "Browse for files".
5. On the left side of the Window, open the backup and navigate through the folders to find the file. Highlight the desired file and click "Add Files".
   If you wish to restore an entire folder "Browse for folders".
6. On the left side of the Window, open the backup and navigate through the folders to find desired folder. Highlight the folder and click "Add Folder".
   All files or folders selected will be shown in the window.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Click Next.
8. Now choose where to restore the files. The default option is in the Original location. This puts the files back where they were to begin with.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You can also select another location to restore the files to.
9. Once you have made your choice, click "Restore".
   
   
   
   
   
10. When the restore is complete, click Finish to return to the Backup and Restore Center.

How to Run System Restore in Safe Mode

This article shows how to run a system restore in safe mode. This is useful if there is a new infection on the computer, if it is not able to boot in to windows normally or for various other reasons. System Restore does not change any of your files, however any programs installed since the date and time that the computer will be restored to will need to be reinstalled.

1. Completely power down the computer; do not restart it yet.

2. Locate the F8 key on the keyboard:
 

3. Turn the computer on and repeatedly tap the F8 key on the keyboard at a rate of about twice per second, until the “Windows Advanced Boot Options” screen appears. If it fails to appear and the computer boots in to Windows, turn the computer off and try again.

 
4.Use the arrow keys to highlight "Safe Mode" on the list and press Enter.

5. Wait a few minutes as Safe Mode loads.
If Safe Mode fails to load, it indicates deep Operating System issues. It would be recommended at this point to take the computer in to your local Micro Center store or look in to a System Recovery to wipe out the system and restore it to the factory settings.

6. Once Safe Mode loads and an account is chosen, a prompt will appear based on your version of Windows:
    - Windows XP – A Yes/No window will appear. Click 'No' to launch System Restore. Skip to step 10.
    - Windows Vista/7 – A "What Is Safe Mode" box appears. Close this window and proceed.

7. In the bottom left corner of the screen, click on the Start button and then choose All Programs.

8. On the All Programs menu, locate the Accessories folder.

9. Within the Accessories folder, locate the System Tools folder and click System Restore, then wait a few minutes as the program opens.

10. Look at the recommended restore point and determine if the computer was working properly at that time. If it was, click on Next. If not, check the "Choose A Different Restore Point" option.
Note: The System Restore may look slightly different based on the Operating System in use.

11. On the next screen, verify that the settings are correct and click Finish to start the restore process. It may take upwards of 20 minutes to complete and will reboot one or more times during the restore process.