Friends, I promised my regular readers a long time ago to write an article on system recovery. Many of us have already encountered such a situation more than once, when we install a program, make some adjustments to the operating system, accidentally delete service files and do much more, which ultimately leads to incorrect and unstable operation of the OS.
Will I tell you today? What needs to be done to return the operating system to a working state.
Friends, do not forget that there are no hopeless situations.
The algorithm discussed below will be useful to everyone. There is no one who does not make mistakes and always does everything right. As wise people say: "He does not make mistakes, only the one who does nothing." But you should also be able to correct mistakes.
And for everyone who wants to know, if necessary, and undo the last actions on the computer, I wrote a detailed algorithm.
Recovery checkpoint
So, Friends, a restore checkpoint is a copy of the operating system service files, program settings, and the system registry at a specific point in time.
The operating system, as a rule, creates restore checkpoints automatically at regular intervals, in the case of installing any software or at the direct instruction of the user.
It should be noted that when “rolling back” to an operating system restore point, the user's personal files such as music, graphic files, documents, etc. are not affected.
Attention! Returning to a restore point allows you to restore the operating system, but not the user's personal content.
1. Click on the "Start" button at the bottom right of the screen and select "Control Panel". The main window of the Control Panel of the Windows 7 operating system will open:
2. Click on the very first section "System and Security" and in the window that opens, select the subsection "Restore the previous state of the computer".
3. In the window that appears, click on the "Start System Restore" button.
4. The system will collect the necessary information and launch the System Restore Wizard. In the first window that appears, you just need to click the "Next" button.
5. Next, the second window of the Wizard will open, where you must select a restore point from the list provided. If you have just made some settings and want to cancel them, then select the topmost specified entry. Also, you can choose any recovery point record that suits you.
You can also start “Search for affected programs” by clicking on the corresponding button. The operating system will scan its service records, determine which programs will be removed or restored during the rollback to a restore point, and will present the analysis results in a separate window. After reviewing the list of affected programs, click the Close button.
7. A window will appear on the screen with a warning that it will be impossible to interrupt the system restore. And once again they will ask you to confirm your intentions by clicking the "Yes" button.
After that, the system recovery process will start. Which usually takes a little time - about 2-3 minutes. After that the system will reboot and you will see this window:
The state of your computer has been restored to the specified state. Now you can check the operation of the OS and other programs for the correctness of their work. Be sure to test the result of the system restore.
If the operating system failed to restore the system, then the window will be different. This often happens when antivirus software is running. Disable it and try again.
If you were able to successfully solve the problem "", then I congratulate you. But in some cases, restoring the system did not lead to an improvement in the situation, but, on the contrary, to its worsening. The system began to freeze, some programs did not load at all, icons on the desktop disappeared, etc. In such a case, it is best to cancel System Restore.
To do this, we go through the whole algorithm, starting from point 1. When you complete step 3, you will see the following window:
Select "Undo System Restore" and then follow the algorithm presented above.
So, Friends, we have considered a rather important question "how to restore the system?", Learned how to "roll back" the system to restore points and cancel "rollbacks".
It should be noted that you can restore the system in this way, but only if there was no serious damage to the system files, for example, as in the case of a virus infection of the system. In case of serious violations of the OS, this tool is ineffective and you cannot avoid turning to one of the advanced methods of system recovery.
In one of the following articles, I will just talk about such a tool - the rescue disk.
Hello dear readers of the blog Business on the Internet! You may need to restore your computer system if you see such failures:
- the operating system runs at the speed of a snail,
- programs hang,
- the menu expands by itself and disappears,
- while Windows is running, it issues numerous error messages,
- from time to time the computer makes strange sounds.
There is something to be upset about! If this happens, you will want to return to the time when the computer worked well. Do you think that time cannot be turned back? Believe it is possible! A wonderful tool Windows 7 will act as a time machine System Restore.
How do I restore the system? Every day Windows 7 remembers vital OS parameters and saves them, creating a restore point. When a computer experiences serious malfunctions, its normal operation can be returned from the restore point, that is, transferred to a prosperous past that was saved by the system.
It is important to know that when you access a recovery point, your documents are not deleted by the recovery system. However, programs that were installed after the restore point was created will be lost and will need to be downloaded again. You can cancel System Restore and use a different restore point.
How to restore a computer system
Click on the button Start, select All programs... Go to section Standard, open the submenu Service, select the menu System recoverys, after which a dialog box appears.
You can use another way: Start ==> Control Panel ==> Recovery ==> Launching System Restore... The same dialog box will open.
2. Select a restore point.
The following commands are available in Computer System Restore:
Cancel System Restore. This command is needed in case the recovery result does not suit you, it appears only after using the recovery point.
Recommended System Restore. Use the suggested restore point, this is the best chance to fix the situation with your computer. As a result, the latest installed updates, drivers or software are canceled, since they may have caused the crashes.
Show other restore points. This command is always available, after selecting it, a list will open from which you can select any restore point by the date it was created.
You can check how the specified settings will affect your computer. To do this, click on the button Search for affected programs, and you will get a list of those programs that will be affected by the selected parameter.
3. Check again that all open files are saved and click the button Furtherthen Done.
After a short pause, the computer will restart and operate normally. Even if your computer has no crashes, I advise you to create your own restore point. Give it a descriptive name, such as "Before you needed a doctor," and you can easily find the restore point you want by name.
Create a restore point
1. In the menu Start click on folder A computer right click and select command Properties.
A dialog box will open on the screen. Systemwhich displays all the most important functions of the computer.
A dialog box will appear System properties.
3. Click on the button Create a in the tab System protection.
In the dialog box System protection enter a name for the new restore point.
Save the restore point by clicking on the button Create a... By creating a restore point in advance, you will always be able to choose the state to which it is best to return in the event of a system failure.
If you find that your computer is infected with viruses, delete all existing restore points before disinfecting it with an antivirus program. They may contain viruses!
Removing virus-infected restore points
In a dialog box System properties need to click on disk C (System), then on the button Configureb.
In the dialog box System protection click on the buttons Delete ==> Proceed ==> OK... Close the window and start removing viruses.
After you've cured your computer, create a new restore point. Name it appropriately, for example "After disinfection".
Restoring your computer system is a simple, but very important task to keep Windows 7 running. When you know well the functions of the computer, it is not a secret for you how to restore the system, you do not need to look for a specialist or knowledgeable friends. You will do a great job on your own!
Good luck and see you on the pages of the Internet Business blog!
I would really appreciate it if you use these buttons! Thanks!System Restore restores the system files on your computer to a previous point in time. This allows you to undo changes made to the computer system without affecting personal files.
Sometimes, as a result of installing a program or driver, unexpected changes to your computer may occur, or Windows may experience unexpected behavior. Usually, removing the program or driver will fix the problem.
Windows 7 and 8 recovery
In the last article, we looked at how to make a Windows restore point. Now we are going to learn how to restore Windows system from this point. If you have not read the previous article, then I advise you to do this.
Whenever sooner or later, we all install some unknown crap on our computer, and at our own peril and risk. Without thinking about the consequences, we stick various programs on our PC in order to test their "wonderful" ability to do something incredible (as we are assured before downloading the program).
Recovering and returning Windows 8 to its original state
Before the release of the Windows 8 operating system, returning a computer to its original state was difficult and not quick. But now, with the help of new features, it can be done in minutes. I can't even believe it, right? However, this is one of the best features of Windows 8.
At work, I have to constantly test various programs, so my computer needs regular maintenance.
Windows 7 System Restore
Most often, the function of restoring the operating state of the computer is required if some program was installed and after that the system began to slow down. You should also restore the system to an earlier state if your computer has been exposed to a virus attack. In most cases, the computer is infected or littered with programs so much that the recovery operation can only be performed from Safe Mode.
System Restore in Windows 7
Hi, I have already written an article on how to enable system restore and how to create a restore point. Now is the time to write how to do a system restore in Windows 7. and to put it more simply, now I will write about how to roll back the system.
If you have any problem with your computer, well, for example, it has become very buggy, or even worse, it does not start at all, then the first thing you need to do is try to roll back the system, thereby we will return the settings and system files from the backup that was created for example two days ago, when the computer was still working normally.
Almost every laptop (except for completely old models) has a hidden system recovery. The folder named "Recovery" should never be deleted.
It stores important information about your system.
After a failed plan to transfer 1 billion users from low-end versions to Windows 10 (despite the aggressive promotion, they switched three times less), Microsoft is launching a new offensive on all fronts.
In early August, a massive Windows 10 Anniversary update was released that adds a number of new features and interface changes, as well as HoloLens support and new Cortana features.
But what if you were tempted and installed the top ten for free, but you absolutely didn’t like it, it works unstably, or you just changed your mind to inform Microsoft about everyone?
Especially for you, we will tell you how to uninstall Windows 10 and return to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.
How to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7 or 8.1?
Without reinstalling, you can roll back the "ten" to the previous version. only if you installed it as an update to an existing system.
To rollback Windows 10, go to Start Menu - Settings - Update & Security - Recovery. 
Open "Start", find "Options"
Selecting "Update and Security"
We find the item "Recovery"
In place of the red rectangle, there should be a "Return to Windows 7" or "Return to Windows 8.1" option.
In our case, it is not there, because more than a month has passed since the update
In the window that opens, select "Return to Windows 7" or "Return toWindows 8.1 "- depending on which version of the operating system was installed before. Then click the "Start" button.
In this case, the system will require an explanation of what Windows 10 did not suit you. Tell Microsoft what you think of it (joke!)
Then just follow the instructions of the installer; after restarting, the computer will return to the previous version of Windows.
Why can't I find the "Return to Windows 7" button?
This can happen for two reasons:
- More than a month has passed since the update. After this period, the system deletes the files of the previous version of Windows.
- You erased files of the previous version using Disk Cleanup, or manually deleted the folder "C: \\ Windows.old"
I deleted it, can I do something?
You can still get rid of Windows 10, but you'll have to reinstall Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 from scratch. Download the images of the installation disk for the required operating system from the Microsoft website (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 image).
Please note that you need a license key for this. For Windows 7, look for a sticker that confirms the authenticity of your copy of the operating system. On laptops, this sticker can be on the bottom panel, under the battery, or even on the power supply.
It's even easier with Windows 8 or 8.1. The key may not be needed at all - it is often sewn into the hardware, and during installation the system will find it itself.
Don't forget to do before installing the operating system.
When is it worth rolling back Windows 10?
You may just not like the "ten", and this reason may be enough to return to the previous version.
However, moving to a new operating system always carries with it some risk. There are millions of unpredictable conflicts between programs, devices, and Windows 10 that can cause your computer to become unstable.
It's good that antivirus solutions are compatible with Windows 10 and other modern OS :)
Read about what data is stored in the Windows.old folder and how to recover it from there... How to delete the Windows.old folder to free up disk space. Upgraded Windows 7 or 8 to the new Windows 10? Old folder appears on your computer and is taking up a lot of space? You can delete it, but not in the same way as you delete regular folders.
The Windows.old folder is not new to Windows 10. But before Windows 10, this folder could be seen if you bought a new version of Windows and installed it by updating the previous version.
Content:
What is the Windows.old folder?
This folder appears when you upgrade one version of Windows to a newer one starting from Windows Vista. The Windows.old folder contains all files and data from the previous version of Windows that was installed prior to the upgrade. It can be used to revert (rollback) to a previous version of Windows in case the new version does not work. To recover data after reinstalling Windows.
If you need to find a particular file that was incorrectly copied during a Windows update, you can also "rummage" in the Windows.old folder and find it.
Essentially, the Windows.old folder contains an older version of Windows. From Windows system files to installed programs, from user account settings to simple files, everything is here. The new version of Windows keeps this information in case you want to revert to the old version of Windows or if you need to find a file.
But, don't hesitate too long. Windows will automatically delete the Windows.old folder to free up disk space after a month.
How do I revert to a previous version of Windows?
Getting back to Windows 7 or 8.1 with Windows 10 is very easy. After installing Windows 10, you can simply open the Settings app, select Update & Security, and click Recovery. In this section, we will see the item Return to Windows 7 or 8.1, depending on which version of Windows you were upgrading from.
After we click the "Start" button, Windows will restore the previous version of the operating system using the Windows.old folder as the source.
Before Windows 10, this could be done too. For example, here is an instruction from the official Microsoft website on how to restore Windows 7 to a previous version of Windows using the Windows.old folder. Windows 10 is much easier.
But again, as noted in the Windows settings, this feature is only available for a month after upgrading to Windows 10. Windows will automatically delete the Windows.old folder a month later in order to free up disk space. So you have a month to decide whether you want to continue using the new version of the system or not and evaluate whether all the files you need were copied correctly.
How to recover individual files from Windows.old folder
If you need to recover individual files from an old Windows installation, you can recover them from the Windows.old folder. To do this, you just need to open the Windows.old folder in the file explorer: C: \\ Windows.old. Your personal files will be located in C: \\ Windows.old \\ Users \\ USERNAME.
But keep in mind that even on the official Microsoft website it is indicated that if you wish, you can restore all files or (Attention!) Some of them from the Windows.old folder. In order to prevent data loss, Microsoft strongly recommends create a backup of files and settings on an external drive before restoring, resetting, updating, or reinstalling Windows.
That is, there is a risk of data loss when updating Windows and / or downgrading from Windows 10 to a previous version. Moreover, Microsoft does not provide for the recovery of data lost in this way using standard Windows tools.
In this case, the only option for data recovery can only be third party software ... If any data or files disappeared during Windows update or recovery, regardless of their type or extension, scan the C: drive using Hetman Partition Recovery from Hetman Software, and restore them to a convenient location or to a storage medium.
How to delete the Windows.old folder to free up disk space
The Windows.old folder can take up a lot of disk space. It will be 12 GB at best. But its volume can reach 20 GB or even more. It all depends on the size of your previous version of Windows.
Try deleting the Windows.old folder in the same way you would any other folder and you will get an error message. You can work around the error message by changing the permissions of the Windows.old folder. But this is not the correct way to delete this folder.
To remove the Windows.old folder, you can use the Windows Disk Cleanup tool or other manufacturer's program ... In Windows 10, open the Start menu, search for Disk Cleanup and launch the application. You can also open this application by right-clicking in the "This computer" folder on the C drive, and choosing "Properties" from the pop-up menu, then clicking the "Disk Cleanup" button.
Press the button "Clear system files". The list of files to delete will also show "Previous versions of Windows", and "Disk Cleanup" will show how much space these files take. Select this option and click Clean Disk, the old version of Windows will be removed. This feature can also be used to clean up the system drive and other unnecessary files.
By deleting the Windows.old folder, you risk nothing. If you are satisfied with the new version of Windows and do not want to return to the old version of the operating system, and you are also sure that all the files you need have been copied from the Windows.old folder, you can safely delete it.
Windows will still automatically delete the Windows.old folder one month after the update. All computers that have upgraded to Windows 10 will still be able to use the space occupied by the Windows.old folder, even if their users do not know about such a folder and are unaware of its existence, as well as the possibility of using the Disk Cleanup function.