Restoring your Windows operating system can be a useful troubleshooting step when you encounter issues with your computer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to restore your Windows operating system using the System Restore feature:
1. Open the Control Panel by typing “Control Panel” in the search box on your taskbar and selecting it from the search results.
2. In the Control Panel, type “recovery” in the search box located at the top-right corner of the window.
3. From the search results, select “Recovery” and then click on “Open System Restore.”
4. The System Restore window will open, presenting you with the option to restore your system files and settings. Click on “Next” to continue.
5. In the next window, you will see a list of available restore points. These restore points are created automatically by Windows or manually by you or software installations. Each restore point represents a snapshot of your system at a specific point in time.
6. Carefully review the list of restore points and select the one that you want to use for the restoration. It’s recommended to choose a restore point that was created before you started experiencing any issues with your computer.
7. Once you have selected the desired restore point, you can click on “Scan for affected programs” to see a list of software and drivers that will be affected by the restoration. This step allows you to know if any programs or drivers will be uninstalled or changed as a result of the restore process.
8. After the scan, you will see a list of affected programs. Take note of any important software or drivers that will be removed or modified during the restoration process. If necessary, you can make a backup of important files or reinstall any software or drivers after the restoration.
9. Once you have reviewed the affected programs, you can click on “Close” and then click on “Next” to proceed with the restoration.
10. In the next window, you will see a final confirmation of the restore point and affected programs. Take a moment to double-check everything before proceeding.
11. Click on “Finish” to initiate the restoration process. Your computer will restart, and Windows will begin restoring your system files and settings using the selected restore point.
12. The restoration process may take some time, and your computer may restart multiple times during the process. It’s important not to interrupt the process and let Windows complete the restoration.
13. Once the restoration is complete, your computer will restart, and you will be able to log in to your Windows account. Check if the issues you were experiencing have been resolved.
It’s worth noting that System Restore does not affect personal files such as documents, photos, or emails. However, it’s always a good practice to back up your important files regularly to an external storage device or cloud service.
Restoring your Windows operating system using System Restore can be a useful troubleshooting step to revert your computer to a previous state and resolve issues. By following the step-by-step guide provided above, you can easily navigate through the restoration process and get your computer back up and running smoothly.