System Restore - How to Do in Windows 8

How to Do a System Restore in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
System protection is a feature that regularly creates and saves information about your computer's system files, programs, drivers, and registry settings as restore points for all drives that have system protection turned on. You can use these restore points to do a system restore to return these items to an earlier point in time without affecting personal files (ex: anything in C:\Users\(user-name) folder). Restore points are created just before significant system events, such as the installation of a program or device driver. They're also created automatically by Windows using a scheduled task once every seven days if no other restore points were created in the previous seven days, but you can create restore points manually at any time.

This will show you how to do a System Restore to undo system changes by restoring Windows 8, and all drives system protection is turned on, to a selected previous restore point.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do a system restore in Windows 8.

warning   Warning
System Restore isn't available for Windows RT.

A System Restore will replace the password of all local user accounts to what they were at the time of the selected restore point.

If you do a System Restore when the PC is in safe mode, then you will not be able to undo the restore operation. However, you are able to still run System Restore again and choose a different restore point if available.


CONTENTS:

  • Option One: To Do a System Restore at Boot for Windows 8 and 8.1
  • Option Two: To Do a System Restore in Windows 8 and 8.1






OPTION ONE

To Do a System Restore at Boot for Windows 8 and 8.1


1. Boot to the System Recovery Options screen, and click/tap on System Restore in Advanced Options. (see screenshot below)
Advanced-options.jpg
2. If prompted, choose the OS (ex: Windows 8) that you want to do a System Restore with. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will usually only see this if you booted from a Windows 8 installation DVD or USB thumb drive, or ISO file if in a virtual machine.
System_Restore_OS.jpg
3. If prompted, choose a listed administrator account to provide it's credentials to approve a system restore. (see screenshot below.
Choose_Administrator_at_Boot-1.png
A) Enter the password for the selected administrator account, and click/tap on Continue. (see screenshot below)
Choose_Administrator_at_Boot-2.png
4. Go to step 8 in OPTION TWO below.
5. After step 14 in OPTION TWO below, click/tap on Restart, then do step 15 in OPTION TWO below. (see screenshot below)
SR-Boot-2.jpg







OPTION TWO

To Do a System Restore in Windows 8 and 8.1


1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like to start doing a System Restore.
2. Open the Power User Tasks Menu, click/tap on System, and go to step 5. (see screenshot below)
Desktop_Tools.jpg
OR
3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the System icon, and go to step 5.
OR
4. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Recovery icon, click/tap on the Open System Restore link, and go to step 6. (see screenshot below)
Recovery.jpg
5. Click/tap on the System protection link in the left pane. (see screenshot below)
SP-1.jpg
6. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.
7. Click/tap on the System Restore button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will not see this screen if you did step 4. If you did step 4, then skip this step and go to step 8.
SR-2.jpg
8. If displayed, click/tap on Next, and go to step 10. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will only see this screen if this is the first time that system restore is being done in Windows 8.
SR-3.jpg
9. Select (dot) Choose a different restore point, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
SR-3B.jpg
10. Select a restore point that you would like to restore your computer state back to, and click/tap on the Scan for affected programs button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If displayed, check the Show other restore points box to be able to see any older restore points (if available) that are not listed.
SR-4.jpg
11. Verify that the listed affected programs and drivers to be deleted and restored will be ok to you, and click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If not, then click/tap on Close and go back to step 10 to select another restore point.
SR-5.jpg
12. When ready, click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below step 10)
13. Click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The listed drives here will be restored back to the state of when the selected restore point was created.
SR-6.jpg
14. Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: This will immediately restart your computer to finish the system restore.
SR-7.jpg
15. After the computer has restarted and you opened the Desktop (Windows+D) next, click/tap on the Close button. (see screenshot below)
SR-8.jpg

That's it,
Shawn


 

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Hmm I tried to do this and it hung. I used system restore only once before and it worked. I'm wondering if Auslogics Defrag Free may hose things. Perhaps I should use the original Windows defrag.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Hey Miles,

It could have. See if turning off and on System Protection to reset it may allow you to be able to successfully create a restore point and do a system restore afterwards.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hey Miles,

It could have. See if turning off and on System Protection to reset it may allow you to be able to successfully create a restore point and do a system restore afterwards.

Now that I remember, when the Laptop was only a couple of days old I had to use a Restore Point to bail myself out of a jam. After the dialog about it can't be interrupted it said Restarting, then I got a black screen with only a mouse pointer. After about 20 minutes it completed the restore. I think it's just doing the same thing now. Why it has to think about it for that long I have no idea.

But I used a ERDNT to get my settings back(what I was running the restore for to get my video settings back) then turned System Restore Off and back On.

I don't want to test it because it stresses me out to sit there that long staring at a mouse pointer. :) But I have a Macrium image if I have to resort to it. I guess I'll have to make sure to run ERUNT every day just for settings backup.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Yeah, usually if I start a system restore, I'll go off to do something else for a while to let it finish and help pass the time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Yeah, usually if I start a system restore, I'll go off to do something else for a while to let it finish and help pass the time.

I never got this on my desktop machines. Then again I've only run W8 on this Laptop so I can't compare Laptop vs desktop with the same Windows flavor. All I know is W7 and earlier on my desktops it was uncommon to get a 20 minute lag. On the Laptop it seems to be built in. Oh well. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
I used to use system restore until it quit working right in 8 & 8.1.
I like Macrium better anyways.
Sorry to intrude.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
I used to use system restore until it quit working right in 8 & 8.1.
I like Macrium better anyways.
Sorry to intrude.

Not at all. :) For some things I hate laying on an image. Like this latest thing is I'm totally unable to get decent looking text on a white background. Video is fine. But especially browsers in forums are eye sores. No matter how I tweak the video settings it always seems to get worse instead of better. Until this Laptop I've always had CRT monitors and didn't have any problem reading text in browsers. For settings only restore I guess ERUNT is the way to go.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Hello Firmaneka, and welcome to Eight Forums. :)

If there's any hard drive activity still, then it would be best to wait and let it finish.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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