System Restore

System Restore is a recovery option in Microsoft Windows. It allows to restore a computer's state to an earlier point in time to fix recent problems in it.
==History==
===Windows Me and Windows XP===
System Restore was first introduced in Windows Me build 2348, however, it wasn't fully functional until build 2358, where after modifying the key and launching the app from C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RESTORE\RSTRUI.EXE the initial page would appear. It had a title bar name of Microsoft PC Restore and the Windows logo as an icon, though the app did identify as Microsoft System Restore in other areas. The app showed a description that it could "easily restore your PC to an earlier time without losing any of your work" and then some brief instructions of how to work with it. Once the required steps were performed in other pages, the system restored its components and rebooted without affecting user files.
In future builds, System Restore updates were heavily focused on the app's design, which included several different interfaces and icons, and only minor updates such as the initial screen giving separate links to restore point creation and the selection of them to restore the machine or a shortcut under Start → Programs → Accessories → System Tools being added.
The version included in Windows Me has a bug where it no longer could use restore points created after 8 September 2001. However, there are patches available which resolve this problem.
The feature was later ported to the NT codebase and was first included in Windows XP build 2264, where an untouched System Restore from Me was included. It had to be enabled through a Registry key too and then it could be launched from C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore\RSTRUI.EXE. Though the app loaded and could create restore points, using them to roll back the machine didn't work. Build 2410 was the among the first to enable it by default and place it on the Start menu. Later builds then heavily focused on refining the user interface.
Compared to Windows Me, the Windows XP version of the tool added a new System Restore tab to the System control panel applet, which contained an overview of the tool status and allowed the user to toggle the feature on or off, and to manage how much disk space can be used to store restore points. The ability to undo a previous restoration was also added.
===Windows Vista===
System Restore saw multiple changes in Windows Vista:
*Restore points management was moved from the application to the System Protection Settings tab under the System Properties Control Panel applet, which replaces the System Restore tab from XP.
*It can now be launched from the Windows Recovery Environment, allowing users to restore their computers back to a working state if it is unbootable.
*System Restore can now back up files in addition to system settings.
*The initial page has been updated:
**The left banner now has a grayish gradient and the app's logo on the top, with most of the information on it moved to the right pane.
**The right pane can now show error messages, such as System Protection being off or no restore points being available.
*Restore points are now shown together in a table which separates their creation time and description in two columns for better organization.
*Restore points can now have tags depending on how they were created, such as Manual, System, or Undo, as well as other program-specific like Uninstall, Install, or Critical Update.
*The restoration status is now shown as strings in the login/shutdown screen rather than in a separate window. It can also show messages such as "Initializing" or "Removing temporary files".
*Since it is a system tool, starting with this version launching System Restore will first pop-up a User Account Control prompt both in standard and administrator accounts.
===Windows 7===
Windows 7's System Restore had mostly functionality improvements, with only a few design enhancements.
====System Protection====
*Enabling or disabling System Restore functionality is no longer done via a checkbox on the applet's drive table. Instead, the status is shown.
*A new dialog window has been added, where most options have been moved to and can be invoked from the Configure link.
*Users can now choose if System Restore backs up system settings and user files, only system settings, or to disable it entirely from a single screen.
*All restore points can now be deleted without having to disable System Restore first (deleting all but the latest one can still be done through Disk Cleanup).
====Application====
*The left banner in the initial page is now bluish, matching the rest of the default theme ecosystem.
*The description and some links on the initial page's right pane have been changed.
*Some enhancements to the restore point selection page:
**Descriptions and tags for each point in the point table have been divided in two columns: Description and Type (in Vista, these would show together).
**A "Show more restore points" checkbox has been added, which might show points that are not shown by default in the table.
**The "Scan for affected programs" feature has been added, which checks for programs and drivers currently installed that might be deleted or attempted to be kept after restoring to a certain point.
*Additional warnings were added to the restore point confirmation page.
*The warning before reboot has been updated with a heading. The System Restore branding on its title bar has also been removed.
*Due to slight modifications to User Account Control, it is no longer prompted to administrators to let the app run and it will directly launch elevated in these cases.
=== Windows 8 ===
System Restore only had minor improvements in Windows 8:
* The System Tools folder in the Start screen has been blanked. As a result, System Restore is no longer present in the Start screen, and it must be accessed via other methods.
* The ability to back up personal files has been removed, with tools such as File History or Storage Spaces replacing it with better control over settings. However, restoration strings still have mentions to "files being restored".
* The descriptions in some pages have been changed and help links on them have been removed.
* Additional error messages have been added when restoration fails.
=== Windows 10 ===
Windows 10's System Restore doesn't have any substantial improvement over Windows 8, with only some strings such as "Removing temporary files" being removed during the restoration process.
==Gallery==
===Windows Me===
WindowsME-4.9.2458-SystemRestore.png|System Restore in Windows Me build 2358
File:WinMe Rstrui1.png|Initial page
File:WinMe Rstrui2.png|Create a Restore Point
File:WinMe Rstrui3.png|Restore point creation successful
File:WinMe-Rstrui4.png|Choose a Restore Point
File:WinMe Rstrui5.png|Confirm Restore Point Selection
File:WinMe Rstrui6.png|Restoring system
===Windows XP===
====Restoration====
File:WinXP RstruiCpl.png|System Restore Settings
File:WinXP Rstrui1.png|Initial page
File:WinXP Rstrui2.png|Create a Restore Point
File:WinXP Rstrui3.png|Restore Point Created
File:WinXP Rstrui4.png|Select a Restore Point
File:WinXP Rstrui5.png|Confirm Restore Point Selection
File:WinXP Rstrui6.png|Restoring settings
File:WinXP Rstrui7.png|Restoration Complete
====Undo Restoration====
File:WinXP Rstrui8.png|Initial page
File:WinXP Rstrui9.png|Confirm Restoration Undo
File:WinXP Rstrui10.png|Undo Complete
===Windows Vista===
====System Protection Settings====
File:WinVista Rstrui1.png|System Protection disabled
File:WinVista Rstrui2.png|System Protection enabled
File:WinVista Rstrui3.png|Create a restore point
File:WinVista Rstrui4.png|Creating restore point
File:WinVista Rstrui5.png|Restore point created successfully
====Restoration====
File:WinVista Rstrui6.png|Initial page
File:WinVista Rstrui7.png|Choose a restore point
File:WinVista Rstrui8.png|Confirm your restore point
File:WinVista Rstrui9.png|Warning before restoration starts
File:WinVista Rstrui10.png|Preparing to restore
File:WinVista Rstrui11.png|Initializing System Restore
File:WinVista Rstrui12.png|Removing temporary files
File:WinVista Rstrui13.png|Restoration completed successfully
====Undo Restoration====
File:WinVista Rstrui14.png|"Undo System Restore" option
File:WinVista Rstrui15.png|Confirm "Undo Restore Operation" restore point
====Other====
File:WinVista Rstrui16.png|Initial page – System Protection is turned off
File:WinVista Rstrui17.png|Initial page – No restore points have been created
File:VistaRTM RE.png|Recovery Environment
===Windows 7===
====System Protection Settings====
File:Win7 Rstrui1.png|System Protection disabled
File:Win7 Rstrui2.png|System Protection enabled
File:Win7 Rstrui3.png|System Restore options
====Restoration====
File:Win7 Rstrui4.png|Initial page
File:Win7 Rstrui5.png|Choose a restore point
File:Win7 Rstrui6.png|Scanning for affected programs and drivers
File:Win7 Rstrui7.png|Scan for affected programs
File:Win7 Rstrui8.png|Confirm your restore point
File:Win7 Rstrui9.png|Warning before restoration starts
File:Win7 Rstrui10.png|Preparing to configure Windows
File:Win7 Rstrui11.png|Initializing System Restore
File:Win7 Rstrui12.png|Restoring the registry
File:Win7 Rstrui13.png|Removing temporary files
File:Win7 Rstrui14.png|System Restore is complete
File:Win7 Rstrui15.png|Restoration completed successfully
====Undo Restoration====
File:Win7 Rstrui16.png|"Undo System Restore" option
File:Win7 Rstrui17.png|Confirm "Undo Restore Operation" restore point
=== Windows 8 ===
==== System Protection Settings ====
File:Win8 Rstrui1.png|System Protection disabled
File:Win8 Rstrui2.png|System Protection enabled
File:Win8 Rstrui3.png|System Restore settings
==== Restoration ====
File:Win8 Rstrui4.png|Initial page
File:Win8 Rstrui5.png|Choose a restore point
File:Win8 Rstrui6.png|Scanning for affected programs and drivers
File:Win8 Rstrui7.png|Scan for affected programs
File:Win8 Rstrui8.png|Confirm your restore point
File:Win8 Rstrui9.png|Warning before restoration starts
File:Win8 Rstrui11.png|Initializing System Restore
File:Win8 Rstrui12.png|Restoring the registry
File:Win8 Rstrui13.png|Removing temporary files
File:Win8 Rstrui14.png|System Restore is complete
File:Win8 Rstrui15.png|Restoration completed successfully
==== Undo Restoration ====
File:Win8 Rstrui16.png|"Undo System Restore" option
File:Win8 Rstrui17.png|Confirm "Undo Restore Operation" restore point
===Windows 10===
File:Win10 SystemRestore20H2 2.png|Choose a restore point
File:Win10 SystemRestore20H2 3.png|Scan affected programs
File:Win10 SystemRestore20H2 4.png|Confirm your restore point
File:Win10 SystemRestore20H2 5.png|Warning before restoration starts
File:Win10 SystemRestore20H2 7.png|Initializing System Restore
File:Win10 SystemRestore20H2 6.png|Restoring the registry
File:Win10 SystemRestore20H2 8.png|Restore completed successfully
===Windows 11===
File:Windows11-10.0.22000.318-SystemRestore.png|Initial page (Windows 11 (original release))
File:Win11-24H2-SystemRestore2.png|Choose a restore point
File:Win11-24H2-SystemRestore3.png|Scan affected programs
File:Win11-24H2-SystemRestore4.png|Confirm your restore point
File:Win11-24H2-SystemRestore5.png|Warning before restoration starts
File:Win11-24H2-SystemRestore6.png|Preparing to restore your system
File:Win11-24H2-SystemRestore7.png|Initializing System Restore
File:Win11-24H2-SystemRestore8.png|Restoring the registry
File:Win11-24H2-SystemRestore9.png|Restore completed successfully
Category:Introduced in Windows Me
Category:Windows components