HP PCs - Using Microsoft System Restore (Windows 10, 8)

This document applies to HP and Compaq computers with Windows 10 and 8.

This document explains how to use and troubleshoot the System Restore feature in Windows 10 and Windows 8.

For business computers, if options are not enabled or do not restore as expected, contact your company's IT department or your local IT service as the computer admin rights might be overridden by Global Policy Object (GPO) restrictions.

System Restore is a software program available in all versions of Windows 10 and Windows 8. System Restore automatically creates restore points, a memory of the system files and settings on the computer at a particular point in time. You can also create a restore point yourself. Then, when you use System Restore to restore your computer to a point in time before an issue began, System Restore returns your computer to the files and settings from the restore point. Your personal files and documents are not affected.

You can also undo a System Restore if the restore does not resolve the issue or if the issue becomes worse.

note:

Depending on your version of Windows, some graphics and information in this document and the linked videos might vary slightly.

Microsoft's System Restore is sometimes confused with HP's Recovery Manager software.

• System Restore enables you to change a collection of Microsoft Windows system files to a configuration that existed at a particular point in time. No personal data files, such as email, documents, or pictures, are lost or changed.
• HP Recovery Manager enables you to restore the computer's entire software configuration to its original factory condition. It reinstalls the original operating system (such as Windows) and removes all other software and personal data files. When recovery is complete, only the software that originally came with your computer will be available. You will need to reinstall additional software and any of your personal files that were backed up.

Whenever the computer suddenly develops a problem, you should first perform a System Restore to try to resolve the issue before performing a complete recovery using HP Recovery Manager.

Microsoft System Restore is enabled by default on most, if not all, HP computers that come with Windows. However, Microsoft System Restore can be disabled and can cause problems if you try to restore from a previous point. To make sure System Restore is enabled, complete the steps below.

1. Save any open files and close all open programs.
2. In Windows, search for restore, and then open Create a restore point from the results list.
   
   System Properties opens with the System Protection tab selected.
3. On the System Protection tab, select your hard drive, and then click Configure.
   
   The System Protection for Local Disk window opens.
4. Click Turn on system protection, and then click OK.
   

Windows automatically creates restore points at regularly scheduled intervals and before many software installations. If you would like to create a restore point manually, use the steps below.

1. Save any open files and close all open programs.
2. In Windows, search for restore, and then open Create a restore point from the results list.
   
   System Properties opens with the System Protection tab selected.
3. On the System Protection tab, click Create.
   
   The Create a restore point window opens.
4. In the text box, type a descriptive name for the restore point that will help you remember when you created the restore point. Then click Create.
   
   The computer creates the restore point.
   
5. When the window appears stating that the restore point was created successfully, click Close.
   

If the computer stops working correctly, you can restore it to a previous point in time when it was working. Use the following steps to restore your computer’s configuration.

1. Save any open files and close all open programs.
2. In Windows, search for restore, and then open Create a restore point from the results list.
   
   System Properties opens with the System Protection tab selected.
3. On the System Protection tab, click System Restore.
   
   The System Restore window opens.
4. Click Next.
   
5. Click the Restore Point that you want to use, then click Next.
   The confirmation window opens.
6. Click Finish to restore your computer to a previous point.
   
7. Do not interrupt System Restore when it starts. This can corrupt your hard drive and create more problems. Click Yes in the warning that appears.
   
8. System Restore returns the computer configuration to a previous point in time and restarts.

Use the following steps to restore your computer when Windows does not open normally.

1. Turn off the computer and wait at least 5 seconds with the computer in a full off state.
2. Turn on the computer and repeatedly press the F11 key, about once every second, until you see the Windows loading screen.
3. If a language selection screen opens, select the language you want to use to continue.
4. On the Choose your keyboard layout screen, select the keyboard layout that matches your keyboard type.
   
5. On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.
   
6. On the Troubleshoot screen, click Advanced Options.
   
7. On the Advanced options screen, click System Restore.
   
8. Click Windows 8, click Windows 8.1, or click Windows 10 as the target operating system.
   
   The System Restore window opens.
9. Click Next.
   
10. Click the Restore Point that you want to use, and then click Next.
    The Confirm Restore Point window opens.
11. Click Finish to restore your computer to a previous point.
    
12. Do not interrupt System Restore when it starts. Doing so can corrupt your hard drive and create more problems. Click Yes in the warning that appears.
    
13. System Restore returns the computer configuration to a previous point in time and restarts.

Follow these steps to undo the restore and put the files and programs on your computer back to the way they were before you used System Restore.

1. Save any open files and close all open programs.
2. In Windows, search for restore, and then open Create a restore point from the results list.
   
   System Properties opens with the System Protection tab selected.
3. On the System Protection tab, click System Restore.
   
   The System Restore window opens.
4. Select Undo System Restore, and then click Next.
   
5. Confirm that the date and time are correct, and then click Finish.
   
6. Do not interrupt System Restore when it starts. This can corrupt your hard drive and create more problems. Click Yes in the warning that appears.
   
7. System Restore undoes the restore and restarts.

You can delete system restore points to temporarily create more space on your computer. You can delete either all restore points or all but the most recent restore point. You cannot delete all but a specific restore point beyond the most recent. The free disk space is used again when the computer creates new restore points.

note:

When you delete restore points, the computer also deletes previous versions of files.

Use the following steps if System Restore fails to create a restore point or fails to restore.