Windows 7 includes a number of features to help you recover
your computer and your data in case disaster strikes. The recovery features to use are as follows:- Restore points
Use restore points to fix problems and undo changes to the
operating system, programs, and devices. - Previous versions
Use previous versions of files to help you recover files that
were accidentally deleted or incorrectly edited. - File recovery from backup
Use file recovery from backup to recover files when previous
versions aren’t available. - Force restart or shutdown
Use this technique to recover after your computer
hangs so that you can restart or shut down. - Failed resume recovery
Use this technique to recover after a failed
resume. - Startup repair
Use this technique to repair system files so that you can
start the operating system. - System image recovery
Use this technique to recover Windows and install
programs in the event that restore points and startup repair do not
resolve your problem. - System repair disc
Use this technique to recover your computer if the
Windows Recovery Environment partition has been
corrupted or you cannot otherwise access the repair tools. - Operating system reinstall
Use this technique to reinstall the operating system
in the event that no other recovery technique works.
Table 1 provides an overview
of problems you may have that force you to use recovery techniques, and
the techniques you should use to resolve the problem. Table 1. Recovery techniques| Issue | Recovery
technique |
|---|
| Need to recover pictures,
music, video, email, documents, and other types of important
personal files | Use File Recovery from Backup.
| | Need to resolve resume,
restart, or shutdown issues | Use Force Restart or Shutdown, or use Failed Resume
Recovery.
| | Need to resolve startup
problem due to corrupt system files | Use system image recovery. Use operating system reinstall.
| | Need to recover by undoing
changes to the operating system, programs, and
devices | Use system image recovery. Use operating system reinstall.
| | Need to recover but the
recovery tools are not available | |
1. Recovering Using Restore PointsYou use restore points to fix problems and undo changes to
the operating system, programs, and devices. When selecting a restore
point, keep in mind that any programs that were added to your computer
since the restore point was made will be deleted and any programs that
were removed since the restore point was made will be restored. NOTE If the restore point doesn’t resolve your problem, you
can undo it (in most cases) or choose another restore point. However,
if you started the computer in Safe Mode or are using the Recovery Environment, the
System Restore cannot be undone. If you cannot start your computer, you can try to access System
Restore in the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE).
Although using a restore point does not affect personal data,
user accounts and passwords on the computer can be affected. If you or
any other user on your computer changed passwords recently, you may
want to create a Password Reset disk before trying to restore the
computer. |
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If you can start your computer and log on, you can try to recover
the computer using a restore point by following these steps: Click Start→Control Panel→System and Security. Click the “Restore your computer to an earlier time” link
under the Action Center heading. Click Open System Restore. This starts the System Restore
Wizard. Click Next. System Restore recommends one or more recent restore points,
as shown in Figure 1. Restore
points are listed by date, time, description, and type. To get more
information and access additional options, do the following: To see additional restore points that are available, click
Show More Restore Points. To determine what programs the restore will affect, click
the restore point and then click Scan For Affected
Programs.
NOTE Typically, it will take System Restore several minutes to scan
the restore point and determine the affected programs. You’ll then see
two separate lists. The first list shows you programs and drivers that
will be deleted if you apply the restore point. The second list shows
you programs and drivers that might be restored if you apply the
restore point. Click the restore point you want to use. Restore points you’ve created have the type
Manual. Restore points created by Windows 7
have the type System. Click Next and then click Finish. When prompted, click Yes to
confirm that you want to restore the computer’s system files and
settings using the selected restore point. Do not interrupt the
restore process once it has started. System Restore will then prepare to restore your computer.
During the restoration, System Restore restarts your computer.
During startup, System Restore uses the settings from restore points
you’ve selected. After your computer restarts and you log in, a System Restore
dialog box is displayed. Read the message provided and then click
Close.
If Windows 7 isn’t working properly after the restore operation,
you can apply a different restore point or try to reverse the restore
operation by following these steps: Click Start→Control Panel→System and Security. Click the “Restore your computer to an earlier time” link
under the Action Center heading. Click Open System Restore. On the “Restore system files and
settings” page, shown in Figure 2,
do one of the following: Select “Undo System Restore,” click Next and then follow
the prompts to recover the system to its previous state. Select “Choose a different restore point,” click Next and
then follow the prompts to select a different restore
point.
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