Windows 7 : Recovering After a Crash or Other Problem (part 1) - Recovering Using Restore Points

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 Previous Versions. 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 Startup Repair. Use system image recovery. Use operating system reinstall.
Need to recover by undoing changes to the operating system, programs, and devices	Use Restore Points. Use system image recovery. Use operating system reinstall.
Need to recover but the recovery tools are not available	Use System Repair disc.

1. Recovering Using Restore Points

You 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.

If you can start your computer and log on, you can try to recover the computer using a restore point by following these steps:

1. Click Start→Control Panel→System and Security.

2. Click the “Restore your computer to an earlier time” link under the Action Center heading.

3. Click Open System Restore. This starts the System Restore Wizard. Click Next.

4. 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.

Figure 1. Choosing a restore point

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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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:

1. Click Start→Control Panel→System and Security.

2. Click the “Restore your computer to an earlier time” link under the Action Center heading.

3. 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.

Figure 2. Undoing a restore point