How to Create a System Restore Point in Windows and Roll Back Your PC

If your PC started acting up after installing a program, a driver or a Windows update, System Restore can take it back to a time when everything worked. Creating a restore point ahead of time gives you extra peace of mind.

What System Restore changes and what it keeps

• It rolls back: system files, registry settings, installed programs and drivers.
• It keeps: your personal files such as documents, photos and videos. Still, it is not a replacement for a backup.
• Programs installed after the restore point was created are removed, so you may need to reinstall them.

Step 1: Turn on System Protection

• Search the Start menu for "Create a restore point" to open the System Protection tab in System Properties.
• If protection for the C: drive is "Off", select the C: drive, click Configure and choose Turn on system protection.
• In the same window you can set how much disk space restore points may use (usually 5–10%). When it fills up, the oldest points are deleted first.

Step 2: Create a restore point yourself

• On the System Protection tab, click Create and type a name you will recognize, such as "Before driver install".
• Windows also creates restore points automatically during updates and installs, but making one yourself before big changes is the safest choice.

Step 3: Roll back from Windows

• Press Win + R and type rstrui.exe, or go to Control Panel → Recovery → Open System Restore.
• Pick a restore point from the list. Tick "Show more restore points" to see older ones.
• Click "Scan for affected programs" to see which programs will be removed or brought back.
• Click Next → Finish. The PC restarts and restores itself. Do not turn it off during this time.

If Windows won't start

• After two or three failed boots, the Windows Recovery Environment opens automatically. You can also hold Shift and click Restart on the sign-in screen.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore and follow the same steps.
• If your PC is encrypted with BitLocker, you may be asked for the recovery key here, so check where yours is saved beforehand.

Source: Microsoft Support – System Restore