Windows 10: System Restore not working properly

Is it just me, or is System Restore in Win10 wonky? I have it turned on for both my C and D partitions. The other day I needed to go back to a restore point from 3 days before. The operation completed without issue, but then I found I wasn't able to reverse it.

In Win7 before restoring it would automatically create an "unrestore" point so the user would be able to undo the restore operation if they needed to. This isn't happening in Win10. Nor does the system automatically create a restore point before installing or uninstalling a program like Win7 did.

The "Restore Previous Versions" feature is also affected. When I right-click a file and choose "Restore previous versions", the Properties tab comes up instead of the Previous Versions tab. Clicking on the tab it always says there are no previous versions available, even though there should be since there are several restore points. The other day an important file got corrupted and I thought I could restore an earlier version like I always could under Win7 but the tab was empty.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

:)

 

System Restore not working properly

Attempting a System Restore. Screen is locked: "please wait while your Windows files and settings are being restored System Restore his initialIzing". Ive already done a hard reboot and attempted a second time. I need to restore. Help.

***Subject edited for clarity by the moderator.***

 

System Restore not working properly

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Regards.

 

I personally don't trust Windows Restore feature, sometimes it works, and sometimes it fails. What I do trust and use is Macrium Reflect. Its a free program for making a complete disk image of your C-drive. You can also make a bootable version for a USB stick or DVD. This is a very good backup program to have in your "tool box" incase your windows craps out. This is just an idea for you to think about.....Mike.

 

Sadly, I can only echo OldMike65.
I have never had any success with systems restore in either Windows 8 or Windows 10.
I rely on Acronis True Image, but I am sure there are a number of reliable 3rd. party products available.

 

Macrium Reflect is indispensable and a great free program *Smile

 

System Restore, and especially the Previous Versions feature, saved my ass numerous times under Win7. I like it because it worked in the background and I wouldn't ever have to think about it until I needed it. I'll try Macrium, I've heard about it before.

 

In Services, is it best for VSS to be Automatic[Delayed] instead of Manual?

 

I've never trusted WSR, but now they're touting the 'System Images'. I tried a test in which I purposefully downloaded malware in a VM and both the restore points and the System Image weren't bootable at all.

Problem with all Microsoft recovery tools is that they all operate in the infected zone. So when you get a virus or cryptolocker these services get attacked right off the bat.

I've since started using Rollback Rx Home Ed (Great free recovery tool) and disk imagers. I used Acronis True Image for a while but I've been using Macrium, I also bought Drive Cloner but it was on sale.

Basic jist, don't rely on Microsoft recovery tools.

 

I like previous versions also. It does work (and you can undo restores not made in safe mode) but you need to make sure it is activated as Windows has a habit of disabling system protection. See here System Protection - Turn On or Off for Drives in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

You could also turn on File History so you can restore (using previous versions) to earlier versions of files made every 15 minutes or whatever you decide rather than just when a restore point happened to be made. I don't think there is a Windows 10 tutorial but it is the same as option 3 here File History - How to Use in Windows 8

Macrium is good also for making images - I use both...

 

It's not just you, it appears to be working but it just gets stuck and I've left it running for hours with no success. I never had a single issue with this in windows 7.

 

I have tried two different restore points on my updated (from Win 7 to Win 8.1) Win 10 laptop. Windows will not restart! Short of going back to original install, I would like to access all my data first. How to do please?

 

What do you mean by "not restart"? It won't boot at all or gets stuck at some point during the booting process? How were you able to access the restore points you tried? If you were able to access them via command prompt you can may be able to use the command prompt to transfer your data on to a USB drive. Also, some boot up problems can be ironed out with a boot repair disc. If you don't have one you can ask a friend who's also running W10 if you can make one from their PC.

 

Would not boot into my normal startup (for password etc) but came up with a series of prompts e.g. repair start up, advanced options and others I cannot easily recall. One of them was to select system restore point. This gave me access directly to other restore points. Same problems arose. Once again it would not reboot into my Windows start and logon screens. In despair (and while waiting for a reply to my query) I turned the computer off. When I restarted my computer, up came a little screen that said trying to restore from a restore date (of recent days) and eventually restarted everything okay so that I could once again log on and access my programs and data. Happy but with a lingering doubt about the real effectiveness of Win 10 restore points. Restored a little (very little) faith in this process.

Thanks for your prompt reply, much appreciated. I think I should back up (and remove) all my data etc and make a disc image in case of this "nonsense" again. Your valued thoughts about this process please?

 

I can tell you disc images have saved my ass on more than one occasion, lol. I use an external USB drive and the app that comes with Windows Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Backup and Restore (Windows 7) > Create System Image.

However, make sure you fixed any problems first or you'll be saving a "tainted" image and end up putting the problem(s) back if you ever need to reinstate the image.