Undoing a System Restore

Written by Barry Dysert (last updated April 21, 2014)

If you ever had to perform a System Restore but then realized that you shouldn't have done the restore after all, Windows provides the capability of undoing the restore, thereby setting the system state back to the way it was prior to the restore.

To do this, click Start, right-click on Computer, and then click on Properties. On the screen that appears, click the System Protection, near the upper-left of the screen. Windows displays the System Protection tab of the System Properties dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. Preparing to undo a system restore.

Click the System Restore button just as if you were going to do a restore. Windows displays the System Restore dialog box, which is actually the first step of a wizard. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2. Undoing a system restore.

We now have the (pre-selected) option of undoing the restore we did at the time given. Assuming you want to go through with undoing the restore, leave this radio button selected and click Next. You'll then see the next step of the wizard, confirming that you want to undo the restore. Click Finish and Windows, being very cautious, asks you to confirm you really want to proceed. (See Figure 3.)

Figure 3. Proceeding with undoing the restore.

Clicking Yes on this final screen will start the undo process, which cannot be interrupted so be sure you've selected the right restore point, and that you're ready to have the process begin. Once the operation has completed and the system rebooted, it will now be in the state it was in prior to the original restore being applied.

 This tip (13076) applies to Windows 7.

Author Bio

Barry Dysert

Barry has been a computer professional for over 35 years, working in different positions such as technical team leader, project manager, and software developer. He is currently a software engineer with an emphasis on developing custom applications under Microsoft Windows. When not working with Windows or writing Tips, Barry is an amateur writer. His first non-fiction book is titled "A Chronological Commentary of Revelation." ...

MORE FROM BARRY

Tips for Using USB Drives

USB drives are very useful for storing and transferring data. This tip provides some useful guidance in dealing with USB ...

Discover More

Controlling the Size of the Windows Page File

The Windows page file is crucial to optimal system performance. This tip shows you how to control its size.

Discover More

Renaming Multiple Files at the Same Time

It's possible to rename multiple files at the same time, but the new names of the files may leave a bit to be desired. ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Understanding File Paths

Every file on your disk drive has a unique file path that defines its location. Understanding how file paths work can be ...

Discover More

Showing File Extensions

All file types have an extension, and Microsoft hides them by default. Learn how to turn file extensions on.

Discover More

Understanding and Using File Attributes

Every file has several attributes associated with it. These attributes can be turned on or off in a couple of ways and ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is six more than 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

Newest Tips
Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.