Guide | How To Start System Restore when you cannot log into Windows (from Advanced Boot)

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LASER_oneXM

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source: Start System Restore when you cannot log into Windows (from Advanced Boot) | Digital Citizen


System Restore is a great tool that allows you to revert Windows and its settings to a previous working state. This is useful when you encounter problems with drivers that destabilize the system or software that malfunctions. However, at times, some of the changes you make may affect your system so badly that you can no longer log into Windows. What can you do to make Windows work again? You boot System Restore and then use it to revert Windows to a working state. Here’s how it is done:

NOTE: This guide covers Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. The first two operating systems are covered in the next section of this tutorial. Windows 7 is covered in the second section. If you use Windows 7, don’t hesitate to scroll down a bit until you find the instructions that interest you.


How to start System Restore from Advanced Boot Options (in Windows 10 and Windows 8.1)
In Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, you need to get to the screen with Advanced Boot Options. There are many ways to do that:

  • Boot from a USB memory stick with recovery tools. You can learn to create one from here: How To Create A Recovery Drive In Windows 10 and How to Create a Recovery Drive on a USB Memory Stick in Windows 8 & 8.1.
  • Boot from a system repair disc (CD or DVD). Learn how to create one here: What is a system repair disc and how to create one in Windows.
  • Boot from a setup disc or USB memory stick with the Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 installation. When it is loaded, choose the language and the keyboard layout you prefer, click Next and then on “Repair your computer.”
  • If you are lucky and you can get to the sign-in screen, press and hold the SHIFT key on the keyboard and then in the Power menu, chose Restart. Windows reboots and it loads several boot options that are described later in this section.
  • If Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 fails to boot normally three times over, the fourth time it goes by default to an Automatic Repair mode. To trigger the Automatic Repair mode, you must interrupt the normal boot process three consecutive times: use the reset or the power button on your PC to stop it during boot, before it finishes loading Windows. If you use the power button, you might have to keep it pressed for at least 4 seconds to force the power off. When your PC enters the Automatic Repair mode, the first thing you see is a screen that tells you that the operating system is “Preparing Automatic Repair.” Wait for Windows to try to make an automatic diagnosis of your PC. Then, on the “Automatic Repair” screen, press the “Advanced options” button.
Once you boot using one of the methods shared above, you get to a blue screen that shows you several options, similar to the one below. Choose Troubleshoot.

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D

Deleted member 65228

Malicious software can delete System Restore Points if it wants so unless you get unlucky with an infection which does this, then great news.

If I owned an AV corp. I'd protect that area because well... it's sort of common sense
 
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