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30 July 2024  Jennifer Thatcher  Technology Manager of Test Dept.
 

Summary
The article explains the concept of restore points in Windows operating systems, emphasizing their importance in reverting a computer to a previous state to resolve system issues or problems caused by new software installations. It also introduces Renee Becca, a specialized tool for backing up and restoring system and hard disk data, highlighting its features such as incremental and differential backup technology, support for various types of backups, and the ability to create automatic backup plans.



Table of contents

table iconWhat Are Restore Points?
table iconWhen Are Restore Points Created?
table iconWhat's In a Restore Point?
table iconRestore Point Storage
table iconUsing System Restore
table iconAlternative to Windows System Backup - Renee Becca
table iconSummary
A restore point is a critical feature in Windows operating systems that helps revert your computer to a previous state. This feature can be a lifesaver when dealing with system issues or after installing problematic software. In this article, we will delve into what restore points are, when they are created, their contents, and how to use them effectively.

What Are Restore Points?

A restore point, sometimes referred to as a system restore point, is essentially a snapshot of important Windows system files in C drive at a specific point in time. These snapshots allow you to revert your system to a previous state without affecting your personal files like images, documents, and music. This makes restore points a valuable tool for troubleshooting and fixing PC issues.
select the restore point

When Are Restore Points Created?

Windows creates restore points automatically in several scenarios:
- Before a program is installed, assuming the installer is compliant with System Restore.
- Before an update is installed via Windows Update.
- Before an update to a driver.
- Before executing a System Restore, allowing for the undoing of the restore.
Additionally, restore points are created automatically after a predetermined period, which varies depending on the version of Windows:
- Windows 11/10/8/7: Every 7 days if no other restore points exist over that time frame.
- Windows Vista: Every day if a restore point was not already created that day.
- Windows XP: Every 24 hours, regardless of existing restore points. You can also manually create a restore point at any time.

What's In a Restore Point?

A restore point includes all the necessary information to return your computer to its state at the time of the snapshot. This typically includes important system files, the Windows Registry, program executables, and supporting files.
In Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Vista, a restore point is a volume shadow copy, which is a snapshot of your entire drive, including personal files. However, during a System Restore, only non-personal files are restored.
In Windows XP, a restore point is a collection of important files, including the Windows Registry and files with specific extensions in certain folders, as specified in the filelist.xml file located in the C:\Windows\System32\Restore\ directory. Using System Restore will not restore personal files like documents, music, or emails. This feature ensures that restoring to a previous point won’t delete personal data but also won’t recover deleted personal files.
Can I recover delete files from Widows Restore Point? No, System Restore is not designed to be a file recovery utility that lets you “undelete” your files. If you accidentally delete a folder full of crucial documents and can’t recover them from the Recycle Bin, System Restore isn’t your rescuer. For such instances, you’d require a specific tool designed for data recovery purposes.

Restore Point Storage

The storage space for restore points is limited and varies by Windows version:
- Windows 11, 10 & 8: Restore points can use from 1% to 100% of the hard drive space.
- Windows 7: On drives of 64 GB or less, up to 3% of disk space; on larger drives, up to 5% or 10 GB, whichever is less.
- Windows Vista: Up to 30% of the free space or 15% of the total space on the drive.
- Windows XP: On drives of 4 GB or less, up to 400 MB; on larger drives, up to 12% of the disk space. It’s possible to change these default storage limits to better suit your needs.

Using System Restore

To use System Restore, you can start it from the command prompt by using the rstrui.exe command. Follow the instructions in the System Restore wizard to select a restore point and revert your system. To access Windows Advanced Startup Options, hold down the Shift key and restart your computer.
windows Key + R
rstrui exe
Alternatively, enter shutdown /r /o in the command prompt. From this menu, you can perform a System Restore.

Alternative to Windows System Backup - Renee Becca

1. What is Renee Becca?

Renee Becca is a specialized tool for system and hard disk data backup and restoration. It helps back up and restore important data such as programs, system configurations, emails, photos, videos, documents, and bookmarks. Utilizing advanced incremental and differential backup technology, it saves time and disk space. It supports system, partition, hard disk, and file backup, as well as disk cloning. The software also allows for automatic backup plans, saving time and effort.

2. How to use Renee Becca to backup Windows 10 system?

Step 1: Download, install, and run Renee Becca on the computer, and select the (System Backup) option.
system backup renee becca
You can customize the system backup in Renee Becca.
system backup start
Step 2: Select the source file and the destination.
The source file typically defaults to the system partition, and the destination is where you want to save the system backup. In the backup plan, choose a suitable scheme based on your needs. Renee Becca offers 5 options: version chain mode, single version mode, full mode, incremental mode, and differential mode.
system backup mode
Renee Becca offers 5 backup plans:
* Version chain mode: Keeps the latest 5 versions, automatically deleting older versions after each backup.
* Single version mode: Retains only the most recent version, deleting the previous one after each backup.
* Full pattern: Creates a full backup.
* Incremental mode: After an initial full backup, only incremental backups are created.
* Differential mode: After an initial full backup, only differential backups are created.
In addition, using Scheduler, you can set a daily/weekly/monthly automatic backup plan and the time to start the backup. Click (OK) to enable the automatic backup.
system backup-schedule
Step 3: After all settings are completed, click (Backup).
You can view the backup progress by switching to the Task tab on the main interface of Renee Becca. If you need to restore the system, please read the System Restore guide.
system backup renee becca

Summary

Restore points are a vital feature in Windows operating systems, providing a safety net by allowing you to revert to a previous state in case of system issues. They are created automatically in various scenarios and can also be created manually. While they do not affect personal files, they include all necessary system information to restore your computer to a previous state. Understanding how to use and manage restore points can help you maintain the stability and performance of your PC.
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