Restore Windows 11/10 Computer to Eariler Date [Secure Way]

Whether you want to restore Windows 11/10/8/7 computer to earlier date with system restore or other tools, you can read this article for stepwise guide.

Lily

by Lily Updated on February 27, 2024

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Why restore your computer to earlier date?

When using a computer in daily life and work, you may encounter various problems such as error loading operating system, "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" loop, computer stuck on restarting screen, etc.

Sometimes you can fix them by conventional means, but in many cases system failures can cause the computer not to function properly or even not to boot up, which makes it difficult to troubleshoot.

In this case, restoring computer to an earlier date could be the last resort to bring it back to a normal state. And to do this, you need to perform system restore correctly. 

👉 How to restore computer to an earlier date with system restore (4 Methods)
👉 What if system restore failed?
👉 Secure way to restore computer to earlier state easily🔥

How to restore computer to an earlier date with system restore

Restoring Dell/HP/Lenovo computer to earlier date is a good idea to make your computer go back to the correct state. Well then, how to restore computer system to an earlier time point?

To restore computer to a previous date, you must create a system backup image or system restore point before. Then, you can directly use it when needed. In Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista, there is a snap-in tool called System Restore which can create a restore point for system recovery.

If you don’t enable system restore in Windows, you still can use a third-party tool like AOMEI Backupper. Similar to System Restore, it’s a free backup and restore software, which can help you restore your computer to an earlier date. Keep reading to learn the detailed steps.

AOMEI Backupper

Best free backup and restore software for personal use.

Method 1: Restore PC to a previous date when your computer is bootable🔥

Step 1. Click System Restore in the System Properties window.

Type "create a restore point" in the search box and select it from the result list. When the System Properties window opens, click the System Restore button.

Step 2. Click Next.

Click Next on the first screen of the System Restore window.

System Restore

Step 3. Select a restore point.

Select the restore point on the following box and click Next.

Select Restore Point

Tip: If you do not want to suffer a big trouble reinstalling the programs you recently installed, you can click Scan for affected programs to find the programs that will be uninstalled during the process and then backup whatever you need.

Step 4. Click Finish to launch the system recovery process.

Confirm you’ve selected the right restore point and click Finish to restore computer settings to previous date.

Confirm

Step 5. Click Restart.

Once your computer restores the system and files, click Restart.

Method 2: Reset computer to earlier date in safe mode

This method is suitable for users whose computer is unbootable. You can consider restoring Windows 7/8/10/11 in safe mode first.

Step 1. Go to safe mode.

👉 In Windows 7

Start your computer, and then press F8 repeatedly until the Windows logo appears.

Safe Mode

👉 In Windows 8/8.1/10/11

  • Boot your computer and interrupt the boot by holding the power button for 3 times.
  • Click Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart to boot into safe mode.

Advanced Options

Step 2. Repeat the steps of system restore in normal state.

Method 3: Restore computer to earlier date from start up

If the system restore from safe mode does not work, you still can create a recovery drive or use an installation disc to restore your computer to earlier date from boot.

Step 1. Insert a recovery drive or installation disc into your computer.

Step 2. Boot your computer into BIOS and set the bootable drive as the first boot option. Then press F10 to save the changes and restart your computer.

Step 3. Click Next until you see  Repair your computer in the lower left corner.

Repair-Your-Computer

Step 4. Click Repair your computer, and then choose Windows 10Troubleshoot > Advanced optionsSystem Restore.

System Restore PE

Step 5. Then, the System Restore window will appear. Just click Next to move on.

Step 6. Repeat the steps in the normal state.

Method 4: Restore computer to earlier date using command prompt

You can also use command prompt to restore computer to earlier date in Windows 10. This approach is similar to the previous one. You need to restore computer settings to earlier date with an installation disc or a recovery drive. The only difference is the recovery tool you are using.

Step 1. Boot from recovery drive or installation disc. Then, go to Repair your computer, and click Windows 10 > Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

Step 2. Click Command Prompt in the Advanced options interface.

Command Prompt

Step 3. Type "rstrui.exe" in the command prompt window and hit Enter.

System Restore CMD

Step 4. Then, you will see the GUI screen of System Restore. Just click Next to go on and repeat the steps until the last step.

🌟Something you may want to know:
  • What happens if the System restore takes too long?
    If System Restore takes too long, it might indicate issues like extensive data restoration, complex system configurations, or underlying hardware/software problems. However, if it seems stuck, restarting and trying again is advisable.
  • How long should a PC System Restore take?The duration of a PC System Restore can vary based on factors like system complexity, the amount of data being restored, and the speed of your computer's hardware. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour.
  • How big should System Restore be?
    The size of a System Restore depends on various factors such as the amount of data stored on your computer, the frequency of system changes, and the allocated disk space for System Restore. Typically, System Restore uses a portion of your hard drive, usually several gigabytes, but this can vary based on system settings and usage patterns.

What if system restore failed?

When you try to restore system from a restore point, you may find that system restore points have gone owing to many reasons like Windows Update, corrupted files, etc. Even if there is a system restore point, you may receive errors during the restoration, such as System Restore did not complete successfully, 0x80070002, System Restore failed to extract the file, volume shadow copy service component encountered an unexpected error, etc.

To get rid of these troubles, you can also adopt another system backup & restore mechanism - using specialist and reliable software like AOMEI Backupper.

The most secure way to restore PC to earlier date

Windows System Restore can indeed restore computer to an earlier state, but sometimes you may find there's no restore point or the restore simply fails. To do it more simply and securely, you can use AOMEI Backupper Standard.

💻 Supported OS

It’s a complete and powerful backup and restore software supporting Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista.

🧲 Various Restore Types

Not only operating system, it can also be used to restore partition, disk, or individual files & folders.

📀 Bootable Media

If you are worried your PC might not boot up due to a malfunction, you can also create a bootable media to restore system in WinPE.

✅ Easy Operation

Compared with Windows System Restore, it is much easier to operate and less error-prone.

👉Video Tutorial: You may want to learn more about system restore to earlier point from the video guide.

Download the freeware AOMEI Backupper Standard to have a try:

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

◉ Preparations before performing system restore

  • Go to Backup tab and choose System Backup to create a system image for recovery needs.

  • Go to Tools tab and use Create Bootable Media tool to make a recovery media in case the computer fails to boot.

  • If the system has crashed without any backup or bootable media, you can also create them on another working PC and restore to the problematic one with the Universal Restore (supported by Professional edition) feature.

◉ How to restore Windows 11/10/8/7 to a previous date

1. Launch this freeware. Click Restore at the left side. Then, click Select Task or Select Image File to find the image.

Select Task Winpe

2. (Optional) If you click Select Task, select the system backup task in the following window and then click Next.

Select Backup Image

3Then, select to restore the entire backup or a part and click Next

Note: Normally you need to select a path for the restoration after this step. But if AOMEI Backupper can detect the original location and you want to restore system to the original location, this software will select the destination path for you.

Select Entire Backup or Partition

4. Then, click Start Restore to execute the progress. When the progress reached 100%, click Finish to exit.

Note: If the system image is created on another PC with different hardware, you need to tick Universal Restore to make sure the computer can boot up after restoration.

Start Restore

Video Tutorial: You may want to learn more about system restore to earlier point from the video guide.

FAQ on restoring to earlier date

1.  How far back can I restore my computer?

The maximum restore point age on a computer depends on several factors, including the settings configured by the user and the available disk space allocated for System Restore. Generally, Windows systems default to creating restore points every day and retaining them for up to 90 days. However, users can adjust these settings to allocate more or less disk space and extend or reduce the duration of available restore points accordingly.

2. Where are the restore points stored in Windows 10?

In Windows 10, restore points are stored in a hidden system folder called "System Volume Information" on the root of the system drive (usually the C: drive). This folder is protected, and access to it is restricted by default to prevent accidental deletion or modification of critical system files. You can't access or view the contents of this folder directly without taking ownership and modifying permissions.

3. Will restoring the computer to an earlier date affect users' personal files and documents?

Restoring your computer to an earlier date using System Restore typically does not affect your personal files and documents. However, it's always a good practice to back up important data before performing a system restoration to avoid potential data loss.

4. Why can't I see any restore points available when trying to restore my computer to an earlier date?

If you can't see any restore points available, it could be due to several reasons, including:

- System protection may not be enabled for your system drive.

- Your computer may not have created any restore points yet.

- The available restore points may have been deleted due to limited disk space.

You can check your system settings and available disk space to troubleshoot this issue.

Wrapping things up

System Restore is a good way to restore computer to an earlier date in Windows 11/10/8/7, but sometimes it does not work properly.

Thus, finding a better backup and restore software to protect your computer is imperative. Don’t hesitate. AOMEI Backupper can be your prior choice, because it’s free and easy to use. And it’s suitable for all kinds of users, from beginners to technicians. It offers different users different versions: the standard and pro versions for home users; the workstation, server and technician versions for business users.

If you want to use the powerful backup & restore features on multiple computers, you could pick Technician or Technician Plus edition, and create a portable version of AOMEI Backupper on removable device.

Lily
Lily · Editor
Lily Green joined AOMEI in 2018 and has since become a professional in the areas of data protection and data transfer. She is committed to helping users protect their precious computer data and troubleshoot Windows system errors. She consistently stays vigilant about the latest trends in technology, guaranteeing that the given information aligned with the ongoing advancements in the field.