Recovering From a Windows Crash: A Comprehensive Guide

Preparation Is Key

Before any malfunction occurs, it’s important to regularly back up your data and system settings. With Windows, you can use the built-in “Backup and Restore” feature. This tool can create a system image which is an exact copy of your entire system at the point of backup. It includes Windows, your system settings, programs, and files.

Step 1: Start in Safe Mode

If your system is malfunctioning to a point where normal operation is impossible, you should start by booting in Safe Mode. This is a restricted state where only essential system programs and services start, which can prevent problematic software from interfering with the process.

To boot in Safe Mode, restart your PC. As soon as the system starts booting up, press the F8 key repeatedly until you see the ‘Advanced Boot Options’ menu. From here, select ‘Safe Mode’.

Step 2: Access System Restore

Once you’ve successfully logged into Safe Mode, you can access the System Restore tool. In Windows 10 and onwards, you can find this by typing “Create a restore point” into the search box on the taskbar, and then selecting it from the list of results.

In the System Properties window that opens up, you’ll find a ‘System Restore’ button on the ‘System Protection’ tab. Click on this button to open the System Restore utility.

Step 3: Choose a Restore Point

Once you’ve opened the System Restore utility, click ‘Next’ on the first screen to proceed. You’ll now be presented with a list of available restore points – these are snapshots of your system’s settings and configuration at various points in time.

Try to choose a restore point from before your system started malfunctioning. If you’re not sure, Windows often recommends a restore point. If no recommended points are available, select the most recent one.

Step 4: Confirm and Restore

After you’ve selected a restore point, click ‘Next’, then ‘Finish’. System Restore will ask for a final confirmation – once you start the process, it can’t be interrupted, so make sure you won’t need to use your PC for a while.

Click ‘Yes’ to confirm, and System Restore will begin the process of rolling your system back to the state it was in at the chosen restore point. Your computer will reboot as part of this process.

System Restore doesn’t affect personal files such as documents, pictures, or emails. However, any programs or drivers installed after the chosen restore point will be uninstalled, and any uninstalled programs or drivers will be restored.

Step 5: Post-Restoration

Once your computer has rebooted, you should find that your system is functioning as it was at the time of the restore point.

“Reset This PC”

If System Restore doesn’t resolve your problem, the next step is to try the “Reset This PC” feature. Here’s how:

1. Open “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Recovery”.
2. Under “Reset this PC”, select “Get started”.
3. You’ll be given two options: “Keep my files” or “Remove everything”. Choose as per your needs.
4. Follow the instructions to complete the process.

Remember, choosing “Remove everything” will delete all your personal files, apps, and settings, while “Keep my files” will only delete apps and settings but keep your personal files intact.

Being able to restore Windows can give you peace of mind when dealing with computer troubles. It’s a powerful tool, and knowing how to use it effectively is an essential skill for any Windows user.