Applies to: Windows 10. If you have Windows 8.1, 7 or Vista you should read about System Restore here.
Windows 10 System Protection (previously known as: System Restore) does not always come turned on as standard!
What is System Protection
“System protection is a feature that regularly creates and saves information about your computer’s system files and settings. System protection also saves previous versions of files that you’ve modified. It saves these files in restore points, which are created just before significant system events, such as the installation of a program or device driver.”[1]
Please note this is not a replacement to having a backup of your personal files, photos and documents.
Enable System Protection (or check if it is on)
- Open File Explorer from the start menu
- Right click on “This PC”
- Select “Properties”
- Select System Protection from the left hand menu
- Click on C: from the “Available Drives” list
- If it says “On” next to it then you can close down the screens
- If it says “Off” then click on “Configure”
- Select “Turn on System Protection”
- Click “OK”
- Then close all these windows by clicking OK or the red X in the top right of the window
For instructions with pictures, but in a bit more (too much?) detail click here.
Let me know how you get on in comments below or on The Clubroom.
Mike
[1] description taken from here.
July 26, 2016 at 7:24 pm
Hi Mike,
Checked to see if System protection is on in my PC , yes it is . All good.
While checking this out , I noticed that Recovery (D) is off, is that right?
Liz.
July 27, 2016 at 9:10 am
Hi Liz
Yes D: drive is generally not used for Windows system files so does not need System Protection on. It yours says “(C:) (System)” then this is the only one you need System Protection on.
As I said this does not replace a backup of your personal files, but it can be a way to get Windows back up and running quickly if it fails.
Do you have any plans for the week??
Mike =)