System Restore From the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

If for any reason you cannot boot into Windows, you can try to use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to run System Restore. In that case you will be doing what is called an "Offline Restore".

Note: While in WinRE, System Restore is not able to create an undo restore point prior to any rollback. Therefore, undoing a rollback is not supported from WinRE.

To use System Restore while in the WinRE, use the following steps:

  1. Boot the computer to the Windows Vista backup media.

  2. On the Install Windows screen, click Next.

  3. On the Install Windows screen, select Repair your computer.

  4. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Next.

  5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, select the appropriate operating system, and then click Next.

    Note: If controller drivers are needed, click Load Drivers.

  6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click System Restore.
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  7. In the System Restore dialog box, click Next.
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  8. In the Choose a restore point dialog box, select a day and time from the list when the computer was working properly, and then click Next.
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  9. In the Confirm disks to restore dialog box, verify that (C:) (System) is checked, and then click Next.
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  10. In the Confirm your restore point dialog box, click Finish.
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  11. In the System Restore dialog box, click Yes.
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  12. The computer makes the appropriate changes.
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  13. In the System Restore dialog box, click Restart.
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  14. After the computer restarts into Windows, in the System Restore dialog box, click Close.
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  15. Determine whether the computer is working properly. If it does not work properly, repeat the preceding steps and select an earlier time and date.