On Windows 10, System Restore is a feature that works like a time machine that takes your computer to an earlier point in time to reverse system changes using a restore point. This feature is particularly useful to recover from a number of issues when your device isn't working correctly without affecting your files.
Usually, new restore points are created automatically before a significant event occurs, such as when installing a new app, driver, or software update, and you can even trigger them manually. The only caveat is that using a restore point that isn't recent may end up undoing many unnecessary changes. However, if you want to make sure there is always a fresh restore point available, you can configure System Restore to generate additional checkpoints every time you start Windows 10.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to use Task Scheduler along with a PowerShell command to create restore points automatically during startup.
How to create system restore points at startupTo create automatic restore points during startup, you must enable System Restore, disable the restore point creation frequency option, and use Task Scheduler to create a task to automate the restore point process every time your computer starts.
Enabling system restore point serviceOn Windows 10, System Restore comes disabled by default, but you can use these steps to enable the feature:
1. Open
Start.
2. Search for
Create a restore point and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Under "
Protection Settings," if your device system drive has "Protection" set to "
Off," click the
Configure button.
4. Select the Turn on system protection option.
5. Click
Apply.
6. Click
OK.
Once you've completed the steps, you can continue with the steps below to configure System Restore to create restore points during startup.
If you want to disable System Restore, you can use the same instructions, but on step No. 4, make sure to select the Disable system protection option.
Disabling system restore point frequencyWhen you enable System Restore, Windows 10 doesn't create additional automatic restore points if there's another restore point that has been created within the last 24 hours. Although this restriction won't apply when triggering a new restore point manually or automatically as a result of an app, driver, or update installation, it'll prevent Task Scheduler from creating restore points during startup. However, it's possible to avoid this problem by disabling the frequency option using these steps:
Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don't do it correctly. It's recommended to make a full backup of your PC before proceeding.
1. Use the
Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the
Run command.
2. Type
regedit, and click
OK to open the Registry.
3. Browse the following path ▼:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
Quick Tip: On Windows 10, you can now copy and paste the path in the Registry's address bar to quickly jump to the key destination.
4. Right-click the
SystemRestore (folder) key, select
New, and click on
DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the key
SystemRestorePointCreationFrequency and press Enter.
6. Double-click the newly created key and make sure its value is set to
0.
7. Click
OK.
After completing the steps, Task Scheduler should be able to run the task with the corresponding command to create new restore points at every startup.
Windows 10 is very savvy at controlling the number of restore points that can be stored on your device, as such, you shouldn't be worrying about running out of space when disabling this feature.
If you no longer want to create new checkpoints at startup, you can always revert the Registry changes using the same instructions, but on step
No. 4 ▲, make sure to right-click the SystemRestorePointCreationFrequency DWORD and select the
Delete option, and then delete the task using the steps below.
Creating a system restore point during startupThe next step is to use the Task Scheduler to create a new task that will run at startup to trigger a new restore point using these steps:
1. Open
Start.
2. Search for
Task Scheduler, click the top result to open the experience.
3. Right-click the
Task Scheduler Library folder.
4. Click the
Create Task option.
5. Click on the
General tab.
6. In the "
Name" field, type a descriptive name for the task. For example, My Restore Point Startup.
7. Under "
Security options," select the
Run whether the user is logged on or not option.
8. Check the
Run with highest privileges option.
9. Click on the
Triggers tab.
10. Click the
New button.
11. Use the "
Begin the task" drop-down menu and select the At
startup option.
12. Click the
OK button.
13. Click on the
Actions tab.
14. Click the
New button.
15. Use the "Actions" drop-down menu and select the Start a program option.
16. In the "Program/script" field, type the following command:
powershell.exe
In the "
Add arguments (optional)" field, type the following command:
-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "Checkpoint-Computer -Description \"My Restore Point Startup\" -RestorePointType \"MODIFY_SETTINGS\""
18. Click the
OK button.
19. Click the
Conditions tab.
20. Under "
Power," clear the following two options:
○
Stop if the computer switches to battery power.
○
Start the task only if the computer is on AC power.
21. Click the
OK button.
22. Specify the
password for your account.
23. Click the
OK button.
Once you've completed the steps, the new task will appear in the Task Scheduler Library folder, and it'll run to create a new system restore point every time you start your device.
You can always stop running the task by right-clicking the task inside the "Task Scheduler Library" folder and selecting the Delete option.
Checking system restore pointsAfter following the above instructions, you can make sure that system restore points are being created by restarting your device, waiting around five minutes, and using these steps:
1. Open
Start.
2. Search for
Create a restore point and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Click the
System Restore button.
4. Select the
Choose a different restore point or click the
Next button.
After completing the steps, if the task ran as expected, a new restore point with the "My Restore Point Startup" description should appear in the list.
If you're not seeing new restore points being created, review the steps as the problem is likely a typo or mistake in the command.
Moving forward, every time you turn on or reboot your device, Windows 10 will create a restore point that you can use to revert system changes if your computer isn't working correctly without affecting your files or removing many of the configurations you may have recently made.
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