How to Resolve System Restore Being Disabled in Windows 11/10/8/7

Why Is System Restore Grayed Out in Windows?

If you're encountering a message stating that "System Restore is disabled by a system administrator," this blog post will guide you in resolving the issue on your Windows 11/10/8/7 computer. This typically occurs on computers that are not part of a domain or corporate network. The primary cause for this issue is incorrect policies and registry entries; however, you can rectify it easily.

You might need to install or update certain applications that could potentially disrupt your PC's performance or cause issues. In such scenarios, the built-in System Restore feature in Windows proves to be useful, allowing you to revert your system to a previous state where it was functioning normally without any problems.

This feature creates a restore point of the system files and the registry when the system is functioning correctly. To utilize this feature on your computer/laptop, you should manually create a restore point or configure your system settings to automatically create restore points daily.

3 Ways to Fix the System Restore Grayed Out Problem

Many users have encountered an issue while attempting to use System Restore and encountering the error message "System Restore is disabled by the system administrator." Furthermore, some users have observed that the System Restore option is grayed out, indicating that they cannot create a system restore point or revert the system to a previous functioning state. If you're frustrated by encountering this error message on your Windows PC, continue reading to explore three troubleshooting approaches.

• Method 1: Using Registry Editor
• Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor
• Method 3: Using an Elevated Command Prompt

Method 1: Using Registry Editor

When using the Windows 10 Home edition, utilize the Windows Registry, whereas in Windows 10 Professional, you can leverage Group Policy.

So, first, let's try the registry method on our Windows 10 Home edition.

Follow the step-by-step instructions:

Step 1. Type "Registry Editor" in the taskbar search box, and click on it to open it.

Step 2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ SystemRestore.

Step 3. Select "DisableConfig" and "DisableSR" on the right, then delete both.

After deleting them, restart your PC/laptop to apply the changes and check the system restore option to see if it's enabled.

Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor

Here, we attempt the Group Policy method on our Windows 10 Professional system.

Please follow the steps outlined below in detail:

Step 1. Type "Edit group policy" in the search bar on the taskbar.

Step 2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > System Restore.

Step 3. Locate the "Turn off System Restore" setting, double-click on it to set it to "Not Configured" or "Disabled", and finally, click "OK".

Now close the window, restart your PC/Laptop, and check if System Restore is enabled.

Method 3: Using an Elevated Command Prompt

Resolve this issue (system restore disabled) by using the elevated command prompt. Follow the detailed steps below carefully: 1. **Open the Command Prompt as an Administrator:** - Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard. - From the menu that appears, choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" depending on your Windows version. 2. **Type the Following Commands and Press Enter After Each One:** - Type `sfc /scannow` and press Enter. This command will scan your system for any corrupted files and repair them if found. - Wait for the process to complete. It may take some time. 3. **Check System Protection Settings:** - Type `rstrui.exe` and press Enter. This will open the System Restore wizard. - If the "Restore Point" option is still grayed out, proceed to the next step. 4. **Enable System Protection:** - Type `diskmgmt.msc` and press Enter. This will open the Disk Management utility. - Locate your system drive, usually C:. - Right-click on it and select "Properties." - In the Properties window, go to the "System Protection" tab. - If System Protection is turned off, click "Turn on system protection." - Set the maximum disk space usage if desired, then click "Apply" and "OK." 5. **Create a New Restore Point (Optional):** - Back in the System Properties window, click on "Create" under the "System Protection" tab. - Give your new restore point a descriptive name and click "Create." - Wait for the process to finish. 6. **Close the Command Prompt:** - Once all the above steps are completed, close the Command Prompt. 7. **Try System Restore Again:** - Reopen the System Restore wizard by typing `rstrui.exe` in the elevated command prompt. - Now, you should be able to proceed with creating or selecting a restore point. If the issue persists after following these steps, there might be deeper underlying problems, and seeking professional assistance may be advisable.

Step 1. In the taskbar search box, type "cmd" to open the Command Prompt. Right-click on it and select "Run as administrator" from the context menu.

This is an image showing "Using Elevated Command Prompt-1". The image displays a screenshot of the Windows operating system's command prompt window with administrative privileges. The title bar of the command prompt is highlighted in blue, indicating that it has been run as an administrator. The text within the window typically indicates various commands or actions that can be executed with elevated permissions.

Step 2. Type the following command in the Command Prompt and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe /d srrstr.dll,ExecuteScheduledSPPCreation This command runs the rundll32 executable with the parameters to execute the scheduled creation of System Preparation Package (SPP) files. The %windir% typically refers to the Windows installation directory (e.g., C:\Windows). The srrstr.dll is a dynamic link library file that contains the necessary functions for this specific operation.

Note: The corresponding system process might not be running in the background, so you should start it manually.

Step 3. Type "Services" in the search box on the taskbar and click on it to open it.

Step 4. Locate "Volume Shadow Copy", right-click on it, and select "Start" from the drop-down menu. If you want this process to run automatically the next time, set the Startup type to Automatic and then click "OK".

This is an image showing the process of using an elevated Command Prompt in Windows. In the image, the user has opened the Start menu and is typing "cmd" in the search bar. The search result for "Command Prompt" is highlighted, and there's a visible "Run as administrator" option underneath it. This option is essential to run commands with elevated privileges, allowing access to system-level functions that a standard Command Prompt may not permit.

Bonus Tip: A Superior Method to Secure Your Windows PC

Logically, we cannot rely on Windows to create a comprehensive backup of all our files and data, as it does not provide a full backup of all your information. It only creates a limited backup of its own files and certain data. Consequently, if a virus or malware infects your computer, it could impact both your backups and the original files.

Thus, it's essential to back up your valuable data elsewhere to ensure its safety from any potential disasters and make it accessible to you from anywhere. In this context, Todo Backup Home is undoubtedly an excellent choice. It provides you with accessible and flexible storage space to create scheduled backups of your computers and restore them as needed.

Todo Backup Home is a professional backup software for Windows 11/10/8/7. It enables you to automate the backup of your files, disks, systems, and even compress backups. Additionally, it allows you to create an ISO image from your hard drive and clone a hard drive. You can also utilize it to back up your favorite games, such as backing up Minecraft worlds and Cyberpunk 2077. Moreover, it provides a secure zone and 250GB of free cloud storage to enhance data protection.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for backing up your computer: 1. **Select Backup Method**: Decide on the backup method you want to use. This could be an external hard drive, USB drive, cloud storage service (like Google Drive or Dropbox), or network-attached storage (NAS). 2. **Prepare Backup Storage**: Connect your chosen backup device to your computer. If using cloud storage, ensure you have a stable internet connection. 3. **Windows Users:** - **Open Backup Settings**: Click on the 'Start' button, type 'Backup' in the search bar, and select 'Backup settings'. - **Set Up Backup**: Choose the backup drive and click 'Add a drive'. You can choose to backup all files or select specific folders. - **Schedule Backup**: You can set it to run automatically or do it manually when needed. - **Start Backup**: Click 'Save settings and exit' then 'Back up now' to start the process. 4. **Mac Users:** - **Open Time Machine**: Click on the Apple menu, select 'System Preferences', then click 'Time Machine'. - **Set Up Backup Drive**: Connect your backup drive and click 'Use as Backup Disk'. - **Choose What to Backup**: By default, everything is selected. If you want to exclude any files or folders, click 'Options'. - **Start Backup**: Click 'Backup Now' to begin the initial backup. 5. **Cloud Backup:** - **Sign In**: Log in to your cloud storage provider's app or website. - **Choose Files/Folders**: Select the files or folders you wish to back up. - **Upload**: Depending on the service, either click 'Upload' or wait for the automatic sync to start. 6. **Wait for Completion**: The time it takes to complete the backup will depend on the amount of data being backed up and your computer's speed. 7. **Verify Backup**: After the process is done, verify that the backup was successful by checking the backup location or restoring a small file to ensure its integrity. Remember, it's crucial to regularly update your backups to ensure you have the latest version of your files in case of any data loss.

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup on your computer, and click Create Backup on the home screen. Then, hit the big question mark to select backup contents.

Step 2. To back up your Windows operating system, click "OS" to start the backup task.

Step 3. Your Windows operating system information and all system-related files and partitions will be automatically selected, so you don't need to make any manual selections here. Next, you need to choose a location to save the system image backup by clicking on the highlighted area.

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, network, cloud, or NAS. Generally, we recommend using an external physical drive or cloud to store the system backup files.

Step 5. If you're interested, you can access customization settings like enabling an automatic backup schedule for daily, weekly, monthly intervals, or on specific events, as well as creating differential and incremental backups by clicking the Options button. Once done, click "Backup Now". This will initiate the Windows system backup process. When completed, the backup task will be displayed on the left side in a card format.

Final Thoughts

If System Restore is disabled or the System Restore tab is missing, you can rectify the issue using the methods discussed above. Furthermore, you can implement any of these modifications on your Windows system to resolve the system restore greyed out problem.

It's worth mentioning that if you wish to better protect the data on your computer, you can try using the Todo Backup Home tool. Simply download Todo Backup Home and eliminate worries forever!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is System Restore disabled?

There are several reasons why System Restore may be disabled. Firstly, it could be that your system administrator has intentionally disabled it. This is a common occurrence in office environments, as administrators typically have control over computer settings. Another possibility is that you might have installed questionable third-party software which inadvertently tampered with the configuration. Regardless of the reason for the disablement, you can resolve the issue promptly by following the detailed steps and methods discussed above.

2. Is System Restore enabled by default in Windows 10?

You should activate it manually, as it is not enabled by default in Windows 10. To do this, simply type "Create a restore point" in the taskbar search field, open System Properties, click on System, then under Protection settings, click Configure. In the next step, select Turn on system protection, click Apply, and finally, click OK.

3. What happens if you interrupt a System Restore? If you interrupt a System Restore process, the outcome can vary depending on when and how you stop it. Here's what typically occurs: 1. **During Preparation Stage**: If you interrupt the System Restore while it's preparing, Windows may simply close the operation without causing any significant issues. The next time you attempt to perform a System Restore, it should start from the beginning. 2. **While Restoring Files**: If the interruption occurs while files are being restored, there is a risk of leaving your system in an unstable state. Some files might be partially restored or in a corrupted state, leading to potential issues with system stability or application functioning. 3. **Close to Completion**: If you interrupt System Restore near the end, it could result in a partially completed restore point. This could cause problems, as some system settings and files might have changed, and the system might not boot up correctly. In any of these scenarios, it's advisable to restart your computer and try the System Restore again. If you experience issues after interrupting a System Restore, you might need to use other recovery options, such as Safe Mode, System Image Recovery, or even a clean installation of Windows. It's crucial to avoid interrupting critical system processes to prevent unintended consequences. If you're facing issues that led to initiating a System Restore, consider seeking assistance or troubleshooting the problem before attempting the restore.

Windows performs several tasks during the restoration process to address issues. Consequently, there can be multiple reasons and possibilities for interrupting the system restore. For instance, an incomplete Windows registry might lead to the corruption of system files, rendering the system unbootable. Additionally, any unexpected interruption, such as a random error or a power outage, could disrupt the System Restore operation, preventing it from completing successfully.

4. Can I retrieve my files after performing System Restore?

Indeed, it's not challenging to retrieve your files after a system restore if you have created a backup. However, bear in mind that Windows does not create a backup of all your files and data, as it only performs a limited backup. Therefore, it's advisable to utilize a tool like Todo Backup Home before making any system alterations, ensuring the safety of all your essential files and data.