Windows System Reset, Restore, or Refresh

If the CTI Navigator function currently incurring an error previously worked (within the last few weeks) on this computer, and all other approaches to fixing the error (see Menu of Error Fixes) have failed, you can use the Windows System Reset/Restore/Refresh function to reset Windows back to when everything worked correctly. 

Topic Index:

• Restore Windows 10
  • Undo System Restore in Windows 10 and 8.1
• Reset Windows 10
• Restore Windows 8
• Refresh or Reset Windows 8
• Restore Windows XP, Vista, or 7
  • Undo a System Restore in Windows 7 and Vista
• Related Articles

Restore Windows 10

1. Right-click on the Windows Start button and then select System
2. On the left pane, select "System Protection", and then click the "System Restore" button
3. On the System Restore screen, select "Choose a different restore point" and then click Next
4. Select a restore point for a time when Windows was working properly (i.e., before the problem occurred), and click Next
5. Confirm the selected restore point, and click Finish
6. Click "Yes" at the message "System Restore cannot be interrupted - Do you want to continue?"

Undo System Restore in Windows 10 and 8.1

System Restore in Windows 10 and 8.1 creates a new restore point before performing the restore process. This is to allow you to undo your actions by performing this same process and selecting that new restore point if desired.

Reset Windows 10

1. Left-click on Start and select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery
2. Under "Reset this PC", select "Get Started"
3. Under "Choose an Option", either click on
   • "Keep My Files" to remove apps and settings but keep personal files; OR click on
   • "Remove Everything" to remove all your personal files, apps, and settings. 

Restore Windows 8 and 8.1

1. Open the Windows Control Panel 

• On any screen, press the Windows logo key + the X key, and select Control Panel; or 

• In Tiles View, type “Control Panel” and click on Control Panel under Apps Results; or

• In Desktop view, open the Charms Bar, click on Settings, and select Control Panel

2.      Open System Restore  

• In Icon View: click Recovery, select System Recovery, click "System Restore" 

• In Category View: select “System & Security”, click “System”, select "System Protection", click "System Restore" button

3.     Follow the prompts. 

• To restore to a date earlier than the last displayed restore point, check the "Show more restore points" box on the bottom left of the list of restore points.

• To see what programs or drivers would be affected by restoring, select a restore time and date, and click the "Scan for affected programs" button on the bottom right of the list of restore points. 

System Restore is not available in Windows RT.

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In addition to System Restore, Windows 8 also includes functions to Refresh or Reset your Windows. 

• Refresh reinstalls Windows 8 and keeps your personal files, settings, and apps that came preinstalled in Windows or apps installed from Microsoft's Windows Store, but removes apps (such as CTI Navigator Desktop) installed from other websites or other media (such as DVD or USB). 
• Reset deletes everything and then reinstalls Windows 8 and only those apps that came preinstalled with Windows. 

Refresh or Reset Windows 8: 

1. Open the Charm bar (by positioning your cursor in the top or bottom right corner of a screen)
2. Select Settings 
3. Select "Change PC Settings",
4. Click General,
5. Select either
   • "Refresh your PC without affecting your files" (see Refresh description above), and click "Get Started"; or 
   • "Remove everything and reinstall Windows" (see Reset description above), and then click "Get Started". 
     Note: If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option and choose to fully clean the drive. This might take an hour or two, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed.

General Notes for System Restore

Note 1: System Restore does not affect data files. However, any device drivers, programs or program updates that were installed later than the Restore date will need to be re-installed. 

Note 2: If your system files have been infected by a virus, restoring Windows to a point before the infection occurred may  help remove the effects of the virus. However, some viruses are not themselves removed by System Restore. (See the related article below, Security Cleanup Links.)

Note 3: For Microsoft's instructions on using System Restore, see the Help and Support function in your version of Windows, or click the appropriate Internet link in related articles below. 

Note 4: For Microsoft's instructions on how-to uninstall and reinstall Windows, see the related article below.

To Restore just the standard fonts for Windows, see the related article below, "Restore Windows' Standard Fonts." 

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Related articles and Internet links:

• Configure Windows Security
• How to Restore or Reset Windows 8 (by Microsoft)
• Menu of Error Fixes when using CTI Navigator 
• Recovery Options in Windows 10
• Restore Windows' standard Fonts 
• Security Cleanup Links 
• Windows Vista Repair and Restore Tools [Microsoft article] 

To return to CTI's menu of Help & Tutorials, click here or use the back arrow at the top of your Internet browser. To go directly to CTI's menu of Error Fixes, click here.

{rev. 06.01.2017}