Windows boot how to restore version​

The Windows boot process is a crucial sequence of events that allows your computer to start up and load the operating system. However, various issues such as system crashes, hardware problems, or software conflicts can disrupt this process and lead to boot failures. In some cases, you may need to restore a previous boot version to get your system back up and running. 

Windows Boot Process

Before delving into the restoration methods, it’s important to understand the basic steps of the Windows boot process:

Power – on Self – Test (POST): When you turn on your computer, the BIOS or UEFI firmware performs a POST to check the hardware components such as the CPU, memory, and storage devices.

Boot Loader: After a successful POST, the boot loader is loaded. In Windows, the boot loader is responsible for loading the operating system kernel. For older Windows versions, it was NTLDR (Windows NT, 2000. XP), and for newer versions, it is the Windows Boot Manager (bootmgr).

Kernel Loading: The boot loader loads the Windows kernel (ntoskrnl.exe) into memory and passes control to it.

Device Initialization and User Logon: The kernel initializes hardware devices and loads system services. Finally, the user logon screen appears.

Reasons for Restoring the Windows Boot Version

There are several reasons why you might need to restore the Windows boot version:

System Updates: Sometimes, a system update can cause compatibility issues with your hardware or other software, leading to boot problems. Restoring the previous boot version can help resolve these issues.

Driver Installation: A newly installed driver may be incompatible with your system, causing the boot process to fail. Reverting to the previous boot configuration can fix this.

Malware Infection: Malware can corrupt the boot files, making it impossible to boot the system normally. Restoring the boot version can remove the corrupted files.

Prerequisites

Before attempting to restore the Windows boot version, you should:

Back Up Your Data: It’s always a good idea to back up your important data in case something goes wrong during the restoration process. You can use an external hard drive, cloud storage, or other backup solutions.

Create a Windows Installation Media: You will need a Windows installation USB drive or DVD. You can create this using the Media Creation Tool provided by Microsoft. Download the tool from the official Microsoft website, run it, and follow the instructions to create the installation media.

Methods to Restore the Windows Boot Version

Method 1: Using System Restore

System Restore is a built – in feature in Windows that allows you to revert your system to a previous state. This can be useful if the boot problem occurred after a recent software installation or system update.

Boot into Safe Mode: If your computer can still boot, try to boot into Safe Mode. On Windows 10 and 11. you can do this by repeatedly pressing the F8 key during startup (this may vary depending on your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings). On newer systems, you can also go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and under “Advanced startup”, click “Restart now”. Then, in the advanced options menu, select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings” > “Restart”. Press F4 to boot into Safe Mode.

Open System Restore: Once in Safe Mode, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type “rstrui.exe” and press Enter.

Select a Restore Point: In the System Restore window, click “Next”. You will see a list of available restore points. Select a restore point that was created before the boot problem occurred and click “Next” again.

Start the Restoration Process: Review the details of the restore point and click “Finish”. Your computer will restart, and the system will be restored to the selected point.

Method 2: Using the Windows Installation Media

If your computer cannot boot at all, you can use the Windows installation media to repair the boot configuration.

Boot from the Installation Media: Insert the Windows installation USB drive or DVD into your computer and restart it. You may need to change the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI settings to boot from the USB drive or DVD. To access the BIOS/UEFI settings, you usually need to press a specific key during startup, such as F2. F10. or Del.

Select Language and Other Preferences: On the Windows Setup screen, select your language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method, and then click “Next”.

Click “Repair your computer”: Instead of clicking “Install now”, click “Repair your computer” at the bottom – left corner of the screen.

Choose Troubleshoot Options: In the Choose an option screen, select “Troubleshoot”.

Use Startup Repair: Under Troubleshoot, select “Startup Repair”. This tool will automatically detect and fix common boot problems. Follow the on – screen instructions, and your computer will restart after the repair process is complete.

Method 3: Using the Command Prompt

If Startup Repair does not work, you can use the Command Prompt from the Windows installation media to manually repair the boot configuration.

Access the Command Prompt: After booting from the Windows installation media and reaching the “Choose an option” screen, select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”.

Identify the System Drive: In the Command Prompt, type “diskpart” and press Enter. Then, type “list volume” to display a list of all volumes on your computer. Identify the volume where Windows is installed (usually labeled as “C:”). Note down the drive letter.

Exit DiskPart: Type “exit” and press Enter to exit the DiskPart utility.

Run Boot – Repair Commands:

First, type “bootrec /fixmbr” and press Enter. This command repairs the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the hard drive.

Next, type “bootrec /fixboot” and press Enter. This command writes a new boot sector to the system partition.

Then, type “bootrec /scanos” and press Enter. This command scans all disks for installed Windows operating systems.

Finally, type “bootrec /rebuildbcd” and press Enter. This command rebuilds the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store.

Restart Your Computer: After running all the commands, type “exit” and press Enter to close the Command Prompt. Then, remove the installation media and restart your computer.

Method 4: Using Third – Party Boot Repair Tools

There are also third – party tools available that can help you restore the Windows boot version. One popular tool is MiniTool Partition Wizard.

Download and Create a Bootable USB Drive: Download MiniTool Partition Wizard from its official website. Then, use the tool to create a bootable USB drive.

Boot from the USB Drive: Insert the bootable USB drive into your computer and restart it. Change the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings to boot from the USB drive.

Use the Boot Repair Feature: Once the tool starts, look for the boot repair option. Follow the on – screen instructions to repair the boot configuration.

Post – Restoration Checks

After restoring the Windows boot version, you should perform the following checks:

Check System Stability: Boot your computer normally and check if it starts up without any issues. Try running some applications to ensure that the system is stable.

Update Drivers and Software: Make sure that all your drivers and software are up – to – date. You can use the Windows Update feature to install the latest updates.

Scan for Malware: Run a full – system scan using an antivirus program to ensure that your computer is free from malware.