Summary :

Windows 10 System Restore sometimes gets stuck on restoring files or hung up on initializing while trying to revert a computer to a previous state or restore point. Here we will discuss the solutions to this issue, and the best alternative to the Windows System Restore tool - MiniTool ShadowMaker.

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May 11, 2018  Summary. From the above three solutions, you can fix computer stuck in attempting to restore your previous version of Windows issue. If all those kinds of solutions are not helpful, the last way to restart your computer is to do a clean install Windows with ISO image.

2 Cases: Windows 10 System Restore Stuck

System Restore is a Windows features used to revert the computer's state (system files, Windows Registry, settings, installed applications) to a previous point in situations of malfunctions or other problems.

Various problems can be encountered during the system restore process; one of the more common ones is the task being frozen even when you try to interrupt it.

How long does System Restore take on Windows 10/7/8? Usually, the operation would complete within 20-45 minutes based on the system size but certainly not a few hours.

If you run Windows 10 and start System Restore in System Protection, you might get stuck on the following screen, saying:

'Please wait while your Windows files and settings are being restored

System Restore is initializing'.

In another situation, you might try to perform a restoration in WinRE. Again, Windows System Restore is stuck on restoring files.

So what to do when a system restore in Windows 10 gets stuck?

The following sections are some possible methods for fixing the issue of System Restore taking forever to complete.

Tip: In addition to system restore stuck issue, you may encounter a system restore error Windows 10, for example, system restore failed 0x80070057, 0x80042302, etc., Windows cannot find a system image on this computer.

How to Fix Windows 10 System Restore Stuck

How

Since there are a lot of discussions on this topic on the internet, we have compiled a list of useful solutions for you to try one by one.

① Perform System Restore in Safe Mode

If your system is stuck on the initializing screen or file restoring, the first thing to do is still to wait for a while especially if the restore point contains a lot of data.

However, if Windows 10 System Restore freezes for more than an hour, try forcing a shutdown, restarting your computer and checking for the status.

If Windows still returns to the same screen, try fixing it in Safe Mode using the following steps.

Step 1: Prepare an installation disc. Go to the Microsoft website on another working computer, download Windows 10 tool and create an installation disc.

Step 2: Insert the created media into your computer and change the boot order to boot the computer from the media.

Step 3: Select Repair your computer on the Install Windows screen to enter WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment).

Tip: If this screen does not appear, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer's website for information on how to boot from media, and then try again.

Step 4: Go to Choose an option > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Step 5: Press F6 to select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt to run System Restore.

Step 6: Choose an account and enter the password.

Step 7: Type rstrui.exe in the pop-up Command Prompt window and press Enter.

Step 8: Now you can start System Restore in Safe Mode.

This should effectively fix the issue of Windows 10 System Restore stuck. However, if System Restore still freezes upon initializing or restoring files, try the next solution.

② Run Startup Repair

Can I stop system restore Windows 10?

You can force a shutdown to stop the system restoration process in order for your computer to run normally again upon reboot. Nevertheless, the issue of System Restore hung up on initializing still appears when you run it.

One of the possible reasons is that the boot manager is corrupted. In this case, you can simply fix it by through Startup Repair.

To do this, enter WinRE. Then, go to Choose an option > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.

Try the next solution if this doesn't work with the issue Windows 10 System Restore stuck.

③ Run SFC

System File Check (SFC.exe) is a Windows utility that helps you scan for corruptions in Windows system files. It will try restoring any corrupted files found.

If the System Restore taking forever Windows 10 issue happens, it is likely that certain files are damaged.

Here, run System File Check to scan Windows and check if it helps.

  1. Enter WinRE by using an installation disc, just like the first method.
  2. Navigate to Choose an option > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
  3. Choose an account and enter the password.
  4. Type sfc /scannow in the pop-out window and press Enter to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows 10.

Please wait patiently until the verification reaches 100%.

After the verification is done, run a System Restore again to see whether it is still stuck on restoring files or initializing.

In addition to these three solutions, some users suggest performing a full system virus scan using Windows Defender to ensure that the PC is free from virus, or running the disk cleanup and then try performing a system restore. These solutions might also fix the issue of Windows 10 System Restore taking a long time.

Tip: In Windows 10, you might be in a loop of Windows being stuck at reset or restoring to a previous Windows version. Read these related articles for solutions:
How Can You Fix 'Restoring Your Previous Version of Windows'?
Here Are Three Ways to Fix Windows 10 Reset Stuck Issue!

Important:

It is easy for System Restore to get stuck on initializing or restoring files in Windows. When something goes wrong, it becomes impossible to restore your computer to a restore point. This is really annoying, but if you have an available backup, things will be easy.

Restoring Your Previous Version Of Windows How Long

Computer backup has been an issue of critical concern for many people. In case of system corruption or data loss, the backup can be used to quickly restore your system or data.

Compared to System Restore in Windows, backup is recommended since it is all-sided; Windows files, individual files, settings, applications, etc. can all be included in an image file.

As an advice, the following section will show you how to protect your computer via backup.

Best Alternative to Windows System Restore - MiniTool ShadowMaker

To protect your computer well, we highly recommend the free backup software, MiniTool ShadowMaker.

As the best free Windows System Restore alternative software, it easily finishes file, system, partition and disk backup in Windows 10/8/7.

It provides a flexible way to back up your PC with automatic backup, incremental backup and differential backup.

Most importantly, this free backup software is capable of creating bootable media with its Media Builder; it can be used to boot your crashed computer and perform a quick disaster recovery without taking hours like System Restore.

Universal Restore could be helpful for restoring the image to another computer with different hardware.

Download the Free MiniTool ShadowMaker 30-Day Trial Edition now to avoid Windows 10 System Restore stuck.

Backup Windows 10

See how to create a Windows backup:

Step 1: Run MiniTool ShadowMaker in Windows 10 and then click Connect to start a backup.

Step 2: In the Backup interface, specify the backup source and storage location.

By default, the system partitions are chosen in the Source section. To back up the entire system disk, use this section to choose all system disk partitions.

Usually, it is recommended to back up a computer to an external hard drive.

Step 3: Click Back up Now. The backup operation can be monitored in the Manage interface.

Tip: We suggest creating automatic disk backups using Schedule feature or differential/incremental backups using Scheme feature.

Related article:3 Types of Backup: Full, Incremental, Differential - MiniTool

Windows 10 System Image Recovery

How to restore Windows image from an external hard drive after the occurrence of accidents? See the guide.

Step 1: Create a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD with the Media Builder of MiniTool ShadowMaker. Change the boot order of your PC to boot from the media.

Step 2: MiniTool ShadowMaker will start running in WinPE. Go to the Restore page, and choose the system image or system disk image to start restoring.

Tip: If you can't see the backup you want in the list, use Add Backup to find and add one.

Step 3: Next, choose one backup version.

Step 4: Select volumes to restore from the backup file.

Note:All system related partitions need to be chosen, as well as MBR and Track 0; otherwise Windows 10 will be unbootable.

Step 5: Select the disk you want to restore the Windows image to. The original system disk is usually recommended. Note that the selected partitions will be overwritten during the recovery process.

Restoring Your Previous Version Of Windows How Long Take

Step 6: Wait for a few minutes for MiniTool ShadowMaker to perform the recovery operation.

In conclusion, MiniTool ShadowMaker safeguards your computer by making it easy for system backups and recovery. No more Windows 10 System Restore stuck on restoring files or initializing!

Don't want to experience System Restore taking forever Windows 10 issue? Download game uncharted 4 pc. Get the best free backup software - MiniTool ShadowMaker NOW to keep your computer safe.

Further Reading: System Restore Point VS Windows Image Backup

In this article, we mentioned two concepts: System Restore Point and Windows image backup.

Although both of them can be used to restore the computer to a previous state, they are actually two very different things. So what are the differences?

Restore Point

A restore point is essentially a snapshot of the Windows registry, critical system files and driver files. It does not include users' personal files, pictures, audio, video files, and other files.

Consequently, without affecting any user data, a system restore reverts registry, system files and driver files back to where it was at an earlier date.

By default, the restore points are saved in the system partition.

Tip: It is very possible to lose some files after a System Restore. Read this post to learn how to get them back: Quick Recover Files after System Restore Windows 10/8/7 - MiniTool.

Window Backup Image

A backup image is a copy of the essentials - it could be everything on your drive or a selected portion like documents, pictures, music, etc. The 3 different types of backups are automatic, differential and incremental backups.

A recovery will recover the entire contents on the image file, which could be stored in an external hard drive like USB drive, NAS, etc.

To wrap it up, an image backup is a more all-around and flexible method compared to a restore point. Now, start creating a backup for your Windows 10 with the backup software, MiniTool ShadowMaker.

Final Words

Have you tried our solutions to fix the issue of Windows 10 System Restore stuck on restoring files or hung up on initializing? We will be glad to see your thoughts in the following comments area.

If you have any questions while using MiniTool ShadowMaker, please write an email to [email protected].

Windows 10 offers you an easy option to revert or go back to an earlier build, if the current installed build is not working for you. If after upgrading your Windows 10 to the recent Build 1511, you find that something is broken or that it isn’t working for you properly, you may go back to your previous build.

Once you upgrade your Windows 10 to a new build, the option to Rollback with disappear and it will be replaced with an option to go back to an earlier build. You cannot then go back from say, Windows 10 Build 1511 to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. A roll back to only the ‘immediately previous’ installation or build is allowed.

Go back to an earlier build of Windows 10

To go back to an earlier build of Windows 10, open Start Menu > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

Here you will see Go back to an earlier build section, with a Get started button. Click on it.

The process to revert your Windows 10 back will commence.

You will see a Getting things ready, This wont take long screen. Once the process is completed, your computer will restart and you will be taken back to your old build.

If a period of 30 days has passed after you installed the new build or if you deleted the Windows.old folder, you may not be able to go back. You may instead see a We’re sorry, but you can’t go back, The files we need to take you to a previous version of Windows were removed from this PC message.

Restoring Your Previous Version Of Windows How Long Last

If you are unable to boot into Windows, you can also go back to the previous build via Windows 10 Advanced Startup options. Boot to Advanced Startup Options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > See more recovery options > Go back to previous build.

Hope this helps!

TIP: Download this tool to quickly find & fix Windows errors automatically

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