How to restore your Windows 8 system without losing programs and applications in the process? Step-by-step guide

If you want to restore Windows 8 without losing programs in this process, you will need to have information about the differences between restoring and formatting the operating system.

To help you with this, we've prepared this article where you'll find all the information you need about whether or not it's advisable to restore your computer . If you want to know how to do it, we'll also show you the steps so you don't lose any programs.

We encourage you to read this post to the end, because we'll explain each concept in detail . Don't miss a thing if you want to become a Windows 8 expert.

What are the differences between restoring the system and formatting?

Basically, the main difference between these two procedures is that formatting will erase all the contents of the disks , including both personal and system files. On the other hand , system restore returns the computer's configuration to a previous state . Windows creates restore points for every significant system event, such as updates or the installation of third-party software. Formatting your computer means deleting all the data on a disk.

This change is permanent , and all files are permanently lost . System Restore, on the other hand, is a function that reverts the configuration to a previous state . In other words , it undoes changes made to the system. This is done using restore points, which save the previous state. Reverting to these restore points does not affect personal documents created by the user.

When is it more convenient to restore the system than to reinstall it?

It's advisable to restore a Windows 8 computer when you've installed a program that isn't working properly or is causing operating system errors . You can also do this after updating an application or the operating system itself. Another reason to consider a system restore is if you're certain the system isn't unstable and there's no malware that could compromise Windows 8 's functionality.

If your computer occasionally displays an error affecting the operating system, it's advisable to restore it, as these errors are not frequent. Finally, when your computer exhibits any incompatibility, it's always recommended to restore it first. Only if the errors persist will it be necessary to format Windows 8.

Learn step by step how to restore Windows 8 without losing programs

To avoid losing programs or any settings on your Windows 8 computer , we will show you the steps you need to take to perform a system restore.

The steps are:

Create a restore point

The first thing you'll need to do is create a restore point on your computer. This way, you can preserve your photos, videos, and any other files you've saved. Keep in mind that you should perform this task before taking any action that you think might cause problems with the operating system.

For example, if you are going to install a printer or some other program, it is advisable to create a restore point so that you can go back a step if you have made a mistake in including new software.

The process is the following:

• Go to the « buttonBeginning" and then look for the tool «Setting".
• Then select «System properties".
• Click on the «System protection.
• Find the field «Setting" protection and click on «Create". You will find this button next to «Create a restore point now for drives that have system protection enabled..
• Then enter a description that helps you remember and identify the restore point.
• Click on «Create".

Go to the Settings panel

If you can log into Windows and want to restore the operating system, you'll need to access " Settings" via the Start menu. Then, go to " System Properties" and click on " System Protection ." Once you're in this window, click on " Recovery . "

If you can't access Windows, you'll need to boot into advanced options. To do this, turn on your computer without letting the operating system load. Then, boot from the USB drive you connected earlier ( or from a CD containing the Windows 8 ISO image ). Next, select " Repair and troubleshoot your computer" from the advanced options menu.

Choose the restore point

The previous steps will take you to a menu where you'll need to select " Open System Restore ." Then, click " Next" and then " Choose a different restore point ." Select the restore point where you're sure the OS will work without problems.

Detects affected programs

Once you choose the restore point, you'll need to click " Next ." This will take you to a window where you should select the " Detect affected programs" option to find out which drivers or programs will be uninstalled after the restore. When you're sure about the process, click " Finish . "

Other alternative methods to perform a Hard Reset in Windows 8

Let's look at the following:

First method

It is done from the settings menu, as follows:

• Access this menu by moving your cursor to the right side of the screen. A panel will then appear where you should tap on... "Configuration".

• Then click on “Change PC settings”.
• Once in this menu, select “General use”, in the options on the left.

• Slide down and press "Begin" from the section “Restore your PC without affecting your files”.
• Although it is the simpler of the two restoration methods, All installed applications and programs will be lost..

Second method

Similar to the previous method, access "Settings" by placing the pointer on the side of the screen. However, this time you will access "PC Information".

From there we will continue as follows:

• In the popup window, tap “System protection”It is located on the left. To access it, you will need to have level Administrator.
• Click on “Restore the system”.

• In doing so, A window will appear with relevant information. to find out what will happen when you run this function. Press "Following".
• Then Choose the restore point you want to revert to.You'll find more of them by enabling “Show more restoration points”You can also see which programs will be removed by selecting “Detect affected programs”When you're finished, press "Following".
• Confirm in the next window by pressing "Finalize"Doing so will restart your computer and return you to the point you selected.