What is the purpose of System Restore?

The primary purpose of System Restore is to create restore points that capture the state of the system at specific times, allowing users to revert their computer's settings, registry, and files to a previous state. This is particularly useful for recovering from unwanted changes, such as those caused by software installations, system updates, or malware infections. By restoring to a previous point, users can effectively return to a known good configuration without affecting personal data.

Unlike full system image backups, System Restore does not create comprehensive backups of all files and settings. Instead, it focuses mainly on the core operating system files, user-installed applications, and system settings. Therefore, it is specifically designed as a protective measure against changes rather than a complete recovery solution. This unique ability to act as a “time machine” emphasizes its role in maintaining system integrity and stability rather than managing permissions or recovering from hardware failures.