System Restore is a built-in Windows feature that lets you roll back your PC to an earlier state. It essentially undoes recent changes that might have caused issues and restores the system to a known working condition. This can be useful for resolving issues caused by software installations, driver updates, or system settings changes. However, sometimes System Restore may fail or display an error such as: “System Restore did not complete successfully,” or error codes like 0x80070005, 0x80070091, or 0x8000ffff. Well, this can occur due to various reasons like corrupted system files, antivirus interference, lack of disk space, or damaged restore points. If you’re experiencing issues like these, here is how to fix and get System Restore working again on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.
Why System Restore Failed and Did Not Complete?
System Restore can fail and not complete or display errors like 0x80070005, 0x80070091, and 0x8000ffff due to various reasons, including issues with restore points, insufficient disk space, corrupted system files, interference from antivirus software, or even encrypted content in the restore point.
- Antivirus Interference: Antivirus software can block System Restore from accessing critical files, often triggering error 0x80070005 (Access Denied).
- Corrupted System Files: Damaged or missing system files can cause errors like 0x8000ffff (Catastrophic Failure) or 0x80070091 (issues with the WindowsApps folder).
- Service Issues: System Restore relies on services like Volume Shadow Copy and Task Scheduler. If these aren’t running or configured correctly, errors can occur.
- Permission Problems: Lack of administrative privileges or misconfigured file permissions can lead to access-related errors.
- Disk or File System Errors: Problems with your hard drive or file system corruption can prevent System Restore from completing.
- Encrypted Content: If the restore point contains files encrypted by EFS (Encrypting File System), System Restore might fail to extract them due to a known issue in the program.
Disable Third-Party Antivirus Software Temporarily
Antivirus programs such as ESET or Malwarebytes can interfere with System Restore by locking files it needs to access. Especially during file restores or driver rollbacks, and this is a common cause of error 0x80070005.
- Open your antivirus program (e.g., Windows Security via Settings > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection).
- Turn off real-time protection temporarily. For Windows Defender, go to “Manage Settings” and toggle off “Real-time protection.”
- If using a third-party antivirus, check its settings to disable protection or add System Restore as an exception.
I recommend completely uninstall the third-party antivirus from your computer and try System Restore again. Most of the time, this helps bypass such errors.
Note: If this doesn’t work, try the next steps, as antivirus interference isn’t always the issue.
Run System Restore in Safe Mode
Safe Mode starts Windows with minimal drivers and services. If a background process, driver, or antivirus is interfering, Safe Mode helps bypass it. Again, if you’re seeing error 0x80070005 (“Access Denied”), Safe Mode often resolves it because it disables security software and locks fewer files.
- Press Windows + R, type: msconfig, and hit Enter.
- Go to the Boot tab > check Safe Boot > select Minimal > click OK and Restart.
- Once in Safe Mode, type “System Restore” in the search bar and select “Create a restore point.”
- Click the System Restore button, choose a restore point, and follow the prompts.
After the restore, open msconfig again and uncheck Safe Boot to return to normal mode.
Note: If Safe Mode doesn’t work, try Safe Mode with Command Prompt and run rstrui.exe to launch System Restore.
Check Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)
System Restore depends on services like Volume Shadow Copy, Task Scheduler, and Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider. If these aren’t running or set to “Automatic,” restore points won’t function correctly or display errors like 0x80070005.
- Press Windows key + R, type services.msc and click ok,
- This will open the windows service console, scroll down and locate the Volume Shadow Copy service.
- If the service is running, right-click on it and select restart,
- If the service not started, Right-click on it select properties,
- Here change the startup type automatic and start the service next to service status,
- Click apply and ok to save the changes.
Do the same process with Task Scheduler and Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider service. Reboot your PC and again perform a system restore to check if this time gets succeeds.
Run SFC and DISM to Repair System Files
System Restore needs to access and manipulate system files to revert the system. If these files are corrupted, the process can be disrupted or fail. Use the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools to repair them.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator (type cmd in the search bar, right-click, and select Run as administrator).
- Run the System File Checker: sfc /scannow
- This will scan and attempt to fix system file corruption.
- After that, run DISM command to repair the Windows image: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Let the scanning complete 100%, it may take some time depending on system file corruption level. Once both scans complete, restart your PC and Try running System Restore again.
Try a Different Restore Point
Sometimes, the restore point itself is corrupted, leading to errors like 0x8000ffff. Selecting a different restore point can resolve this.
- Open System Restore (search for it in the Start menu or run rstrui.exe).
- Click Next on the first screen.
- Check the box for Show more restore points to see additional options.
- Select an older or different restore point and click Next.
- Confirm the restore point and click Finish.
Check for Disk Errors with CHKDSK
Again Bad sectors or disk file system errors can prevent System Restore from accessing or writing essential system files, causing the restore to fail.
- Open the command prompt as administrator,
- Type command chkdsk C: /f /r /x then press enter key
- If prompted to schedule the check on next reboot, type Y and hit Enter.
- Restart your PC to allow CHKDSK to scan and repair the drive.
This scan can take time depending on your disk size — don’t interrupt it. Once complete, try running System Restore again.
Use System Restore from Advanced Startup Options
Running System Restore from outside the Windows environment avoids issues caused by locked files, third-party services, and permissions. It’s often the most reliable method when restore repeatedly fails inside Windows.
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
- Select: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
- Choose your restore point and follow the wizard.
If Windows won’t boot:
Boot Windows 11 from installation media, If you don’t have check how to make a bootable pen drive/DVD.
- Select the Language to install, Time/Currency format and Keyboard input method and press Next.
- Click Repair your computer
- Then choose to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore, select a restore point and follow on-screen instructions.
Ideally, this should help you complete the restore successfully. If not, consider using Windows reset This PC feature. It reinstalls Windows while keeping your personal files.
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Nothing works!