What are the best Windows system recovery strategies after a failed software update?

1 System Restore

System Restore is a built-in feature of Windows that allows you to revert your system to a previous state, before the update was installed. You can access System Restore from the Advanced Startup Options menu, which you can reach by holding the Shift key while clicking Restart from the Start menu. Once you are in the Advanced Startup Options menu, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, then System Restore. You will see a list of restore points that you can choose from, based on the date and time of the system changes. Select the most recent restore point before the update and follow the instructions to complete the process.

2 Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode of Windows that starts your system with only the essential drivers and services, which can help you troubleshoot and fix problems caused by the update. You can also access Safe Mode from the Advanced Startup Options menu, by selecting Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, then Startup Settings, then Restart. After your system restarts, you will see a list of options, including Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Choose the option that suits your needs and log in to your system. From Safe Mode, you can uninstall the problematic update, scan for malware, or perform other tasks to repair your system.

3 System Image Backup

System Image Backup is a feature of Windows that allows you to create a complete copy of your system, including your files, settings, and applications, on an external drive or a network location. You can use System Image Backup to restore your system to the exact state it was in when you created the backup, which can be very useful if the update caused irreversible damage to your system. You can create a system image backup from the Control Panel, by selecting System and Security, then Backup and Restore, then Create a System Image. You can restore your system from a system image backup by using the Advanced Startup Options menu, by selecting Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, then System Image Recovery.

4 Startup Repair

Startup Repair is a tool that can automatically fix common problems that prevent your system from starting up, such as missing or corrupted boot files, registry errors, or disk errors. You can run Startup Repair from the Advanced Startup Options menu, by selecting Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, then Startup Repair. Startup Repair will scan your system and attempt to repair any issues that it finds. If Startup Repair cannot fix your problem, it will provide you with a report of the error and some possible solutions.