Fix System Restore Failed and Did Not Complete Successfully Error in Windows 10

On this page, you'll learn:

1. 1. Why did system restore fail
2. 2. How to execute system backup and restore when system restore failed
3. 2. How to fix system restore fail error in Windows 10/8/7
4. 3. How to address system restore error codes: 0x80070091, 0x80070005, 0x8000fff,0x8007045b
5. 4. How to force a system restore

• Reading Duration: 5 - 7 minutes
• Applies to: Fix system restore failed error in Windows 10/8/7, address error codes while executing system restore.
• Best for: Experienced Windows users, one system restore solution for beginners is also included.

Overview of "System Restore Did Not Complete Successfully" in Window 10 Issue

System Restore is a very useful feature in the Windows 10/8.1/8/7 operating system that is designed to rebuild your system and restore your data in case of an emergency. Sometimes, Windows users also use System Restore to revert their systems to a previous state.

But System Restore might fail due to some specific reasons. Here you may check the list below to identify if you are experiencing the same issue on your PC:

• Error Message: System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer's system files and settings were not changed.
• Details: System Restore could not access a file. This is probably an antivirus program is running on the computer. Temporarily disable your antivirus program and retry System Restore.
• Error Code: An unspecified error occurred during System Restored with errors such as 0x80070091, 0x80070005, 0x8000ffff, 0x8007045b, 0x800423F3, 0x81000203, etc.

In this case, you will not be able to restore system or data, since System Restore not working in Windows 10/8.1/8/7. But don't worry! Follow to learn why did System Restore fail and how to fix System Restore did not complete and force a system restore successfully on your own.

Why Did System Restore Fail

So what might cause the System Restore operation to fail? According to the error message pops up on Windows OS and some Windows administrators, we concluded 5 possible factors that may stop you from reverting Windows 10/8/7 to a previous state:

• Antivirus software interruption
• System Protection setting interruption
• System file loss or corruption
• System restore point file loss or corruption
• Insufficient space on C drive for system restore

So how to execute system backup or restore while Windows built-in feature is malfunctioning? And how do you fix system restore failed error on Windows 10 or 8/7? Continue reading, and you'll find a practical fix for this issue with step-by-step guidelines.

Part 1. Execute System Backup and Restore when System Restore Failed

Applies to: Help Windows users to create system backup image and perform system restore while System Restore feature failed.

When you find the System Restore feature failed to work on your computer, it's advised that you take action to create a system backup of your current Windows operating system immediately.

How to execute system backup and restore when system restore failed? In this case, you'll need to turn to reliable Windows backup software for help. Here, you can try EaseUS Todo Backup which can help you backup system and data in just simple clicks in all Windows versions.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create System Backup Image (Back Up Windows 10)

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Todo Backup on your computer, and click Create Backup on the home screen and then hit the big question mark to select backup contents.

Step 2. To back up your Windows operating system, click "OS" to begin the backup task.

Step 3. Your Windows operating system information and all system related files and partitions will be automatically selected so you don't need to do any manual selection at this step. Next, you'll need to choose a location to save the system image backup by clicking the illustrated area.

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, network, cloud or NAS. Generally, we recommend you use an external physical drive or cloud to preserve the system backup files. 

Step 5. Customiztion settings like enabling an automatic backup schedule in daily, weekly, monthly, or upon an event, and making a differential and incremental backup are available in the Options button if you're interested. Click "Backup Now", and the Windows system backup process will begin. The completed backup task will display on the left side in a card style.

Part 2.  How to Fix System Restore Failed & Did Not Complete Successfully Error

Applies to: Get rid of unspecified error occurred during system restore issue and fix system restore did not complete successfully.

After creating Windows backup, you may try the solutions with tutorial steps to fix system restore failed error in Windows 10/8/1/8/7:

1. #1. Disable Antivirus Software
2. #2. Check System Protection Settings
3. #3. Run FSC
4. #4. Run System Restore from Safe Mode
5. #5. Try Clean Boot
6. #6. Run System Restore from Other Restore Point

Method 1. Disable Antivirus Software

In most cases, the System Restore failed and did not complete successfully error appears because your Antivirus software is interfering with System Restore. So, if you're running antivirus software, disable it.

Disable Antivirus Software:

Step 1. Find running antivirus software.

Step 2. Wait for the virus cleaning process to complete if the antivirus is scanning your device.

Step 3. Close antivirus and exit it from your taskbar in Windows 10.

Disable Windows Defender:

Step 1. Press Windows Key + R keys to open the Run Dialog.

Step 2. Type regedit and click "OK" to open the Registry Editor.

Step 3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender.

Step 4. Find a registry entry named DisableAntiSpyware, double-click it, and set its value data to 1.

Method 2. Check System Protection Settings

Sometimes, if System Protection settings are corrupt, System Restore failed and did not complete successfully error may also occur. To fix this issue, you may follow the steps here to check if the System Protection settings are correct.

Step 1. Boot into Windows, right-click on "This PC", and select "Properties"

Step 2. Click "System Protection".

Step 3. Under the "Protection" column, check if the protection is set to "On" in your system C drive.

If the value of the Protection column is "Off", select the hard disk and click "Configure".

Method 3. Run SFC Command to Check and Repair Corrupted File System

Another reason for System Restore failed and did not complete successfully error is system file corruption. You can try to run sfc to check and repair corrupt system files to fix the issue.

Step 1. Boot into Windows, click "Start". Type command prompt in the search box. 

Step 2. Right-click on "Command Prompt" and click "Run as administrator".

Step 3. When Command Prompt has loaded, type sfc /scannow and press "Enter".

This command will find all corrupted system files and automatically repair the corrupted system files for you.

Read Also: SFC scannow There is a system repair pending

Method 4. Run System Restore from Safe Mode

According to some users, running System Restore from Safe Mode is a possible way to bypass the 'System Restore did not complete successfully' error.

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F8 before the Windows logo appears.

Step 2. Select "Safe Mode" and press Enter.

Step 3. Wait for Windows to complete loading.

Now, you can open System Restore and follow the wizard steps to restore your Windows to a previous state. For a detailed guide, move to and follow Method 6 for help.

Method 5. Try Clean Boot to Run System Restore

Some administrators also suggest that you may try Clean Boot to see if System Restore works on your Windows 10 PC. Here are the steps that you can follow:

Step 1. Press Windows + R keys, and type msconfig.exe, and hit Enter.

Step 2. Open System Configuration, go to the General tab, uncheck "Load startup items" from the Selective startup radio button.

Step 3. At the Services tab, check "Hide all Microsoft services", and click "Disable all".

Step 4. Click "OK" to confirm and restart your PC.

After this, you may try steps in Method 6 to continue performing system restore in Windows 10.

Method 6. Run System Restore from Other Restore Points

If you've created more than one restore point, congratulations. When System Restore failed, you can still force system restore on your computer, reverting Windows to the previous state with previously created restore points.

Here are the steps for you to follow:

Step 1. Press Windows  + R keys, type create a restore point in the Search box.

Step 2. Click the top result to open "System Properties". 

Step 3. Click the System Restore button under the System Protection section.

This will bring up all the restore points that you've created.

Step 4. Click "Next" and select another restore point to restore on your PC.

Step 5. Click "Finish" and "Yes" to execute the System Restore on your PC.

After this, just wait for the process to complete. Remember to restart the PC to keep all the changes.

These are all the possible solutions for System Restore failed and did not complete successfully. Hope at least one of them is helpful!

Part 3. How to Address System Restore Failure Error Codes

Note that sometimes due to different causes, when an unspecified error occurred during system restore, the error codes may differ.

If System Restore failed in Windows 10/8.1/8/7 with other error codes like 0x80070091, 0x80070005, 0x8000fff, 0x8007045b, etc, you can try the following method to fix the issue:

1. #1. Fix System Restore failed with Error 0x80070091 in Windows 10
2. #2. Fix System Restore Didn't Complete Successfully with Error 0x80070005
3. #3. Resolve Windows 10 System Restore Failed with Error Code 0x8000fff
4. #4. Address System Restore Failed with 0x8007045b Error Code

Fix System Restore Failed with Error 0x80070091 in Windows 10

Now, system restore failed with error 0x80070091 is attacking a large number of Windows 10 users. If you are one of the victims, you might get the following Window shows you the message 'System Restore did not complete successfully. An unspecified error occurred during System Restored. (0x80070091)'.

To fix an unspecified error occurred during System Restored 0x80070091 in Windows 10:

Step 1. Boot into safe mode.

Step 2. Right-click on the Start button, click on "Command Prompt (Admin)" to open a command line.

Step 3. Type takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d Y and press Enter. 

Step 4. Type icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /grant "%USERDOMAIN%\%USERNAME%":(F) /t and press Enter. You will get a message: 'Successfully processed xxxxx files: Failed to process 0 files'.

Step 5. Type rd /s "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps" and press Enter. It will ask you to confirm. Yes. This will delete the folder.  

Step 6. Now Reboot your computer and System Restore should work. You will no longer get the 'System Restore did not complete successfully' error message.

Fix System Restore Did Not Complete Successfully with Error 0x80070005

And if System Restore failed and did not complete successfully in Windows 10 with error 0x80070005, you will get the following Window and see the error message: 'An unspecified error occurred during System Restored. (0x80070005)' in Details.

To fix an unspecified error occurred during System Restored 0x80070005 in Windows 10:

Step 1. Type Services.msc in Start Menu Search Box, hit Enter.

Step 2. Make sure that the "Volume Shadow Copy & Task Scheduler & Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider Service" is running and set to "Automatic".

Step 3. If the Status of System Restore Service is Not Started, Start it. Also, set it to Automatic if it is not.

Step 4. Reboot your PC, re-confirm again, and then check if System Restore failed issue is fixed or not.

Resolve Windows 10 System Restore Failed with Error Code 0x8000ffff 

And if System Restore failed and did not complete successfully with error 0x8000ffff, you will get the following Window and see the error message: 'An unspecified error occurred during System Restored. (0x8000ffff)' in Details.

To fix an unspecified error occurred during System Restored 0x8000ffff in Windows 10/8/7:

Step 1. Click "Start", and then type System Restore in the Start Search box.

Step 2. Right-click "System Restore", and then click "Run as administrator".

Step 3. In the System Restore dialog box, click "Next".

Step 4. Select a restore point, and then click "Next".

Step 5. In the "Confirm your restore point" window, click "Finish".

Address System Restore Failed with 0x8007045b Error Code

Windows System Restore failure issue with 0x8007045b is a specific error that related to an exact restore point file.

Here are steps for you to apply and fix this issue:

Step 1. Press Windows + R, type command prompt, right-click the top result and select "Run as Administrator".

Step 2. Type reagentc /boottore and hit Enter.

If this command fails, type reagentc /enable and hit enter.

Step 3. Restart PC and enter Windows RE environment.

Step 4. Click "Troubleshoot", click "Advanced Option" and then click "System Restore".

Step 5. Follow the on-screen guidelines to start running System Restore on your PC.

Follow more steps guide, you may revert to Method 6 to complete the process with tutorial guidelines. And if you encountered other error codes while running system restore, like 0x80070570, 0x800423F3, 0x81000203, 0x80070002, etc., don't worry.

Just revert to Part 2 with presented solutions to fix this issue with ease.

The Bottom Line

On this page, we explained why did system restore failed in Windows 10/8/7, and offered a reliable Windows backup resolution - EaseUS Todo Backup for you to create a system image and protect Windows data immediately.