Will a System Restore Rollback Drivers?

When you perform a system restore in Windows, it can often affect the drivers for certain devices. This can help in resolving issues related to specific hardware without having to reinstall the entire operating system. However, the outcome may vary depending on the type of driver and the extent of the system changes.

Introduction to System Restore

System restore is a built-in feature in Windows that allows users to revert the system settings and files to a previous state as they were before a certain point. It can be particularly useful for resolving issues related to software or hardware conflicts. During the restore process, the system may revert to a previous configuration, including driver changes.

Drivers Affected by System Restore

Not all drivers are affected by a system restore. Some drivers, such as graphics processing unit (GPU) drivers, external webcams, and other peripheral devices, may see changes due to system restoration. These drivers are often customized or updated by manufacturers to enhance specific functionalities of the hardware.

For example, GPU drivers play a crucial role in enabling modern graphics acceleration and performance optimization. When a system restore rolls back to a previous point in time, it may revert to an older version of the GPU driver, which could potentially lead to visual artifacts or performance issues. Similarly, external webcams and other peripherals might benefit from a specific driver version that resolves compatibility issues.

Drivers That Remain Unchanged

Some system drivers are always present in Windows and are not subject to rollback during a system restore. These drivers include but are not limited to:

Microsoft Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) drivers Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) drivers

These core system drivers are essential for the basic functionality of the hardware and are unlikely to change during a system restore. They ensure that essential drivers and hardware components remain stable and consistent throughout the restore process.

Using Device Manager for Driver Rollback

If you encounter issues after a system restore that you suspect may be related to driver changes, you can manually roll back the drivers using the Device Manager. Here is how you can do it:

Open the Device Manager by pressing Win X and selecting Device Manager. Locate the problematic device in the list and right-click on it. Select Roll Back Driver from the context menu. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

By manually rolling back the drivers, you can often resolve issues that arise from the system restore without the need to perform a full restore or reinstall the operating system.

Conclusion

Understanding how system restore affects drivers and knowing how to manually roll back drivers using Device Manager can help you effectively troubleshoot and resolve hardware-related issues. By being aware of which drivers remain unchanged and which may be subject to rollback, you can take proactive steps to maintain the stability and functionality of your hardware configuration.