"Downgrade" to "lower" Win10 version by System Restore possible?

pstein · 14 Sep 2019

Assume I created a SRP on a Win10 v1803 system.

Later I was upgraded by automatic updates to Win10 v1903,

Then after some problems in the following weeks I decided to do a System restore to the SRP I created in the past.

Is this possible? Or are (in general) only SRP inside the same, current Win10 version restorable ?

In order to not beeing forced again in the next days for an Upgrade v1803---v1903 I plan zu enable an Update Blocker until Microsoft solved the problems.

Peter

Bree · 14 Sep 2019

pstein said:

Is this possible? Or are (in general) only SRP inside the same, current Win10 version restorable ?

No, restore points from a previous version cannot be applied to a newer version. In fact, the question cannot arise because a successful update to the next version will always delete all the previous version's restore points.

If you could indeed do a system restore to an older restore point, then it suggests that the update from 1803 to 1903 had failed and reverted to 1803. The failed update to 1903 would be listed in the Update History. The only way Microsoft offer to go back to 1803 after a successful update to 1903 would be to use 'Go back to the previous version or Windows 10' in Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. This option is only available for 10 days after the update to the new version, after which the backup of the old version will automatically be deleted.

A more useful way to ensure you can go back is to make a system image of the PC with Macrium Reflect Free before attempting the update to 1903. A system image can be restored whenever you want.

dalchina · 14 Sep 2019

Sorry, you can't downgrade by SR in that manner- all SR points from the previous build are deleted by design.

SR only 'protects' certain files- certainly not everything needed for a downgrade which is far more radical.

If you used disk imaging routinely as tenforums so often recommends (e.g. Macrium reflect (free/paid), and you created a Windows disk image just before upgrading, then you could restore that and be back as you were- but any data on that partition would likewise be restored to as it was on that date.

I'm not sure what you're concerned about regarding 1903- it's a pretty stable build. By all means, if you have Home (rather than Pro, where you have more control) you can delay upgrading. But what problems, exactly, are you waiting for MS to fix? It would be interesting to know.

Again, if you image what you have now, you can upgrade to 1903 and see how it works for you, and then have two ways back-
a. Go back to the previous build (10 days by default)
b. Restore the disk image - which it's a great idea to have in case the upgrade goes badly wrong.

Have you been offered 1903? Or 1809 by Windows Update? If not, it may be that MS deems your PC not compatible.

Is it an older PC? No drivers for Win 10? (No specs). If so, upgrading is always at your own risk.