Unspecified Error During System Restore 0x80070002 - Fixed!

The issue: System Restore failed 0x80070002

System Restore is a useful tool which helps to bring your computer to a previous working state after serious errors. The previous working state is called “restore point”. You can run System Restore whether you have access to Windows or not. If your computer can’t boot into Windows, you need to perform System Restore from Windows Recovery Environment USB or Windows installation media.

However, some users are confronted with System Restore 0x80070002 error when trying to perform System Restore, only getting the following message:

“System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer's system files and settings were not changed.
Details:
System Restore failed to replace the file (E:\ProgramData\Microsoft\ with its original copy from the restore point. An unspecified error occurred during System Restore. (0x80070002)
You can try System Restore again and choose a different restore point. If you continue to see this error, you can try an advanced recovery method.”

How comes the error of System Restore failed 0x80070002 and how to fix it accordingly? Please read on.

How to fix System Restore 0x80070002 error efficiently

If you encounter “an unspecified error occurred during System Restore (0x80070002)”, it could be caused by hard disk errors, damaged system files or partial installation/uninstallation of programs. To fix the error, you can try restoring from a different restore point as the message suggests.

If the error still exists, you can turn to the corresponding solution below. Take Windows 7 as an example. Learn how to fix 0x80070002 System Restore in Windows 7 as follows.

Solution 1: Repair disk errors with CHKDSK
Solution 2: Repair system files using the SFC utility
Solution 3: Run System Restore from Safe Mode
More flexible way to perform system backup & restore

Solution 1: Repair disk errors with CHKDSK

1. Restart your computer and tap F8 to access the Advanced Boot Options menu. Use the arrow key to highlight Repair Your Computer and press Enter.

Tip: You can also boot from Windows 7 installation media and choose Repair your computer from there.

2. Select the operating system from the list and click Next.

3. Select Command Prompt from the System Recovery Options window.

4. In Command Prompt, input chkdsk /f /r and press Enter.

5. Exit Command Prompt, restart and run System Restore again.

👉 Bonus tip: how to open Command Prompt from boot in Windows 10

Boot your computer and interrupt the boot by holding the power button. Do it 3 times to enter Windows Recovery Environment.
Click Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt to open the Command Prompt window.

Solution 2: Repair system files using the SFC utility

1. Open Command Prompt as you do in Solution 1.

2. In Command Prompt, input sfc /scannow and press Enter.

3. After running the SFC tool, restart your computer and run System Restore to see if the 0x80070002 error is fixed.

Solution 3: Run System Restore from Safe Mode

1. Restart your computer and tap F8 to access the Advanced Boot Options menu. Choose Safe Mode and press Enter.

2. When Windows finishes loading, search System Restore from the Start menu and follow the wizard to see if it can be completed successfully.

👉 Bonus tip: how to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 10

Enter WinRE as mentioned above.
Click Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode.

More flexible way to perform system backup & restore

Apart from the error of System Restore failed 0x80070002, users also find System Restore could not start sometimes. To make double protection for your system and precious data, you need a superior utility to Windows built-in tool. Here I’d like to recommend the best free backup software—Qiling Disk Master Standard to you.

It provides all-around backup solutions for you: System/Disk/Partition/File Backup and Cloud Backup.
It enables you to schedule backups to run automatically so as to keep your backup versions up to date.
All Windows PC operating systems including Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP are supported.

Just download this freeware to try it out. To boot your computer in case of boot failure, you should create bootable media first. After you performed system backup with Qiling Disk Master, you can follow the steps below to run system restore from boot:

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 1. Boot your computer from the bootable drive you’ve created.

Step 2. You’ll see loaded Qiling Disk Master once login. Click “Restore” and then “Select Task”.

Step 3. Select the system backup task from the list and click “Next”.

Step 4. Select “Restore this system backup” and click “Next”.

Step 5. Confirm operations on the “Operation Summary” page and click on “Proceed” button.

✐Easier way to backup and restore system without booting into Windows:

Instead of creating system image and bootable media one by one, you can choose to use one key recovery software Qiling Disk Master to create both of them simultaneously. And it adds a boot menu on the computer and allows you to access it at the next system startup or press a specific key, F11 or A key, for example. Thus, you can easily and quickly restore system to new hard drive when your computer runs into issues.

Summary

When you encounter “an unspecified error occurred during System Restore (0x80070002)”, you can fix the error with the three solutions offered in this article. To doubly secure your system and data, you may use Qiling Disk Master to backup your computer. What’s more, Qiling Disk Master is also hard drive transfer software which enables you to clone disks. Give it a try and you will be surprised by the wonderful features it owns!