Enable System Protection (Restore) via .bat or .ps1 in Windows 11

Question

I'm trying to automate a script that runs to enable system restore upon startup (yes, every time my PC boots). I found this PowerShell script that seems to work when entered directly into a PowerShell terminal window.

Enable-ComputerRestore -Drive "C:"

But I want to turn it into a script file to run by placing in the Startup folder. I've tried entering this script into notepad, saving as "All Files" as a ".ps1" and then set that file extension to open with PowerShell as the default app. But it loads a red error that quickly vanishes as the terminal window closes.

I usually place .bat files in the startup to launch programs, and I understand this can be done to launch a .ps1 file, but right now the .ps1 doesn't even work when launched by PowerShell that I set as its default app.

Is there an easier way to automate Enabling system restore silently preferably through a .bat script?

Answer 1

The error you see in the pop-up will be around your PowerShell execution policy.

You have a few options;

1. Wrap your Powershell code in a batch file to bypass it so

PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "Enable-ComputerRestore -Drive 'C:'"

2. Unblock the script with something like

Unblock-File -Path pathhere\script.ps1

3. Change your execution policy to RemoteSigned or Unrestricted like so

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

For more info on PowerShell execution policy you can refer to this page https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_execution_policies?view=powershell-7.3

Answer 2

The following command enables System Restore on the C:\ drive.

wmic.exe /namespace:\\root\default Path SystemRestore Call enable "C:\"

Alternatively, use the PowerShell.exe command-line suggested to you by @Kuypotta.

Note: In either case, you must create a scheduled task for one of the commands and configure it to run at login. It won't work from the Startup folder.