Winwise 1.5

The backup page is now a practical guide to the main Windows 11 backup and recovery options. Winwise 1.5 explains what each option protects, where the copy is kept and what happens to your personal files, then gives short steps for setting it up and recovering. The Volume Shadow Copy entry now explains which recovery features rely on it.

Open it at https://heliakon.github.io/winwise/ or download winwise.html below. It works offline.

What's new in 1.5

One page for backup and recovery

How to back up your OS now starts with an overview of six options, so you can choose what to set up:

• File History keeps copies and earlier versions of your personal files on another drive or a network location.
• Windows Backup and OneDrive syncs selected folders and remembers supported settings and app information for a new or reinstalled PC.
• System Restore rolls back system files, registry settings and installed programs without changing your personal files.
• Point-in-time restore rolls back the whole Windows volume to an automatic restore point from the last few days.
• Recovery Drive is a USB drive that starts recovery tools and can reinstall Windows.
• Full system images keep a broader copy of Windows for restoring the PC as a whole.

Each option has its own section. It starts with a short summary of what the option protects, where it's stored, what happens to personal files, what you need and when it's useful, followed by the steps. The overview cards link to these sections, and the address stays on #backup.

Point-in-time restore, explained carefully

The new section explains that the feature is available on supported Windows 11, version 24H2 and later devices, not only on 26H2. When it's on, Windows creates a restore point about every 24 hours and keeps each one for up to 72 hours, or less when storage runs low. Restoring a point also rolls back local files on the Windows volume, so that warning sits right next to the restore steps. Microsoft turns the feature on by default only when the Windows volume is at least 200 GB in size; that's the size of the volume, not its free space.

Recovery steps you can find when you need them

The recovery section shows how to open Windows Recovery Environment and keeps the two restore paths apart: Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore and Troubleshoot → Point-in-time restore. It also covers where to find your BitLocker recovery key. Other recovery options, such as Startup Repair, reinstalling Windows through Windows Update and Reset this PC, are listed with what each does to your files and apps.

A guide that stands on its own

The page no longer compares the Winwise JSON backup with a restore point, and its examples don't refer to the script builder. The builder still explains its own backup and undo features where it always has.

Volume Shadow Copy (VSS)

The entry now explains that VSS coordinates the snapshots used by System Restore and Point-in-time restore, and that copying files or syncing them to the cloud usually doesn't depend on it. The advice is unchanged: leave it available, even when it's stopped.

Upgrading from 1.4

• Your 1.4 scripts and backups keep working. The script template only changes its version label to v1.5; the preview, apply and restore code is identical. Restore with -RestoreFrom using the script that created the backup, as before.
• Script choices are unchanged: 28 choices in 12 groups. Windows Search still includes Work Folders, and the conservative preset still contains Remote Registry, Fax and Retail Demo.
• Links to #backup keep working.

Download and verify

1. Download winwise.html below and open it in your browser. No install, server or internet connection needed.
2. To check the download, run this in PowerShell in the folder where you saved it. It prints True when the file matches this release:

(Get-FileHash .\winwise.html -Algorithm SHA256).Hash -eq 'd41bdd6c5890df0928728c6df73e05b1bf07effb28a2170d2a88d558ed5538c7'

The same checksum is attached as winwise.html.sha256.

Under the hood

• Sources: each backup section links the Microsoft pages it's based on, checked on October 27, 2026. Microsoft's pages currently disagree about whether Point-in-time restore is on by default on organization-managed 26H2 devices, so the guide asks people on those devices to check the setting and follow their organization's policy. The VSS entry has a new reference to Microsoft's comparison of Point-in-time restore and System Restore.
• Directory: still 157 entries. Only the VSS entry changed; other entries were not re-reviewed for this release. Details are in SERVICE-REVIEW.md and CHANGELOG.md.
• Checks: tools/test-data.mjs passed for all 157 entries, the 28 script choices and the 129 services excluded from scripts. tools/test-script-dependencies.ps1 passed all 12 scenarios under both PowerShell 7.6.6 and Windows PowerShell 5.1 in GitHub Actions.
• Browser: checks passed in dark and light mode at phone, tablet and desktop widths, covering the jump links, keyboard focus, expandable sections, text contrast and source links.
• Windows: the setup and recovery steps follow Microsoft's documentation. They were not run on a Windows PC for this release.
• Site: the footer shows v1.5, and the guide's update date is October 27, 2026.

Full changelog: v1.4.0...v1.5.0