Question About System Restore

My system restore folder is getting pretty huge. I know how to clear it out but what I'd like to know is if there is any way to only take out some of the files without deleting them all?

By the way, I'm using Windows ME.

 

The system will take care of itself.
There is a setting for system restore as to the maximum amount of drive space can be allocated to system restore.
The default setting is 10 % of your drive.
When the files saved by date are greater than that setting the system will delete the oldest save.

 

[FONT= "Comic Sans MS"]IME, System Restore is too unreliable and unpredictable, CosmoQueen.

You would be far better off using a third party product such as The Emergency Recovery Utility NT (ERUNT): -

The Emergency Recovery Utility NT (ERUNT)

If you still wish to use System Restore, you would be better off to purge the folder periodically by disabling and then re-enabling, IMO, as you will be surprized at how large the folder can get : -

Article ID: 264887

How to Enable and Disable System Restore

It would also be worthwhile considering disk imaging software as a disaster recovery plan. I have had excellent results with the following: -

[/FONT]Acronis® True Image 10 Home

 

The system restore has a sliding control to set the max amount of disk space allocated to system restore ( think that you can access through a right click on my computer)
The default setting is 10 % of the drive ( same as the trash can)
Its a roll over effect
It will not take space over that percentage
You can reduce the amount if you wish by sliding the bar- however you will reduce your safety margin)
If you are asking this question - I would say leave it alone
You might want to free up space reducing the allocation of the trash can
Right click on the trash can and slide the bar control to the left.
I usually have it set at 3 to 4 % but others can advise you on that
As well go through your program list and windows component list , remove what you do not use. Go into the temp area of windows
c> windows > temp
delete what is there.
Often when you install programs it leaves files there used in the install
Go into your program folder
Hunt down orphan programs ( you uninstalled and left residual components )
But be carefull
Your system restore may come in handy
Best to set a backup before doing this
Do a spyware scan ( adaware and spybot or both)
When you are finished > reboot > and defrag

 

Hi CosmoQueen,

As visionoff writes, ME's (and XP's) SR max disk allocation is controllable.

SR combined with an imaging program per Jazzman will pretty much have you covered in case of problems - from minor ones that SR would handle, to major ones that an image restore would solve.

Personally I have about two weeks or less of restore points on hand and image the OS partitions about every ten days or so.




Hello Jazzman and welcome to the Board

 

[FONT= "Comic Sans MS"]Hello, charlesvar. Thank you. [/FONT]

 

3rd party windows restore programs

does anyone have any 3rd party restore programs to recommend
I was told a glowing report of one such product over the windows xp version but never took the name

 

Acronis True Image 11 Home

 

I 1000% agree.

I recommed the same for ANY type of backup. Make changes. Make new backups.

Having had to spend a lot of time making sure my wifes' medical problems were taken care of I had not paid too much attention to things on the PC. So yesterday I did some checking and found RPs from WEEKS ago. In that period of time some stuff had been deleted and new stuff added-modified-updated.

Bottom line ( mine anyway )

Make system changes and find that they are going to be OK then destory the old and make new RPs/backups. Over a period of time I have found that to be time well spent.

Gotta go Help Nancy.
BillyBob

 

the system restore is set to a maximum percentage of hard drive space ( 10 % is default)
Just leave it alone
The older ones will take care of themselves
You can reduce the % size - but if you are asking this level of question and are not short of hard drive space - leave it alone
Better to clean up your hard drive of not needed or residual programs than reduce the size of your system restore in your case

 

I just checked my System Restore and found that there were points from almost a week ago. Since then I have made changes. Removed a couple of programs and added one. Cleaned up the Registry etc.

What good would an ancient RP be other than replace references to no longer existing things.

SR shut down and restarted.

At times I also use a program named RegSeeker and do a search for things. I have found it almost unbelievable what gets left over in the Registry after a software removal.

Billybob

 

Better to clean up your hard drive of not needed or residual programs than reduce the size of your system restore in your case
__________________

Yesterday

HD cleaned up.
A couple of no longer used programs unistalled
PowerDesk6 opened and used to delete the left over unused folders.
RegSeeker run and Reg cleaned ( WOW ! Amazing what I found )

Today
Started the PC and everything seems to be OK. ( must be. I am here )
System Restore shutdpwn and restarted.
Now only one Uptodate SR point is available.

I just wish repairing my Wife bad shoulder was that easy.

BillyBob