System Restore Dates

[Guest]

I need to do a System Restore, but can only access dates back to Jan 1 2006.
I've successfully run on earliest available ie. Jan 5, but was informed
there had been no changes.
Why can't I access earlier dates ?
Does this mean SR was not working then ?

I've had laptop/XP for 2 years.

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hello,

System restore can only save restore points upto when it runs out of allocated disk space. This disk
space allocation can be changed as desired. To change the amount of disk space allocated to System
Restore, right click on My Computer and select properties. Flip to the system restore tab and adjust
the slider to your wish. the maximum amount that can be allocated is 12% of the total hard disk
size.

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org


Folder customizations
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Protect your PC!
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[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

Restoring a system back that far in time will certainly cause more
problems than it fixes. If Jan 5 is the oldest restore point and it
displays a no changes made error, then there's a good chance that
restore point is corrupt. And in turn would cause all newer restore
point not to function either.

Here are some trouble shooting steps to follow when System Restore
failures to restore.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

 

[Guest]

Hi,
Thanks for reply.
When you "back that far in time" is 6 weeks a long time to restore back to ?
I was thinking of restoring back 6 months or so !
Seems I don't fully understand System Restore !!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I need to do a System Restore, but can only access dates back to Jan
1 2006. I've successfully run on earliest available ie. Jan 5, but
was informed there had been no changes.
Why can't I access earlier dates ?
Does this mean SR was not working then ?

How far back you can restore to is limited by two factors:

1. How much disk space you've allocated to System Restore. The default is
12% of your drive, but you can lower it.

2. A maximum of 90 days.

January 1 is over five weeks ago, and that's probably too far back to go
anyway. System restore backs up the system only (no data or other files) and
the problem with going back more than a couple of weeks is that you will
likely create out-of-synch conditions with other files. That's why I
recommend lowering the amount of space you give System Restore to 1-2MB
(regardless of what percentage that is). More than that is hardly ever
useful.

System Restore is a useful feature that can often get you out of trouble.
But don't think of it as any kind of substitute for a real backup scheme.
That's not at all what it is.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,
Thanks for reply.
When you "back that far in time" is 6 weeks a long time to restore
back to?

Yes. The problem that arises is that monitored files and registry
settings for any application that was installed after the restore point
being restored to will removed. This will cause the application not to
function. And in some cases, cause the uninstall and reinstall process
of the partially removed application to fail. This is why it is
recommended to uninstall any applications installed after the restore
point you will be restoring to.

I was thinking of restoring back 6 months or so !

You stated that the oldest restore point was Jan 5th! And by default
WindowsXP only hold restore points for a minimum of 90 days.

Seems I don't fully understand System Restore !!

I agree! : - ) Here are some links to reference material concerning
System Restore.

Description of System Restore:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/description.html

System Restore Knowledge Base Articles:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srarticles.HTM

 

[beb]

You meant 1-2 GB?

How far back you can restore to is limited by two factors:

1. How much disk space you've allocated to System Restore. The default is
12% of your drive, but you can lower it.

2. A maximum of 90 days.

January 1 is over five weeks ago, and that's probably too far back to go
anyway. System restore backs up the system only (no data or other files)
and the problem with going back more than a couple of weeks is that you
will likely create out-of-synch conditions with other files. That's why I
recommend lowering the amount of space you give System Restore to 1-2MB
(regardless of what percentage that is). More than that is hardly ever
useful.

System Restore is a useful feature that can often get you out of trouble.
But don't think of it as any kind of substitute for a real backup scheme.
That's not at all what it is.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

You meant 1-2 GB?

Yes, I did. Sorry for the typo.

 

[phillip maurice nelson]

try this , it may just work just when the computer
reboots press the F 10 key, this will give you
two options, you can do either a full system recovery
or you can do a system restore or roll back drivers.

 

[Malke]

try this , it may just work just when the computer
reboots press the F 10 key, this will give you
two options, you can do either a full system recovery
or you can do a system restore or roll back drivers.

More stupid and destructive "advice". Troll.

Malke

 

[antioch]

Hello Ken
Sorry to hijack thread, mkt23, but-
Does that mean that any or all restore points more than say 90 days old
may as well be removed/deleted, as they would no longer be a good idea to
use?
Or are they deleted automatic after a certain period or when 12% is reached.
Since getting a new comp just before Xmas, I have quite a lot of restore
points and system checkpoints.
Rgds
Antioch

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hello Ken
Sorry to hijack thread, mkt23, but-

Not a problem. You're not hijacking anything.

Does that mean that any or all restore points more than say 90 days
old may as well be removed/deleted, as they would no longer be a good
idea to use?

Restore points older than 90 days don't exist, because they aren't kept for
longer than that.

Restore points older about two weeks old are not a good idea to use, since
they are likely out of synch with other files. System Restore is useful for
going back only a few days, not much more.

Or are they deleted automatic after a certain period or when 12% is
reached.

They are also deleted automatically when the amount of disk space you've
gven them is used up and another Restore Point i screated. The oldest is
deleted to make room for the newest. That point is 12% by default, but many
of us lower than 12% substantially.

Since getting a new comp just before Xmas, I have quite a
lot of restore points and system checkpoints.
Rgds
Antioch

If you still have the default if 12%, I would lower it to the 1-2GB I
mention below, since older Restore Points are of no use anyway.

 

[phillip maurice nelson]

you must have at least 200MB of available space
on the hard disk or the system's partition.
you cannot turn it on until you create at least
200MB of available space. you can allocate more
space but you can't exceed 12% of the available disk space.

 

[phillip maurice nelson]

you will have to allocate more disk space but you
cannot exeed 12% of available disk space.

 

[phillip maurice nelson]

you will have to allocate more disk space but you
cannot exeed 12% of available disk space.you will
need at least 200MB of available space on the hard disk or
partition.

 

[antioch]

Not a problem. You're not hijacking anything.




Restore points older than 90 days don't exist, because they aren't kept
for longer than that.

Restore points older about two weeks old are not a good idea to use, since
they are likely out of synch with other files. System Restore is useful
for going back only a few days, not much more.




They are also deleted automatically when the amount of disk space you've
gven them is used up and another Restore Point i screated. The oldest is
deleted to make room for the newest. That point is 12% by default, but
many of us lower than 12% substantially.




If you still have the default if 12%, I would lower it to the 1-2GB I
mention below, since older Restore Points are of no use anyway.

Thank you Ken
So I have lowered to 7% 11334Mb as suggested.
I have in all about 40 restore/checkpoints back to 17 Dec 2005.
I see that in the last 30 days, just about every day there has been a
checkpoint, not knowingly done by me!
The last restore point I did was 16 Jan 2006.
I shall monitor and see if or what drops off the back
Thanks for your help.
Antioch
Who is this P.M.N.?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you Ken
So I have lowered to 7% 11334Mb as suggested.
I have in all about 40 restore/checkpoints back to 17 Dec 2005.
I see that in the last 30 days, just about every day there has been a
checkpoint, not knowingly done by me!

That's normal. A Restore Point is normally created every day.

The last restore point I did was 16 Jan 2006.
I shall monitor and see if or what drops off the back
Thanks for your help.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

Antioch
Who is this P.M.N.?

Sorry? I don't understand the question.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

That's normal. A Restore Point is normally created every day.

Just in case that isn't clear, what I mean to say was "A Restore Point is
normally created *automatically* every day."

 

[Tom J]

Thank you Ken
So I have lowered to 7% 11334Mb as suggested.
I have in all about 40 restore/checkpoints back to 17 Dec 2005.
I see that in the last 30 days, just about every day there has been
a checkpoint, not knowingly done by me!

Any time you make a change in the way any of your software interacts
with the operating system, a backup point is set by the system and you
don't control them.

Tom J

 

[Tom J]

and it will be labeled "System Checkpoint"