Help with system restore - Vista 64

I am having a problem. I want to disable my system restore and delete the existing restore files. I also want to make a backup disc prior. Please see the bolded print! Scroll down if you dont want to read it all.


One of the most powerful tweaks available to Vista has to do with the System Restore feature. Back in the days of 3.1/Me/Millenium and even XP, we would have screamed to have something this effective in restoring our system when we made a mistake. Quite simply, System Restore will restore your system to how it was when the last restore point was created....which is why the top title has 'just not quite yet'. The power during our tweaking is that, should we make a mistake, we can just revert back to a previous state.

First, you can access system restore by several methods, a few as follows:

1. Start/Control Panel/Backup and Restore Centre/Create or Repair a Restore Point; or
2. Start/All Programs/Maintenance/Backup and Restore Center.

System Restore is on automatically. To turn it off, you simply go into 'Create a Restore Point or Change Settings' and turn it off (or on) by checking or unchecking options.

Now to the meat and gravy of this tweak....I'm going to describe it to you through the words of an old Clint Eastwood movie:

The Good: When System Restore is turned off, it saves a large amount of disk space because it is not continually creating restore points. It also enhances performance significantly as it is not running in the background and creating these restore points.

The Bad: When it is turned off, you cannot revert to a previously saved restore point; and

The Ugly: If you make a significant mistake with it off, there is usually no turning back. You may need to completely reinstall, if its bad enough, which can be time consuming.

My Own Opinion??? Ok...sure I would suggest you leave it on for now, anyway, and reduce your saved restore points to just the one by:

Start/Computer/Right click on 'C'/Properties/Disk CleanUp/ More Options/System restore and Shadow Copies (Clean Up). <-- The bolded destination does not exist? There is no "more options". After Disk cleanup, the only options are "Choose which files to cleanup, My files only or foles from all users" There is no "More options/System restore and Shadow Copies"
When your tweaking is nearing an end and you are comfortable with what you have, make a disk backup <-- How do I make a disc backup?
and by all means shut it down. You will see a world of difference.




If, after careful consideration, you elected to leave System Restore on and pass on Tip #15, there is another great little trick to save space. It is common for new users to write the forums stating that their disk space is dissappearing and they don't know why. By default, System Restore will save a copy of your current desktop on regularly scheduled intervals, whenever something new is installed and also if an error or update occurs with the system. The results in alot of GB of needless backups remaining for no reason. Also, shadow copies of programs are created on expansion after installation, many of which remain their needlessly.

To get there, follow: Start/Computer/Right Click On 'C'/Disk CleanUp/ More Options/System Restore and Shadow Copies/Clean Up<-- Once again, destination does not exist
You can check the space on your drive after this and be amazed!

 

I don't have Vista installed anymore but I will try to help. Following the information you presented I have created three attachments from my Windows 7 installation but from what I recall it is the same, or nearly so, as in Vista.

Screen Image 1 - is the Disk Cleanup Screen, in order to get to the screen in the second image you need to select 'Clean up system files'.

I am not sure if 'Clean up system files' is available if you have disabled 'system restore'. I am not willing to try since I am experimenting with a new video driver and may need my system restore point

Screen Image 2 - After selecting 'Clean up system files' the More Options tab is now added to Disk Cleanup

Screen Image 3 - System Restore and Shadow Copies clean up is now available

You did not indicate what version of Vista 64 you are runnning. A complete computer backup option is only available in Business or Ultimate. If you have one of those versions, type 'backup' in the search programs box available from the Vista Start icon or you can find backup in control panel.

If you have Vista Home Premium you will have to use a third party computer backup program such as Acronis True Image, or Norton Ghost.

Hope this helps...

 

Thankyou deeastman! Well you hit it right on the button. I am running Windows Home Premium Vista 64 SP1. The issue I have is there is no tab to "Clean up system files" thus I cannot go further to "more options" on so on. Is there any FREE software..? that I could possibly burn to disk or save in a thumbdrive? Thanks!

So I take it with Home premium you can not delete old system restore points and shadow copies? I want just one restore point that overwrites itself each night and the old restore points and shadow copies outa there? Thanks

 

Well I figured it out. On my ccleaner, under Tools, there is an option to delete system restores one by one! Just gained 15GB! OR....you can disable system restore and it will wipe it clean the turn it back on and create 1 restore point. !!!! ; ) Will this work---> I have a DVD/RW 4.7Gb disc to make a full backup on. Or I can use a thumbdrive if I buy a big enough one. Any free software that does a full backup? Even if its trial I can use once then uninstall it. Thanks!

 

Maybe it has something to do with SP1 because I have Vista 64 Home Premium with SP2 and I am looking at the "More Options" tab in Disk Cleanup right now...

To lower the amount of hard drive space that System Restore can use, you need to go through Command Promt... I think my laptop came set to like 40GB for System Restore!!! I set it to 5GB which keeps like 5+ restore points (for me at least)...

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/reduce-system-restores-disk-usage-in-vista/

 

Acronis has trial software that you could use to make a backup. If you happen to have Western Digital HD's in your system WD has the software for free here: http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp

Also, check out the list of free software listed here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=337890

Not true, Vista Home Premium (both SP1 and SP2) handles system restore points the same as all versions of Vista. I don't know why your system doesn't show the more options tab (it should).

Edit: Read Here: http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01957.htm

"The More Options tab is available when you choose to clean files from all users on the computer. This tab includes two additional ways to free even more disk space:"

 

You could use DVD's but it may take a lot of them. Usually not practical. Backing up to an external USB HD is the norm.

Open my computer and check the properties of your C: drive (assuming you only have one drive in your system to back up) to find out the disk space used. Divide that number by 4GB and that will be approximately the number of DVD's you would need to back up your system.

 

Ya I set mine to 300MB. It only taks 90MB each restore so I fugure 3 restores is enough, and Im glad it will just delete off the others as it goes! Thanks!

And deeastman, looks like a external USB HD it is then..