Sytem Restore off

coolnewyorker · Dec 8, 2008

I cannot find anything wrong with my 7 wk old notebook. Windows Experience Index is 4.8, Free Space is 88% (up from 70%) after deleting all restore points. My latest spyware and virus scans results were malware free. Optical and wireless systems are running smoothly. Speed is unbelievable with wireless cable.

But Free Space % goes down continously with System Restore on.

So, I created a Restore Point, deleted all previous ones and then I turned Sytem Restore off. That was 3 days ago; and so far I am still perfect with Free Space steady at 88%. I figure I would turn it on when I make major modifications.

Have I done anything questionable or not recommendable?

Brink · Dec 8, 2008

Hi CoolNewYorker,

Turning off System Restore also deletes all restore points. It's up to you if you want it on or not, but with it off you may lose one easy possible way of fixing your computer if something goes wrong.

You can also adjust how much maximum space System Restore can use to prevent it from using a lot.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76227-system-restore-disk-space.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

coolnewyorker · Dec 8, 2008

All Restore Points? Including the one I created before I turned it off?

Dwarf · Dec 8, 2008

Hi coolnewyorker,

Have a look at the following Tutorial (and its related links) for more information: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66971-system-restore.html. In particular, see the section WARNING regarding disabling System Restore, and also this link in that section for space useage: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76227-system-restore-disk-space.html

coolnewyorker · Dec 8, 2008

OK. I turned it back on ...and tried to set up smaller space allocation but it seems I have no say on this. The system wants a minimum of 300 MG. That's a lot!!!

Titancom · Dec 8, 2008

Hi Coolnewyorker,

In this day and age 300Mb isn't really that much space, how big is your Hard drive?

Brink · Dec 8, 2008

CoolNewYorker,

Yeah 300 MB may seem like a lot, but for restore points is not much at all though. Usually, it is set for 15% of your hard drive space by default. :geek:

coolnewyorker · Dec 8, 2008

@Titan.com:

4 GB RAM, HD is supposed to be 320GB but I am seeing only 298GB (total space).and 258.7 free space. Why the diff? (320/298). Is there a way to find out the exact space currently alloted to System Restore? Is it possible it is using more than the 300 MB minimum?

coolnewyorker · Dec 8, 2008

@Shawn

OK, I disabled all triggers. I think I just accomplished what I wanted to do when I turned off SR...meaning, I have my manually created Restore Point and I should not see diminishing free space everyday and every time I start or reboot. I will just create Restore Point as needed. Is this OK?

Brink · Dec 8, 2008

CoolNewYork,

If you mean that you disabled the System Restore tasks, then that is fine if you do not want them. It will be fine to manually create them as needed if that meets your needs.

If you still need it, then this tutorial will show you exactly how much space System Restore is using.

coolnewyorker · Dec 8, 2008

Used shadow copy storage space : 680.891 MB
Allocated : 2.586 GB
Maximum : 43.001 GB

I would like to be able to reduce allocated space to (?) 1 GB. Can it be done?

RichFrogg · Dec 8, 2008

coolnewyorker,

Does all your HD space add up now? I just got my notebook this week and I was wondering why the available + used didn't equal 320GB.

Brink · Dec 8, 2008

coolnewyorker said:
Used shadow copy storage space : 680.891 MB
Allocated : 2.586 GB
Maximum : 43.001 GB

I would like to be able to reduce allocated space to (?) 1 GB. Can it be done?

Yes. You will just need to use the tutorial posted above to reduce the MAX size for restore points to 1 GB.

coolnewyorker · Dec 8, 2008

@Richie,

Welcome to the exciting world of communicating with the wiz kids. (They are making my recovery from last week knee athroscopic surgery much less painful)

I really don't even know if I am counting the right numbers. 320 GB HD may or may not have to do with the space numbers I am tallying that add up to just 298. I have no clue what 320 GB means. I know it is enormous because my 2000 DELL Inspiron had only 20 (yep, twenty) and I was happy with it.

I think your "available" and "used" should equal the "total". And your total ain't gonna be 320. I bet it's 298, like mine.

coolnewyorker · Dec 8, 2008

@Shawn

You mean if I reduce the Max to 1GB(instead of 3GB), the allocated is also automatically reduced to 1GB? Is 1GB enough to limit saved Restore Points to maximum of 3 entries. I understand, system will continue to make RP by default, but will keep only the latest few ones (hopefully not more than 6) if allocated space is so restricted.

PS... I am still not allowed to give rep.

Dwarf · Dec 9, 2008

Richie,

Hard disk sizes are usually quoted in DECIMAL rather than BINARY sizes. The former treats 1GB as 1,000,000,000 (10^9) bytes whereas for the latter it is 1,073,741,824 (1,024^3) bytes.
Performing the calculation on your disk of 320GB yields the following: 320 * 10^9 / 1024^3 = 298 (decimal places ignored).

Titancom · Dec 9, 2008

Your HDD is 320Gb that's total size as specified by the manufactorer before partioning = after partion etc thats reduced to 298GB which is about exactly what space should be left.

RichFrogg · Dec 9, 2008

@coolnewyorker, Thanks for the welcome!

Dwarf, thanks. I was looking at my computer and what's listed here only adds up to 298 GB, so I was wondering what happened to the other 22 GB.

*pretend I was able to copy the snippet I took of my computer right here*

On Drive c: 238 GB free of 286
On Drive (HP Recovery)D: 1.87 GB free of 11.4 GB
Total disk space should be 320 GB

coolnewyorker · Dec 9, 2008

NOPE. yOU got 297.4 . That means 22.6 has been utilized for partitioning as explained very well (thanks, John) by Titancom.

BTW, could that be (missing GB's)the non-movable space I used to see during graphic defragg in the old defrag version? Or could that be assigned to built in administrator and users?

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