System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete

How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista and Windows 7 when Dual Booting with XP​

   Information

When you are dual booting XP with Vista and/or Windows 7, this will show you how to stop XP from deleting all of the System Restore Points and Shadow Copies in Vista and Windows 7 everytime you start XP.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

For more information, see also:

• Microsoft Help and Support: KB926185
• System Restore "restore points" are missing or deleted

   Note

In Vista and Windows 7, shadow copies are used to maintain System Restore Points. Additionally, shadow copies are used to maintain Complete PC Backup files. Therefore, when you access the volume from an earlier operating system (XP), it will delete all restore points and all except the most recent versions of Complete PC Backup files in Vista and Windows 7.

   Tip

This problem occurs because the volume snapshot driver that is included with Vista and Windows 7 uses disk structures that are incompatible with earlier versions of Windows. Therefore, the earlier operating system deletes Vista and Windows 7 shadow copies with the associated restore points. This behavior occurs because the earlier Windows operating systems do not recognize the new disk structures.

   Warning

This does not actually fix the problem. It is a workaround that will stop XP from deleting the restore points and shadow copies. After you restart XP, you will not be able to access the volume Vista and/or Windows 7 is on from XP. However, you can still access the volume that XP is on from Vista and Windows 7.

It has been reported that some 3rd party disk defragmentation programs could also delete your restore points when used.

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

   Warning

This needs to be done in XP, not in Vista or Windows 7. This download assumes that Vista or Windows 7 is installed on the D: drive as the second OS. If this is not true for you, or you need to add another drive to be hidden from XP, then do OPTION TWO below to do this manually with the drive letter that your Vista or Windows 7 is installed on instead.

1. To Stop XP from Deleting Restore Points ​

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Stop_XP.reg​

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B) Go to step 3.​

2. To Restore Default Settings in XP​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Default_Settings.reg​

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3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.​

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5. Approve the merge when prompted.​

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6. Restart XP to apply the changes.​

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7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

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OPTION TWO

Manually Through Registry Editor

   Warning

This needs to be done in XP, not in Vista or Windows 7.

1. Open the Start Menu, click on My Computer to open it, then make note of the drive letter for the Vista and/or Windows 7 installation that you wan to prevent XP from seeing to prevent their restore points from being deleted.​

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2. Open the Start Menu, click on Run to open it,, then type regedit and press Enter.​

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3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​

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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices​

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4. To Stop XP from Deleting Restore Points​

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A) In the left pane, right click on MountedDevices and click on New and Key.​

NOTE: If you already have the Offline key under MountedDevices, then skip this step and go to step 4C. (see screenshot below step 4C )​

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B) Type Offline and press Enter.​

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C) In the right pane of Offline, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD Value. (see screenshot below)​

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D) Type \DosDevices\D: and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 4F)​

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NOTE: While in XP, if your Vista or Windows 7 is not showing as being on the D: drive in Computer, then substitute D: with the drive letter that it is shown to be on instead. For example, if it is shown to be on the E: drive, then type \DosDevices\E: instead. Repeat this step if you wish to hide another drive letter from XP.​

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E) In the right pane, right click on \DosDevices\D: and click on Modify.​

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F) Type 1, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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G) The registry should now look like this. (see screenshot below)​

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H) Repeat steps 4C to 4G for any other drive letter that you want to prevent them from being seen by XP.​

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I) Go to step 6.​

5. To Restore the Default XP Settings​

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A) In the right pane of Offline, right click on \DosDevices\D:, and click on Delete. (see screenshot below step 4H)​

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B) Click on Yes to confirm the deletion.​

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C) Repeat step 5 for any other listed drive letter that you would like XP to be able to see again.​

6. Restart XP to apply the changes.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a System Restore Shortcut in Vista
• How to Create a System Restore Point in Vista
• How to Undo the Last System Restore in Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista
• How to Change the System Restore Disk Space Usage in Vista
• How to Turn System Restore On or Off in Vista
• How to Create a Create System Restore Point Shortcut in Vista
• How to Make a "Create System Restore Point" Shortcut in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Add "Create Restore Point" to Context Menu in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Change the Default Boot Partition in Vista
• How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista
• How to Change the Automatic System Restore Point Settings in Vista Task Scheduler
• How to Enable or Disable Create Vista System Restore Point when New Device Driver is Installed
• How to Enable or Disable Create Vista System Restore Point when a Application is Installed
• How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
• How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows Vista and XP
• How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

 

[Brink]

Did you create new restore points in Vista to test to see if they get deleted? The old ones will not come back.

 

[LennyP]

Did you create new restore points in Vista to test to see if they get deleted? The old ones will not come back.

Yes, and they all go away when I reboot. Does having the system on the xp drive cause a problem, my laptop with vista ultimate has the system files on the same drive as the os? I just have to reboot, not even use xp and no restore in vista. XP is first boot then arrow down to start vista.

 

[Brink]

LennyP,

You can try with Vista installed first to have it as the system boot drive to see if that helps.

 

[LennyP]

LennyP,

You can try with Vista installed first to have it as the system boot drive to see if that helps.

When you say installed first do you mean in the system startup boot order? Where you get which os to boot to first? Default OS? I tried it with the changed boot order, still cleaned out my restore point.

 

[Brink]

LennyP,

It would be when the Vista partition is listed as the System Boot disk in Disk Management, not just from the boot order.

 

[LennyP]

LennyP,

It would be when the Vista partition is listed as the System Boot disk in Disk Management, not just from the boot order.

Yes, in vista, the vista drive is the boot drive.

 

[Brink]

LennyP,

I must admit that I'm stumped to why XP is still deleting your restore points in Vista. I would recommend that you post this question in the General Discussion forum and Vista General newsgroup to see if someone else may know of a solution for you. You should reference this tutorial in your post so that they will know what you have tried already. I hope you get a solution soon.

Sorry,

Shawn

 

[LennyP]

LennyP,

I must admit that I'm stumped to why XP is still deleting your restore points in Vista. I would recommend that you post this question in the General Discussion forum and Vista General newsgroup to see if someone else may know of a solution for you. You should reference this tutorial in your post so that they will know what you have tried already. I hope you get a solution soon.

Sorry,

Shawn

Shawn,
Well I'm stumped too, if I knew how to move the system files I'd try that. One other thing I noticed is that when I move the paging file in Vista to the Vista drive when I reboot they are back in the D: drive. Won't stay put. Thank you for all your time and help.
Lenny

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Lenny. I just wish I knew of a way for you other than a complete reinstall of everything.

Shawn

 

[Jo Ward]

Hi.. I just want to thank whoever is responsible for this wonderful fix or workaround...It is such a relief to know that I now actually have a shot at getting back in Vista after there is a problem... I guess you can tell I've had a few disasters..:D Getting Vista working with XP in the dual boot has been a nightmare...finally, when I figured it all out...there were no restore points....Thanks again...Jo

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Jo Ward, and welcome to Vista x64 Forums. I just got it from the KB article at the top of the tutorial, but made it more user friendly to understand easier. I'm glad to hear that it has helped you.

I had a few disasters myself, all of my own doing of course. LOL

Shawn

 

[Rockfarmer]

HI: A Newbie here. My system has Vista on C: and XP on D: My Intel sata drivers are loaded from directory C:\Drivers\ Will I create a mess if I hide partition C: from XP? How will the drivers load, or is that a dumb question from a Newbie?

Bob

 

[Brink]

Hi Bob,

LOL, no such thing as a dumb question remember.

Usually these are loaded before the OS, so it should be ok.

Shawn

 

[Rockfarmer]

Thanks Shawn. Everything seems to work now. Did get a serious hangup though while doing a file search. Didn't record the error code:-(
Note that the vista partition (drive C is still viewable in Windows Explorer. Don't understand that part since C: should not be mounted now.

 

[Brink]

Hi Rockfarmer,

That is interesting. The next time you get the error code, post it so we can take a look at it.

Glad to hear that XP is not deleting you Vista restore points anymore.

Shawn

 

[MattDutton]

Hullo!
Just wondering if anyone can offer some words of wisdom...?

I'm in need of a Vista restore point, but thanks to our MS dual-boot problem..I don't have one! lol :S

Background: Each time Vista tries to boot I get the message "updates were not configured correctly. Reverting changes" which ends in a restart.
No 'safe mode' etc options bypass this, nor does inserting my Vista dvd, (as the OS can't be repaired out of Windows!)

*I seriously want to avoid backing up (200GB+) of files onto dvds & starting again!

>>If I manage to use your fix for XP deleting restores, will it help me get Vista back up running?

>>I can still access my Vista drive (E:\ on my setup) through XP, so is it possible to remove the last couple of MS updates this way?

**Thanks, & sorry if it's verging on the wrong thread.
Matt D

 

[Brink]

Hi Matt,

Are you able to boot into Vista at all?

If so, check in Windows Updates and look at your View update history to see what update has failed. Right click on that update and click View details, then click on the top link to go to a MS website to download the standalone installer for the update. Run the stadalone installer to see if that will install the update now and get rid of this error for you.

Hope this helps you,
Shawn

 

[MattDutton]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

No Vista won't boot even in safe mode .

Is there anyway of removing the Vista update from my E:\ whilst in XP?

 

[Brink]

Matt,

Not that I know of.

Are you not able to boot to a DVD at all? If so, you may be able to fix the problem with running a Startup repair.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html

If not, then I must admit that I'm stumped. You might post this question in one the forums and newsgroups to see if someone may know of a way, if possible, to remove the updates from with XP.

 

[MattDutton]

Thanks Brink.

I can use my Vista DVD, entering the country I live in etc. But the repair option fails straight away saying contact the admin/Manufacturer.

It also says a re-install of Vista can only be done from WITHIN windows!!

Cheers for the replies, I'll post it elsewhere on Vistax64.
Matt D