System Restore - disk space

Clark1221 · Jun 8, 2007

Wow.......when I ran this command, the maxsize was 15.779 gigs. That's a lot of space for System Restore.
Read something like this:

Used = 286 mgs.
Allocated = 700 mgs.
Max Size = 15.779 gigs

Re-sized max size to 3 gigs.

Thanks for that tip.

Also......question:

Was wondering why 're-size SR' is basically hidden in Vista? XP and previous versions have all had the slider for re-sizing space used, making it very simple.

Brink · Jun 9, 2007

Re: System Restore

Hi Clark,

It was an effort in dummy proofing Vista. In actuality, it made it harder on advanced users. Vista can use a lot of space on System Restore. If you have a big hard drive, I suppose one could afford the space.

Your Welcome,
Shawn

DEANREILY · Jan 4, 2008

I have my Vista computer for a month and already have 17 GB used for restore points. I am very surprised how quickly my 160 GB drive is filling up. I only have about 1/3 of that free. What is a reasonable size for a restore point allocation. How may restore points does Vista keep before it begins to eliminate some?

Brink · Jan 4, 2008

Hi Dean,

System Restore needs a minimum 300 MB of space for restore points. By default it is set to use 15 % maximum of your hard drive. When that runs out, it will then start deleting the oldest restore points one by one as new ones are added.

I would give it a 3 GB size to have room for enough restore points and shadow copies to be safe with multiple one to choose from.

Shawn

DEANREILY · Jan 4, 2008

So the restore point allocation is 15% of 160 GB in my case? I think my report says 21+ GB is the maximum. They must be using the 141 GB they show for that partition where the 7 or 8 GB recovery partition and something else takes up the short fall from 160 GB. What is using up the other 11 or 12 GB? I will try the 3 GB you recommended and expanded it only if I make a major change in applications used.

Brink · Jan 4, 2008

Dean,

If you had System Restore off, then turned it on later it may allocate a minimum of 30% of the available free space on the hard drive.

Shawn

DEANREILY · Jan 4, 2008

After I change my restore allocation is Vista likely to change the allocation without my knowing it or will Vista give me a warning if it has less allocated space than needed for setting a restore point?

I have an HP dv6449 with Vista Home Premium and the recovery sector is thought to be corrupted. I couldn't create a recovery set so HP sent me a recovery DVD. That 7 or 8 GB partition is not very useful unless I can easily put it in the primary Vista boot partition or use it for data or restore points. Is the latter possible? Does Vista Home Premium have disk image software?

Brink · Jan 4, 2008

Dean,

Q1) If you turn System Restore off, it will reset back to it's default maximum size when you turn it back on the next time without any notice. Otherwise, it should not change without your assistance.

Q2) HP may have that partition protected. If they do, then you will only be able to get rid of it the next time you reinstall. During the installation process you can delete all partitions and create one big instead. If it is not protected, then this will show you how to delete it and extend the other partition into it to make one partition on the drive.

How to Delete and Extend a Partition with Disk Management in Vista

Shawn

DjLevel9 · Apr 6, 2008

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>vssadmin list shadowstorage
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Shadow Copy Storage association
For volume: (C

\\?\Volume{9707de3c-9d94-11dc-bb54-806e6f6e6963}\
Shadow Copy Storage volume: (C

\\?\Volume{9707de3c-9d94-11dc-bb54-806e6f6e69
63}\
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 65.193 GB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 67.45 GB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 68.427 GB

on this Machine 500GB HD The Other 1 Teribyte.
do I need to fix this one ?

DjLevel9 · Apr 6, 2008

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>vssadmin list shadowstorage
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Shadow Copy Storage association
For volume: (C

\\?\Volume{9707de3c-9d94-11dc-bb54-806e6f6e6963}\
Shadow Copy Storage volume: (C

\\?\Volume{9707de3c-9d94-11dc-bb54-806e6f6e69
63}\
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 65.193 GB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 67.45 GB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 68.427 GB

C:\Windows\system32>vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=3GB
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Successfully resized the shadow copy storage association

Brink · Apr 6, 2008

Hi DjLevel9,

That is a lot of space for restore points, but Vista uses 15% of your hard drive space by default. I would say only if you need to save space, or want to increase it to be able to store more restore point dates.

Shawn

DjLevel9 · Apr 6, 2008

Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 0 GB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 0 GB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 3 GB

Brink · Apr 6, 2008

That will save you space alright.

DEANREILY · Apr 6, 2008

Be careful not to over do the shrinking of the restore point memory. Each time Vista or an application is updated a new restore point is generated and old ones may be eliminated if there is not sufficient storage.

In one case this resulted in my no longer having a restore point that I needed. It would be nice to be able to protect a restore point from being eliminated as a result of an undetermined string of automatic update processes. Do you have any instructions on how to do that without increasing restore point memory significantly.

Brink · Apr 6, 2008

Sorry DeanReily,

It is not possible to save just any one particular restore point or prevent the oldest one from getting deleted when you run out of hard drive space. The only way to help is to increase the amount of space used for restore points on the hard drive, but even then you will run out of space eventually. The best option is to use a good backup program.

You could use Option Three in the tutorial below to delete specific restore points though. It's the same in Vista and Windows 7.

System Protection Restore Points - Delete - Windows 7 Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

nigel2205 · Jun 16, 2008

Hi
trying to reduce shadow storage, keep getting error msg

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>vssadmin list shadowstorage
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.
Shadow Copy Storage association
For volume: (D

\\?\Volume{3ddf0d5c-3a52-11dd-b79b-0019db2d605e}\
Shadow Copy Storage volume: (D

\\?\Volume{3ddf0d5c-3a52-11dd-b79b-0019db2d60
5e}\
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 1.703 MB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 100 MB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 33.911 GB
Shadow Copy Storage association
For volume: (C

\\?\Volume{ea3d4cb6-3a4e-11dd-91c8-806e6f6e6963}\
Shadow Copy Storage volume: (C

\\?\Volume{ea3d4cb6-3a4e-11dd-91c8-806e6f6e69
63}\
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 4.941 GB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 5.792 GB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 17.977 GB

C:\Windows\system32>vassadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C:/On=C:/Maxsize=5GB
'vassadmin' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\Windows\system32>vassadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=5GB
'vassadmin' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\Windows\system32>

Brink · Jun 16, 2008

Hi Nigel,

Welcome to Vista Forums. :party:

Check to make sure that you did the Run as administrator in step 3.

Plus, you should type:

vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=5GB

instead of:

vassadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C:/On=C:/Maxsize=5GB

Notice the spaces that were left out after C: also.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

nigel2205 · Jun 16, 2008

Thanks Shawn
Copy & paste worked great,

Best forum iv found for Vista.

Brink · Jun 16, 2008

Your welcome Nigel. Glad it worked for you now.

Shawn

System Restore - disk space

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