Deleting system restore points

[omni]

The problem is as follows. System restore saves to a subdirectory of
the system volume. In particular, it saves virused files to that
subdirectory. When I run ADAWARE (anti spyware), it finds those
virused files in the restore point, and complains.

The solution is to wipe out previous restore points prior to running
AdAware, and perhaps create a restore point after running it. However
I can find no way of deleting previous restore points, either singly
or en masse.

Is this solution wise, and how would I remove those restore points?
Alternatively, can I instruct Windows to not include in its restore
point certain directories on a volume?

 

[Guest]

MY COMPUTER
RIGHT CLICK ON C: DRIVE
CHOOSE PROPERITES
CHOOSE CLEAN UP
CHOOSE MORE OPTIONS
SYSTEM RESTORE
CHOOSE CLEAN UP
THIS WILL DELETE ALL BUT THE LAST RESTORE POINT
OR TURN OFF SYSTEM RESTORE FROM MY COMPUTER

 

[Bill James]

You can delete all but the most recent restore point by using the More Options tab in the Disk Cleanup utility. You can remove all restore points by disabling System Restore, then re-enabling it. In either case, only do this if you are sure your system is stable, you have not added any software of hardware lately, and you have rebooted your computer to make sure there are no problems. You cannot disable selective restore points without a high likelihood of hosing the System Restore functionality -- you won't see any errors but any attempts to restore to a previous RP will fail. Not worth the risk I think.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

 

[Rock]

The problem is as follows. System restore saves to a subdirectory of
the system volume. In particular, it saves virused files to that
subdirectory. When I run ADAWARE (anti spyware), it finds those
virused files in the restore point, and complains.

The solution is to wipe out previous restore points prior to running
AdAware, and perhaps create a restore point after running it. However
I can find no way of deleting previous restore points, either singly
or en masse.

Is this solution wise, and how would I remove those restore points?
Alternatively, can I instruct Windows to not include in its restore
point certain directories on a volume?

How about going to Help and Support, type in System Restore and read all
about it. You can't specify what directories to include, just what
partitions / logical volumes.

 

[Kelly]

Extra info:

To show System Volume Information

Go to: Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View/Show Hidden File and
Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files.

Then go to: C:\System Volume Information

How to Gain Access to the System Volume Information Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;309531

But the way to fix your problem is to create a restore point and then use
the Disk Cleanup to delete all but the last restore point. The virus will be
gone, if your virus checker already deleted it from your system.

Right click your Root drive/Properties/Disk Cleanup ... let it run. Then
click on More Options/System Restore/Clean up.

--
Happy Holidays,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Alex Nichol]

The problem is as follows. System restore saves to a subdirectory of
the system volume. In particular, it saves virused files to that
subdirectory. When I run ADAWARE (anti spyware), it finds those
virused files in the restore point, and complains.

The solution is to wipe out previous restore points prior to running
AdAware, and perhaps create a restore point after running it. However
I can find no way of deleting previous restore points, either singly
or en masse.

Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup and on
the More Options page, click 'Delete all but the most recent restore
point'. That will leave just the one made after cleaning the virus