Removing Restore Point

[Scott]

I have a Restore Point that contains a trojan that I finally got rid of on my
WinX Pro system. Is there a way to delete this particular Restore Point?

If not, how do I delete all Restore Points on my system and start over?

Thanks!
Scott

 

[JS]

I have a Restore Point that contains a trojan that I finally got rid of on
my
WinX Pro system. Is there a way to delete this particular Restore Point?

If not, how do I delete all Restore Points on my system and start over?

Thanks!
Scott

From the KB article titled:
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/faqsrwxp.mspx

To delete all but the latest restore point on your machine by using the
disk cleanup utility:
Go to 'Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools >
Disk Cleanup'. Click on the 'More Options' tab and then
click 'Clean up' button in the System Restore box.

Next: click Yes to remove all but the most recent restore point.
Finally: Click the OK button.

You also should consider reducing the amount of disk space allowed for
System Restore points. The default is set to 12% of your drive or the
size of the Windows partition.

 

[Bennett Marco]

I have a Restore Point that contains a trojan that I finally got rid of on my
WinX Pro system. Is there a way to delete this particular Restore Point?

Not if it was the most recent one. To be safe you should probably
delete them all.

If not, how do I delete all Restore Points on my system and start over?

Turn off System Restore and reboot.

Turn it back on.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

From the KB article titled:
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/faqsrwxp.mspx

To delete all but the latest restore point on your machine by using the
disk cleanup utility:
Go to 'Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools >
Disk Cleanup'. Click on the 'More Options' tab and then
click 'Clean up' button in the System Restore box.

Next: click Yes to remove all but the most recent restore point.
Finally: Click the OK button.

You also should consider reducing the amount of disk space allowed for
System Restore points. The default is set to 12% of your drive or the
size of the Windows partition.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a Restore Point that contains a trojan that I finally got rid of on my
WinX Pro system. Is there a way to delete this particular Restore Point?

If not, how do I delete all Restore Points on my system and start over?

You can not delete a particular restore point. Your choices are to
delete them all, delete all but the latest one, or to delete none.

The old restore points don't hurt you, even if infected (unless you
restore from them), and old points will drop off the end of the chain
and be replaced by a new one every day. After a maximum of 90 days
(perhaps less, depending on how much space you've allotted for restore
points) all the old ones will be gone.

So I would keep them until they disappear by themselves, simply
because even though you may think you'll never need one of the old
ones, it's possible that something unexpected may occur, and it might
turn out that one of them could be a lifesaver.

 

[Jose]

I have a Restore Point that contains a trojan that I finally got rid of on my
WinX Pro system.  Is there a way to delete this particular Restore Point?

If not, how do I delete all Restore Points on my system and start over?

Thanks!
Scott

Sure it is possible to delete a particular restore point, but that is
not the best strategy and can't be done using the conventional Windows
interface. Stick to the "safe" ways.

If one RP is infected, it is a reasonable to be suspicious of every RP
after that. Restore Points being cumulative seems debatable, so err
on the side of caution - don't take chances. Be 100% sure by whacking
them all - no questions or theories to debate.

After your malicious software removal, delete all RPs (using the
method of your choice).

Make a new RP manually to at least verify the creation process works.

Check later to be sure RPs are successfully being created
automatically when they should be.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Sure it is possible to delete a particular restore point,

Not correct.

but that is
not the best strategy and can't be done using the conventional Windows
interface.

Well, if you know of some non-conventional way to do it that I don't,
please tell us how.

 

[Scott]

Ken,

I followed your instructions, and it worked fine.

Thanks!
Scott

 

[JS]

Thank you but I'm not Ken!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken,

I followed your instructions, and it worked fine.

Thanks, but I'm afraid that you answered the wrong message. It was JS
who supplied the instructions, not me.