System Restore Allocations w/Multiple Drives/Partitions

[Jeff N.]

Just curious what is really needed to allocate for Sys Restore on each
partition, (if even necessary), on a system with 2 drives and multiple
partitions. Only one OS currently installed. Seperate partition for
programs, although some installed on C:\. I only want maybe a weeks worth
of restore points and those figure I can come up with on my own, just really
wondering if I should disable Sys Restore on all the other partitions
besides C:\.

 

[Sunny]

Windows puts a system restore folder in each partition, but only puts a 1KB
dat file in the restore folders of the partitions, that do not contain an OS
that uses it. (or system files)

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

System Restore doesn't monitor data files. If you have partitions solely for programs/data files you can turn SR off on those. I have 3 primary partitions - all using SR - and 4 program/data partitions, on which I have turned SR off completely. So long as you have a good backup policy for the program/data partitions you shouldn't have any problems with turning SR off on those.

You can see which folders/files are monitored/not monitored in the %systemroot%\system32\restore\filelist.xml file.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Could I explain part of my last posting:

"So long as you have a good backup policy for the program/data partitions you shouldn't have any problems with turning SR off on those."

That might imply SR is a backup Utility - it is *not*. Either the XP Backup feature or a 3rd party backup program will have to be used.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


Hi

System Restore doesn't monitor data files. If you have partitions solely for programs/data files you can turn SR off on those. I have 3 primary partitions - all using SR - and 4 program/data partitions, on which I have turned SR off completely. So long as you have a good backup policy for the program/data partitions you shouldn't have any problems with turning SR off on those.

You can see which folders/files are monitored/not monitored in the %systemroot%\system32\restore\filelist.xml file.

 

[Bill James]

I don't find that to be the case. I install all programs to a 2nd partition, and the System Volume Information folder there is currently using 112 MB. When I few the contents of folders for individual Restore Points I see files related to changes I made that day, .exe, .ico, .hlp, and so on. the file name are changed to A + sequential 7 digits, but the icons for the .exe files give some indication to what they are, tying in with programs installed that day. On other days where I made no changes, there are only 2 files, "change.log.1" and "RestorePointSize".

It is correct to say you do not need System Restore enabled on a drive/partition that only contains data files, but if you are installing programs to that partition, System Restore is certainly used to remove/restore changes to installed programs.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

 

[Alex Nichol]

ust curious what is really needed to allocate for Sys Restore on each
partition, (if even necessary), on a system with 2 drives and multiple
partitions. Only one OS currently installed. Seperate partition for
programs, although some installed on C:\.

Files on each drive are handled separately by System Restore. So if you
have a second one containing programs that get updated and need
protecting, the reserve copies are held in the System volume information
folder on *that* drive. (Similarly the Recycle Bin has its own folder
on each drive for files deleted from that drive)

But there is not much that it is going to protect once you get away from
the drive with Windows and the Program files folder on it, unless you do
have such a second one for programs, and want it protected. Certainly
not on data ones - SR deliberately does *not* cover data files. I run
SR solely on C: with it turned off on the others

 

[Jeff N.]

Thanks Will.

Hi

System Restore doesn't monitor data files. If you have partitions
solely for programs/data files you can turn SR off on those. I have
3 primary partitions - all using SR - and 4 program/data partitions,
on which I have turned SR off completely. So long as you have a good
backup policy for the program/data partitions you shouldn't have any
problems with turning SR off on those.

You can see which folders/files are monitored/not monitored in the
%systemroot%\system32\restore\filelist.xml file.

 

[Jeff N.]

Thanks Alex. I have 90% of programs installed on F: which is on the primary
drive. Although I haven't attempted to move Program Files to default to F:\
upon installation for fear of making a mess. I noticed that SR was
allocating a lot of space for F:\, but wondered if it was actually being
used.