System restore in Windows XP

[Guest]

I have found, that when you use System restore, you create a bunch of backup
files. How do I remove these backup files from my hard drive?

 

[mdp]

Turn off System Restore. Right click My Computer, select Properties, System
Restore tab to select which drives to turn on/off.

 

[Tom J]

I have found, that when you use System restore, you create a bunch of
backup
files. How do I remove these backup files from my hard drive?

You don't if you want to be able to restore the system if something
goes wrong. There is a setting to limit the amount of space devoted to
system restore so fewer backups are retained.

Tom J

 

[Guest]

The other posters are correct, why would you want to cancell your
insurance? You may delete all restore points except the very last and you do
that by going into the System Restore Program. Another poster will have to
tell you where, I am on a military Network and users Do Not have System
Restore. But I think on the left there were three Icons and one of them gave
you that option.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

First of all System Restore is not a backup tool.

By default System Restore automatically creates a restore point every 24
hours. That is as long as there's enough system idle time for it to do
so. Restore points may also be created before an application
installation, installing Windows updates, and one is created when a
restore is performed to make an Undo possible.

Restore points by default are automatically deleted when they become 90
days old. Or if the amount of disk space used to hold the restore points
reaches it's limit. As already suggested, it is not wise to delete all
restore points. A better approach is to limit the amount of disk space
used to hold the restore points.

Here are some tips for adjusting disk space usage and keeping System
Restore Healthy
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/healthy.html#AdjustDiskSpace

And here's a description of System Restore:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/description.html

 

[Plato]

I have found, that when you use System restore, you create a bunch of backup
files. How do I remove these backup files from my hard drive?

Turn off system restore and reboot. They should be gone.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have found, that when you use System restore, you create a bunch of
backup files. How do I remove these backup files from my hard drive?

??? That's the purpose of using System Restore--to create backups of key
operating system components so you can restore them if something goes
wrong.

If you don't want these, simply turn off System Restore and don't use it.
That would be a foolhardy thing to do in my view, but it's your choice.

 

[Tracker Traveler]

Hi,

First of all System Restore is not a backup tool.

By default System Restore automatically creates a restore point every 24
hours. That is as long as there's enough system idle time for it to do
so. Restore points may also be created before an application
installation, installing Windows updates, and one is created when a
restore is performed to make an Undo possible.

Restore points by default are automatically deleted when they become 90
days old. Or if the amount of disk space used to hold the restore points
reaches it's limit. As already suggested, it is not wise to delete all
restore points. A better approach is to limit the amount of disk space
used to hold the restore points.

Here are some tips for adjusting disk space usage and keeping System
Restore Healthy
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/healthy.html#AdjustDiskSpace

And here's a description of System Restore:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/description.html

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On my Windows XP, Backup is not listed as one of the tools. I don't have XP
discs to install and add. How can I install the backup option?

XP Home?

Backup is installed automatically on XP Professional, but not on XP
Home. If you have the complete XP Home CD, find backup on the CD, in
\ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it yourself by doubleclicking the
file ntbackup.msi.

If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi Also see
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid302894

Also note, that as backup software goes, the included Windows program
is probably the worst solution available. In my view, you should
consider getting third-party backup software instead. My personal
preference is for Acronis TrueImage.