System Restore, Multiple Partitions

[JD]

I'm using the following web page to adjust my System Restore settings:

http://bertk.mvps.org/html/healthy.html#AdjustDiskSpace

It says "Setting the data store to just under 1GB should be adequate."

My drive is 80 GB but I have four partitions so I can set System Restore
for each partition.

Should I set all four for a little under or a little over 1GB?

C is the operating system, D is programs, E and F are file storage.

 

[Nepatsfan]

In

I'm using the following web page to adjust my System Restore
settings:

http://bertk.mvps.org/html/healthy.html#AdjustDiskSpace

It says "Setting the data store to just under 1GB should be
adequate."

My drive is 80 GB but I have four partitions so I can set
System
Restore for each partition.

Should I set all four for a little under or a little over
1GB?

C is the operating system, D is programs, E and F are file
storage.

There are no hard and fast rules for how much hard drive space
should be allocated to System Restore. The approach I take is
to adjust it so that I've got no more than two weeks worth of
restore points available. Others may disagree, but I think
using System Restore to go back to a point further than two
weeks ago isn't practical. On this computer it turns out that
1.6 GB is the magic number but I have the OS and apps on the
same partition.

That said, you can turn off monitoring on your E and F drive.
System Restore will not help restore lost data files. You
should be backing up both drives, along with any other files
you can't afford to lose, on a regular basis to CD/DVD or an
external hard drive.

Another step you should take is to move any files that you have
stored on your Desktop to another location such as your My
Documents folder. Here's why.

Protecting Files During System Restore
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/expert/russel_sysrestore.mspx

Just out of curiosity, why do you have the OS on one drive and
your applications on another? If you have problems with XP
requiring a reinstall of the OS, you're still going to have to
reinstall all your programs.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[JD]

Please see my reply inline:

In

There are no hard and fast rules for how much hard drive space
should be allocated to System Restore. The approach I take is
to adjust it so that I've got no more than two weeks worth of
restore points available. Others may disagree, but I think
using System Restore to go back to a point further than two
weeks ago isn't practical. On this computer it turns out that
1.6 GB is the magic number but I have the OS and apps on the
same partition.

I agree that System Restore is only good for going back about two weeks.
That's what I'm trying to achieve in this System Restore adjustment.

That said, you can turn off monitoring on your E and F drive.
System Restore will not help restore lost data files. You
should be backing up both drives, along with any other files
you can't afford to lose, on a regular basis to CD/DVD or an
external hard drive.

That makes sense since there are no system files on E and F. Everything
on those two partions is backed up on a regular basis.

Do I need System Restore on D since it only contains my applications?
Will System Restore work on those?

I ask because I've only done one System Restore when my older version of
Roxio stopped working and I only restored C? Well, I'm not sure what I
restored since I just did a System Restore to the day before Roxio had a
problem and it did fix the problem.

Another step you should take is to move any files that you have
stored on your Desktop to another location such as your My
Documents folder. Here's why.

That's something to think about but at this time I don't have any files
stored on the desktop.

Protecting Files During System Restore
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/expert/russel_sysrestore.mspx

Just out of curiosity, why do you have the OS on one drive and
your applications on another? If you have problems with XP
requiring a reinstall of the OS, you're still going to have to
reinstall all your programs.

I understand that a reinstall of the OS will force me to reinstall my
programs but the data files of those programs are located on D with the
programs so I won't have to reinstall the data files for each program
although I also back up those data files on a regular basis.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

Thanks for the help. You've given me plenty to think about!

 

[Nepatsfan]

In

Please see my reply inline:


I agree that System Restore is only good for going back about
two
weeks. That's what I'm trying to achieve in this System
Restore
adjustment.


That makes sense since there are no system files on E and F.
Everything on those two partions is backed up on a regular
basis.

Do I need System Restore on D since it only contains my
applications?
Will System Restore work on those?

I ask because I've only done one System Restore when my older
version
of Roxio stopped working and I only restored C? Well, I'm not
sure
what I restored since I just did a System Restore to the day
before
Roxio had a problem and it did fix the problem.


That's something to think about but at this time I don't have
any
files stored on the desktop.


I understand that a reinstall of the OS will force me to
reinstall my
programs but the data files of those programs are located on
D with
the programs so I won't have to reinstall the data files for
each
program although I also back up those data files on a regular
basis.


Thanks for the help. You've given me plenty to think about!

Leave System Restore turned on for both your C and D drives.
Changes made to your C drive may have an impact on the
applications stored on D.

Nepatsfan

 

[JD]

In

Leave System Restore turned on for both your C and D drives.
Changes made to your C drive may have an impact on the
applications stored on D.

Nepatsfan

Thanks!

 

[Nepatsfan]

In

Thanks!

You're welcome.

Nepatsfan

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm using the following web page to adjust my System Restore settings:

http://bertk.mvps.org/html/healthy.html#AdjustDiskSpace

Good. Bert's site is a great one!

It says "Setting the data store to just under 1GB should be adequate."

My drive is 80 GB but I have four partitions so I can set System
Restore for each partition.

Should I set all four for a little under or a little over 1GB?

C is the operating system, D is programs, E and F are file storage.

System restore can only restore the operating system. So having *any* space
dedicated to it on D, E, or F is useless.

If I may, let me also comment on your having D: just for programs. Most
people who create a separate partition for their program files do so because
they think that if they ever have to reinstall Windows, their program files
will be safe in a separate partition and they won't have to reinstall the
programs.

In fact, that is false. All programs, except for a rare trivial one, have
many associated files and entries pointing to them within Windows, in the
registry and elsewhere. So if you ever have to reinstall Windows, you also
have to reinstall all your programs.

So there is really no advantage to having program files in a separate
partition. Programs will all have to be reinstalled if Windows has to be. I
recommend that program files be kept in the same partition as Windows is in.

 

[JD]

Good. Bert's site is a great one!




System restore can only restore the operating system. So having *any* space
dedicated to it on D, E, or F is useless.

If I may, let me also comment on your having D: just for programs. Most
people who create a separate partition for their program files do so because
they think that if they ever have to reinstall Windows, their program files
will be safe in a separate partition and they won't have to reinstall the
programs.

In fact, that is false. All programs, except for a rare trivial one, have
many associated files and entries pointing to them within Windows, in the
registry and elsewhere. So if you ever have to reinstall Windows, you also
have to reinstall all your programs.

So there is really no advantage to having program files in a separate
partition. Programs will all have to be reinstalled if Windows has to be. I
recommend that program files be kept in the same partition as Windows is in.

I'm going to disagree with you Ken.

Programs like MS Works and Office have a default location where they
store their data files. That default location is the folder where the
programs are installed.

On my computer, those data files are located on my D drive so you are
correct that I will have to reinstall my Programs should I have to
reinstall Windows but I shouldn't be losing any of my data files.

I've done it this way for many years and it works for me.

That said, one reply said I should have a System Restore for D since the
programs are located there. You say I shouldn't.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

I'm going to disagree with you Ken.

Programs like MS Works and Office have a default location where they
store their data files. That default location is the folder where the
programs are installed.

I know nothing about MS Works, but Microsoft Office does *not* default to
storing data files in the folder where it is installed. It store data files
in the My Documents folder. I strongly suspect (but don't know for sure)
that Works does the same thing.

And regardless of what the default is, it can be changed.

On my computer, those data files are located on my D drive so you are
correct that I will have to reinstall my Programs should I have to
reinstall Windows but I shouldn't be losing any of my data files.

I've done it this way for many years and it works for me.

Your choice, of course. I can only make suggestions, not tell you what to
do.

That said, one reply said I should have a System Restore for D since
the programs are located there. You say I shouldn't.

Right. There is no benefit to having it there.

 

[JD]

I know nothing about MS Works, but Microsoft Office does *not* default to
storing data files in the folder where it is installed. It store data files
in the My Documents folder. I strongly suspect (but don't know for sure)
that Works does the same thing.

Honestly, I can't remember where either program defaulted the data files
to. Seems like in 98SE they defaulted to the install folder but it's
been a long time since I installed either program and now I'm on XP and
it probably does use My Documents as the default.

And regardless of what the default is, it can be changed.

Yes, so in my madness(is there a method to it?) I like to keep the data
files in the install folder.