System Restore points TTL 90 days vs 21 days

[bumtracks]

XP home SP2 laptop.
Any reason windows or I will regret a simple shorter Time to Live on system
restore points rather than the default 90 days ?
Thinking along the terms of setting it for two or three weeks max.

- RPLifeInterval;
This value specifies, in seconds, the restore points Time to Live (TTL).
When a
restore point reaches this time and it is still on the system, it gets
deleted.
The default value is (7776000), which will be 90 days.

 

[Bill James]

Setting this to a shorter time will not harm the system at all, and 90 days is too long IMO since any problem should be detected in a much shorter time than that (I set mine to 10 days). Understand that other factors such as maximum size allowed for System Restore can override the time setting and prevent restore points from being kept for x number of days.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

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

 

[Guest]

XP home SP2 laptop.
Any reason windows or I will regret a simple shorter Time to Live on system
restore points rather than the default 90 days ?
Thinking along the terms of setting it for two or three weeks max.

- RPLifeInterval;
This value specifies, in seconds, the restore points Time to Live (TTL).
When a
restore point reaches this time and it is still on the system, it gets
deleted.
The default value is (7776000), which will be 90 days.

I can't think of a reason to have more than a few days worth of restore
points.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

I think a better approach would be to reduce the amount of space
System Restore uses to hold restore points. This will purge the oldest
restore points on a FIFO (first in first out) bases and leave as many
recent restore points as the new size will allow. I would start by
reducing to just under 1GB. Now take a look a the SR calendar and see
how many days are left. You can reduce it further for the desired
effect. But I wouldn't make it any smaller then 500mb. If it's to
small and you were to install or uninstall a large application
packages the entire data store could be purged, and the loss of all
restore points.

How to Adjust the amount of disk space System Restore uses
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/diskspace.html

Keeping System Restore Healthy
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/healthy.html

Data drives (other than C:\) can also be disabled to save disk space.
There's a good chance SR isn't monitoring the files on them anyway.
How to disable a monitored drive
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/drivedisable.html

If you desire to change the number of days SR retains restore points
there's a utility on the following page to automate the process. Look
for XPSystemRestoreLife.vbs
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/srscripts.html

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

You are not obliged to use a restore point that is 89 days old even if the
system allows it..

 

[Stan Brown]

I would start by
reducing to just under 1GB.

The slider lets me do about 650 MB or 3 times that, nothing in
between.

Is there any way to get a finer-grained setting, short of editing
the registry?

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Stan,

I suspect this is a large drive. There are 11 tick marks on the
slider. The user interface attempts to divide the partition space into
11 portions that line up with the tick marks on the slider. So each
tick on the slider is 1/11 the size of the partition. You will have to
choose either 650mb's or 1950mb's. 650mb's should not be a problem.
What is it set to now? And what is the percentage at 650 and 1950?

System Restore Cannot Set Disk Space Usage to Certain Percentage
Numbers
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=298915

 

[Bill James]

One problem I have with using size limits for System Restore is that it wastes space if set too big, or creates the risk of not being able to restore back far enough if set too low. Also, recommending a size limit is subjective because the size of restore points varies from one system to another and even with how the restore points are created. Another factor is that many programs create a restore point for both install and uninstall, further using up the size limit. Since many users will leave a system up for days or weeks at a time, and since some problems will not be present until reboot, it bothers me to limit strictly on size and I think a time limit is more practical while still conserving disk space. The number of days to maintain backup is also subjective. For me 10 days works (typically 250 - 400 MB), but I will use a higher setting on computers where I am not the primary user and may not know about problems as soon. I can't see much use for every having over 30 days of restore points though.

Setting the number of days is not quite as easy as setting a size limit, but I have a script to make that easier if anybody needs it. XPSystemRestoreLife.vbs from http://www.billsway.com/notes_public/WinXP_Tweaks.

Regardless, I think the point is the default XP System Restore settings are too high and waste space with no offsetting benefit.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

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

Hi,

I think a better approach would be to reduce the amount of space
System Restore uses to hold restore points. This will purge the oldest
restore points on a FIFO (first in first out) bases and leave as many
recent restore points as the new size will allow. I would start by
reducing to just under 1GB. Now take a look a the SR calendar and see
how many days are left. You can reduce it further for the desired
effect. But I wouldn't make it any smaller then 500mb. If it's to
small and you were to install or uninstall a large application
packages the entire data store could be purged, and the loss of all
restore points.

How to Adjust the amount of disk space System Restore uses
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/diskspace.html

Keeping System Restore Healthy
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/healthy.html

Data drives (other than C:\) can also be disabled to save disk space.
There's a good chance SR isn't monitoring the files on them anyway.
How to disable a monitored drive
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/drivedisable.html

If you desire to change the number of days SR retains restore points
there's a utility on the following page to automate the process. Look
for XPSystemRestoreLife.vbs
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/srscripts.html

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

XP home SP2 laptop.
Any reason windows or I will regret a simple shorter Time
to Live on system restore points rather than the default
90 days ? Thinking along the terms of setting it for two or three
weeks max.
- RPLifeInterval;
This value specifies, in seconds, the restore points Time
to Live (TTL). When a
restore point reaches this time and it is still on the
system, it gets deleted.
The default value is (7776000), which will be 90 days.

 

[Stan Brown]

I suspect this is a large drive.

Yup, 67E9 bytes.

There are 11 tick marks on the
slider. The user interface attempts to divide the partition space into
11 portions that line up with the tick marks on the slider. So each
tick on the slider is 1/11 the size of the partition. You will have to
choose either 650mb's or 1950mb's. 650mb's should not be a problem.
What is it set to now? And what is the percentage at 650 and 1950?

650, 1%.

System Restore Cannot Set Disk Space Usage to Certain Percentage
Numbers
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=298915

"This behavior is by design." Good old Microsoft!

Each restore point seems to be about 50 MB on my system, so the
above allows for 13 of them. Having turned on System Restore a week
ago, I see three restore points. I agree 13 seems more than
sufficient since I can't imagine going back a month.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Bill,

After reading you initial response it got me thinking. Comments
inline.

One problem I have with using size limits for System
Restore is that it wastes space if set too big, or
creates the risk of not being able to restore back far
enough if set too low.

Agreed. Most system are set much to large. My system for example has a
20gb partition, and at 12% the store is 2.4gb's in size and will hold
90 day worth of RP's. This is to large to be useful as you have
pointed out. With new large drives this waist would increase
dramatically.

Also, recommending a size limit
is subjective because the size of restore points varies
from one system to another and even with how the restore
points are created. Another factor is that many programs
create a restore point for both install and uninstall,
further using up the size limit.

Point's taken, and I agree.

Since many users will
leave a system up for days or weeks at a time, and since
some problems will not be present until reboot, it
bothers me to limit strictly on size and I think a time
limit is more practical while still conserving disk
space. The number of days to maintain backup is also subjective.

In this case the limit of days could have the same result as limiting
store size. Rebooting the system at least once a week would also be
advised.

For me 10 days works (typically 250 - 400
MB), but I will use a higher setting on computers where I
am not the primary user and may not know about problems
as soon. I can't see much use for every having over 30
days of restore points though.

For the everyday user having a larger store and additional days may be
the way to go.

Setting the number of days is not quite as easy as
setting a size limit, but I have a script to make that
easier if anybody needs it. XPSystemRestoreLife.vbs from
http://www.billsway.com/notes_public/WinXP_Tweaks.

So what is needed is balance between store size and number of day
without being to complicated for the everyday user. The scripts you
have created make adjusting these settings a snap.

Regardless, I think the point is the default XP System
Restore settings are too high and waste space with no
offsetting benefit.

Agree 100%. Maybe a starting point of a 1gb store and 30 days,
adjusting the store size up or down from there.

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

Hi,

I think a better approach would be to reduce the amount
of space System Restore uses to hold restore points.
This will purge the oldest restore points on a FIFO
(first in first out) bases and leave as many recent
restore points as the new size will allow. I would start
by reducing to just under 1GB. Now take a look a the SR
calendar and see how many days are left. You can reduce
it further for the desired effect. But I wouldn't make
it any smaller then 500mb. If it's to small and you were
to install or uninstall a large application packages the
entire data store could be purged, and the loss of all
restore points.

How to Adjust the amount of disk space System Restore
uses
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/diskspace.html

Keeping System Restore Healthy
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/healthy.html

Data drives (other than C:\) can also be disabled to
save disk space. There's a good chance SR isn't
monitoring the files on them anyway. How to disable a
monitored drive
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/drivedisable.html

If you desire to change the number of days SR retains
restore points there's a utility on the following page
to automate the process. Look for XPSystemRestoreLife.vbs
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/srscripts.html

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

XP home SP2 laptop.
Any reason windows or I will regret a simple shorter
Time
to Live on system restore points rather than the default
90 days ? Thinking along the terms of setting it for
two or three weeks max.
- RPLifeInterval;
This value specifies, in seconds, the restore points
Time
to Live (TTL). When a
restore point reaches this time and it is still on the
system, it gets deleted.
The default value is (7776000), which will be 90 days.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Stan,

The 650mb store may be adequate. To tell for sure you will have to
have a new restore point created each day. You are not getting an
automatic restore point each day. Here are some reasons why this may
be happening.
The system is turned off and not turned on each day.
The system is in use the entire time it is turned on, then turned off,
an automatic restore point will not be an created if there is no idle
time.
Check the frequency at which System Restore is set to create automatic
restore points using the following script
XPSystemRestorePointFrequency.vbs located here.
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/srscripts.html

Keep an eye on it for a few weeks and adjust as needed.

 

[Stan Brown]

in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

Hi Stan,

I delayed responding till I had more information.

The 650mb store may be adequate. To tell for sure you will have to
have a new restore point created each day.

I've now got six restore points (averaging one every other day),
and the total space is 272 MB.

You are not getting an automatic restore point each day. Here are
some reasons why this may be happening. ....
The system is in use the entire time it is turned on, then turned off,

This is pretty much accurate.

Which is better, just to let the system sit idle for a whkle or to
create a restore point explicitly? Or doesn't it matter?

 

[Bill James]

You might want to consider using Task Scheduler to create a Restore Point once a day. MVP Doug Knox has a script suitable for that, http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_sysrestorepoint.htm

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

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

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Stan,

I delayed responding till I had more information.


I've now got six restore points (averaging one every
other day), and the total space is 272 MB.

With a 650mb data store this will give you about 14 days worth of
restore points. This should work well.

This is pretty much accurate.

Which is better, just to let the system sit idle for a
whkle or to create a restore point explicitly? Or doesn't
it matter?

Bill James posted a good suggestion. You can either use the script in
Task Scheduler or create a shortcut to it and manually create the
restore point.