should i disable system restore?

gwobbles · 22 Sep 2011 at 16:54

hi, i want to disable system restore on my ssd, would that be recommended to save space? if i do, is there some kind of software that does a similar thing that i can use and save the backups on my hdd instead? thanks

theheyes · 22 Sep 2011 at 17:07

Unlike many people I actually rate system restore, I would keep it on unless you were desperate.

d_brennen · 22 Sep 2011 at 17:12

I usually turn it off on my machines. Never saved me, but I'd leave it on for other people though

gwobbles · 22 Sep 2011 at 17:23

its done good for the times ive used it for myself and fixing other peoples laptops, maybe i should just disable it and make backup discs whenever i remember

TheGedi · 22 Sep 2011 at 17:33

Just use CCleaner and delete every one but the last.

gwobbles · 22 Sep 2011 at 17:36

could do... decisions, decisions...

davedudes · 22 Sep 2011 at 20:13

I turn mine off, never use it anyway.

But that doesn't mean it's not good, different strokes for different folks, if you're unsure leave alone.

Sin_Chase · 22 Sep 2011 at 20:55

Off. Prefer not to trash my system even more by trying to use it.

If you want backups, use the image tool to a different drive.

gwobbles · 22 Sep 2011 at 21:08

aight might disable it and just make an image on another drive/ dvd then

demonix · 23 Sep 2011 at 13:27

Just turn it off as it's just another hole for malware to restore itself from if removed.

stoofa · 23 Sep 2011 at 15:11

Always leave mine switched on.
All it has to do is save your backside once and it was worth having - the disk space it uses is not an issue these days.

Emphacy · 23 Sep 2011 at 15:16

System Restore uses an enormous amount of space, something like 15% of your overall HD space for restore points and backups so turning it off would seem the best option.

Since system restore has saved my ass a few times when Windows decided to 'malfunction' I like to keep it on but I reduce the shadow backup file size to something like 2.5GB rather than its standard 30GB.
You can do it using command prompt. It'll save you tons of space and you'll still have a few restore points to go back to in case of error.

Sin_Chase · 23 Sep 2011 at 15:55

Emphacy said:
You can do it using command prompt. It'll save you tons of space and you'll still have a few restore points to go back to in case of error.

.....or the slider in the GUI?

Uhtred · 23 Sep 2011 at 16:34

I find it very handy, for example when there was a power cut half way through a windows update, quick restore and it was fine. I tend to turn it on for my os drive (80gb), set it to about 10% and only use previous file versions on the other drives.

Saving that I take a backup of the os drive each week so i could probably do without, it's just faster than doing a full restore.

gwobbles · 23 Sep 2011 at 18:09

Emphacy said:
You can do it using command prompt. It'll save you tons of space and you'll still have a few restore points to go back to in case of error.

wait how do i do that? id would be good to limit its size and still have restore points!

djshauny1 · 23 Sep 2011 at 18:11

i allways turn mine off

Sin_Chase · 23 Sep 2011 at 18:55

gwobbles said:
wait how do i do that? id would be good to limit its size and still have restore points!

Don't need to use a command prompt. It's in the GUI.

gwobbles · 23 Sep 2011 at 22:12

many thanks

3dcandy · 23 Sep 2011 at 22:18

I'd only turn it off if you have a decent backup solution in place...

IvanDobskey · 23 Sep 2011 at 22:23

Weird, I just came in here to post exactly the same question and gwobbles beat me to it