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Windows XP > Customizing Windows XP


Adjust System Restore

By: Arie Slob

Windows XP - like Windows Me - includes System Restore, which enables you to return your computer to an earlier state (called a restore point), removing/replacing certain system & application files, without effecting your own files such as documents, e-mail, etc. Windows XP's System Restore doesn't seem to be as big a resource hog as the Windows Me version was claimed to be.

I would suggest that you leave System Restore running, it might one day save you! However, by default System Restore is monitoring all the hard drives in your system, which might not be necessary. To customize which drives should be excluded, start System Restore (Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore and click on the System Restore Settings link.

Adjust System Restore

Select the drive for which you want to change the System Restore settings, and press the Settings button. You can change the amount of disk space used by System Restore on the selected drive, or turn System Restore monitoring off for the selected drive.

There is also a setting to Turn off System Restore on all drives, this could be useful if you are using a 3rd party product such as GoBack (or others).

Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles Relating to Windows XP System Restore:

283073

How to disable the System Restore Configuration user interface

283252

Non-administrator user is unable to start System Restore utility

287505

How the System Restore utility uses drive letters

295050

Information on System Restore and password restoration

299904

The System Restore utility may be suspended on a System Drive even though there is enough disk space

300044

How the System Restore tool handles hard-disk space usage

301224

System Restore "Restore Points" are missing or deleted

304449

How to start the System Restore tool from a command prompt in Windows XP

313853

System Restore tool displays a blank calendar in Windows XP

322246

You cannot create a restore point with a HighPoint Driver installed