OS and Software > Microsoft Help > [WIN7] Disable system restore?

[WIN7] Disable system restore?

I wouldn't disable system restore. It's useful insurance: it's better to have as many ways to recover from disaster as you can reasonably supply.

If you're worried about the system restore (well, the saving of data used by system restore) causing premature SSD death, I wouldn't worry. In fact I have decided not to worry: I've got a couple of systems with SSD system disk + rotating other disk.

If your SSD dies, you're either going to need some replacement disk (if not another SSD) to restore the backup onto, or you're going to need to reinstall the OS on the surviving disk - I can't see the backup helping you with the latter, since presumably you won't want it to overwrite the other data. I'm guessing that restore to a new non-SSD would work sufficiently well.

What is your backup solution anyway? Does it have a restore-from-bare-metal option? If your SSD is toast, you have no running system.

reply to KoRnGtL15
I use two external drives. One to back up the OS and one to back up the data partiton. I don't have System restore turned on for the data partition, but certainly for the OS. Since your rig has two seperate drives, this might work for you. Only hassle is opening the single case to change out the back up drives.

reply to KoRnGtL15
I disable System Restore across the board, to avoid the significant performance drag that it implies. If a problem arises, I would rather fix it than roll back. If you have a backup regimen in place for your irreplaceable data, if you can in general remediate issues in-place confidently, and if performance is a priority, it can be an appropriate posture to run with System Restore disabled.
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Scott Brown Consulting

reply to dave
Thanks for the advice, Dave.
My data partition only has programs to be installed or re-installed in case of a breakdown. They are also backed up to usb. But, I only have one drive, partitioned. The OP has two seperate drives. Does that matter? I have no problem learning more.

It is good to have your data backed up to a different physical disk or USB drive, since partitioning won't save you from a disk failure or a messed up partition table or filesystem. An external drive that isn't connected all the time would reduce exposure to viruses.

In Windows 7, you can disable System Restore while keeping "Previous Versions". I don't remember if you can do this with Vista since I used it so briefly.

Personally, I disable system restore completely and use Acronis TI to make a full backup so often, having copies of anything I can't reproduce on another disk. If I want to play with unknown software or make a major change, I have a virtual machine for that or I will make another full image backup.

I go a very long time without reinstalling Windows...
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Moe, I need your advice… See I've got this friend named Joey Joe-Joe... Junior... Shabadoo..

reply to KoRnGtL15
In my most honest opinion System restore is one of the most useless feature, piece of software, ever to be included in any OS.
It takes up space, never seems to do what you want when you need it.
Better to have a system for backing up files and the complete OS with programs on a regular basis.
I have never used Sys Restore and never will. Turning it off is one of the first things I do when setting up the OS on any computer I own.
Of course that is my opinion and your opinion and others may vary.
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Shooter Ready--Stand By BEEP ********

Shootist ... I agree 100% with what your saying. SR has never worked correctly for me and is one of the first things I dump.