Windows 7: Can I Pause/Turn off System Restore WITHOUT losing restore points?

I work with a large software suite. The installer for this suite is really just a collection of many stand-alone installers.

If SR is on when I run the installation, it takes a very long time. Additionally, since this is a collection of other installers, SR is somewhat useless to use as a roll-back, since all of my RPs get replaced with intermediate points from the uber-installer.

The company itself suggests turning off SR so that things won't take so long.

Last time I installed this, something went wrong. I was unable to use or uninstall this software, and I was unable to roll-back the system since the SRs were gone.



Currently, my method is to create a full system backup before I run this installer. A pain in the neck.

Is there a way to save my RPs and then turn off SR while I run this? If something goes wrong, I could then apply the saved RP? Mainly, I am concerned about customer systems where I won't be able to create this backup.

Also, while I appreciate any comments or suggestions about the pain-in-the-neck software suite, there is truly nothing I can do about that. They are getting better with each release, but in the meantime I am stuck with it.

Thanks!

If you turn off system restore you will lose all restore points.



As far as I know there is no way of saving them and reinstating them if you switch system restore back on.

I think that when you turn off the Restore Points, Windows clears and releases the space that it has reserved for Restoration. Therefore as Seavixen32 has pointed out there is no way to keep the Restore Points after turning off System Restore. But you do gain a lot of reserved space for your use on the HDD.

ultralame,

The quick answer is: YES, you will lose your restore points.

The long answer:
Do NOT turn off System Restore. This is Win 7 and not XP or Vista.

The extra time is of no consequence. The extra space if not that much. You can verify this by first checking the amount of space used before and install and then checking the amount of space after.

WIN | type RESTORE POINT | ENTER |
CONFIGURE button | Current Usage shows the amount used
WIN=key with Microsoft logo on top

It would be quite proper to turn off System Restore if you back-up with drive images. Wouldn't it?

In fact I have kept System Restore turned off since I started backing up with drive images about 5 years back. And there has been no repercussions at all.

wanchoo,
System restore is painless and not time-consuming. I use both system restore points and system images. They both have their function and uses. The fluidity of my system has resulted in restore points being extremely useful. I'm glad to hear that your needs are met by system imaging.

System restore has got me out of trouble on more than one occasion and with today's large hard drives I see no point in turning it off just to save a relatively small amount of drive space.

I also have system image backups, which I've never had occasion to use.

It comes down to a matter of choice really. Both have their merits and I believe both should be used.

Or just as a thought, create an image of the system drive now, kept somewhere safe, check it then turn off system restore. Yes if things go wrong you have to restore the image, but you wont loose anything.

To rollback use to restore point of uber-installer so th oldest one. you can't pause system restore, because restore points contain the OLD information (for rollback purposes). It doesn't use a lot of space because only later overwritten blocks are saved. Actually it's only remapped to the restore point. It isn't a degrade in performace as well!!

Only initializing a restore point takes some time. It's the way it is! But making an image backup takes much longer to create!

How many subinstallers do you have?
------------------
If you disable system restore, access disk form winxp, access disk from linux...... restore points are invalid so deleted automatically.