Windows 7: What is Meant by 'Max Usage' when configuring System Protection?

I have a question regarding restore points; when I go into the system protection configuration settings one of the options is the setting for maximum disk space usage.

I had the slider set to 4% of my total disk memory which is about 27.45 GB, (I have a 750GB Hard drive). Is that where I should be? The amount of used disk space on that hard drive is about 380 GB. Of the three options given for restore settings I have ticked the "Restore System Settings and Previous Versions of Files".



I'm assuming that the 4% I have set in "Maximum Usage" is enough because it only needs to hold some system information reference links, (I think). What I mean is I don't think that the slider should be set to the same amount of gigabytes as the amount of used space on my hard disk, right?

I would appreciate an answer as soon as possible. Without going into too much detail the need for me to know this has a lot hinged on it.
Thank you, Rich

Hello wingclip and welcome to Seven Forums.

That slider lets you set aside a percentage of your total hard drive for restore points and other system info. Using just approximate figures, if you set aside 10% of your hard drive, you'd be left with about 675GB of usable hard drive space. (750GB - 75GB = 675GB.)

System Protection - Change Disk Space Usage

NOTE: A hard drive rated as 750GB by the manufacturer really has only 698GB of usable space because the manufacturer says 1GB = 1000MB but the computer says 1GB = 1024MB. Not trying to make it confusing but the larger the hard drive the greater the difference in usable space.

I think you should be fine with 4%. If the 4% doesn't provide enough space for the next newest restore point, the oldest restore points(s) will automatically be deleted to make enough room.

Hope this helps.

Thank you marsmimar! Yes that much I know and I certainly don't want to overwrite the previous 4 or 5 restore points. I want to keep at least 4 or 5 at any one time. So what I'm trying to figure out is how much room does a "Restore Point" need in order to give me that ability?

So if I have about 380GB's of space used up by files and programs that I want to keep, (that's how I have the system protection set), I don't think I would need the Restore point configuration to have at least 380GB's, or about 50% of the Hard drive, right? I mean, a "Restore Point" is actually just a string of info or a link, isn't it?

If that's true, then I should be ok with 4 or 5 percent set aside in order to hold 4 or 5 restore points at any one time. Do you see what I'm getting at? I'm not sure how to put the question much differently than that.
Thanks again!

I guess what you're trying to find out is how much disk space a single restore point uses. I'm not knowledgeable enough to answer that. A restore point doesn't do a 1:1 copy of what's on the hard drive. Generally speaking, it backs up the registry; on Windows Vista and later versions, all system file types are monitored on all paths on a volume; local user profile; COM+ and WMI Databases; IIS Metabase. Additionally, the following file name extensions are monitored and presumably backed up:

Monitored File Name Extensions (Windows)

Right now my laptop has about 60GB of hard drive space being used on the C: drive and I have two current restore points set. The total space used for both restore points is about 815MB.



I'm not sure if it's possible to calculate how much hard drive space a single restore point will use because there are too many variables. My best suggestion is to set aside 10% and create your 5 or 6 restore points. See how much space they use and adjust the 10% accordingly.

Outstanding! That's exactly what I needed to hear. I saw that my restore point didn't take up much room and wasn't sure if something was going wrong. I had something like 6 or 7 of them about 2 weeks ago and then lost them all when I inadvertently turned off the System Protection.

I found that out yesterday when I needed to go back to a point just before June 25th. It was like my only hope in a situation that I've been fighting with, (long story involving Dragon Nat Speaking). So I Googled the web for possibilities of recovering those lost points but the chances are so remote as to make trying it pointless.

One more thing, If I change some Services status from say, "Automatic" to "Disable" as well as turn on and off a number of programs that come up at the System Boot up, can I use the restore points to put them back as they were if I didn't like what I changed?
Thanks for your help! That allows me to stop worrying about the size of the Disc Usage for restore points.
Rich

Glad I could be of some limited help. As far as your services, personally I'd leave them alone. Windows 7 is doing a much, much better job handling them than Vista or XP ever did. A lot of the Forum experts (people who carry the Microsoft MVP tags because of their expertise) all recommend leaving services alone.

Having said that, if you like to experiment and test things . . .

I would definitely, positively, absolutely NOT rely on restore points when it comes to service tweaks. I would go with a full blown system image. That's the only way you can be sure that your computer will be restored to it's pre-tweaking condition.

I completely agree with you regarding the restore points. But I was desperate at the time and wanted to find a way to recover them. Apparently, when you turn off your System Protection, you immediately delete all the previously saved restore points, (true bummer).

The System Image suggestion is very helpful as well! I know I can run a complete backup but with 380+GB to back up, I really don't want to wait that long. However, a System Image is more or less a 'snapshot' of the hard drive, right? If I remember correctly, it can be done pretty quickly.

I'll need to 'hit the books' on that option again. I read a good amount of info in regards to System Images but it's been a while.
Thanks again, Rich