How safe is System Restore?

This is what I do. You can do it at you own risk.

I remove the unwanted anti virus with the tool the anti virus company recommends.
Then I hunt and peck through the computer including the registry (regedit) for left overs.
One must fell comfortable in the registry and not make mistakes or you will be doing a Clean Install of Windows 7.

Then I install the new anti virus program and update it.

This little free program can also be very helpful finding things. You must be careful with this program also. When you use it to remove things they are gone.

Everything Search.

Everything Search Engine

I don't use Restore Points for such things because then you have to search the system and restore point for left overs.

If you have restore points things can be store their that you don't want.
I use Restore Points without problems. I just don't use them for what you are trying to do.

In the process of looking for infection a anti virus program could of left finger prints in Restore Points. Finger prints I don't want.

I did not say Restore Points are useless.

Which one (what)?

Some antivirus programs leave fingerprints within restore points? Which ones?

If you have a desire to use Restore Points in this case by all means do so.

I just explained why on my system I don't for a project like you are doing.
For anybody to give you exact finger prints left where ever, of any program is impossible.

Either use Restore Points for your project or don't. It is your choice.

If you can't find the finger prints with regedit and Everything Search to the best of my knowledge you are not going to find them.

I don't really have a desire either way. Sorry if I came across as pushing in a certain direction. Just trying to learn from others and understand the best choices.

Layback Bear said:

Which one (what)?

Which antivirus programs leave fingerprints in restore points? I've never heard of this. What kind of fingerprints?

Unless a restore point contains a virus, antivirus programs should only be reading from them, never writing.

I have used System Restore for the purposes you mentioned--rather than using the uninstall routine of the application.

The ONLY problem I've ever had with SR is that perhaps one time in 50 it won't successfully complete.

If you are going to obsess over leftovers on a PC, you have a 168 hour per week job cut out for yourself. It's endless. Your searching and cleaning will literally never be done.

For what benefit other than (possibly) relieving your anxiety? How do you know you are accomplishing anything other than feeling better? That's a rhetorical question, no answer required.

I run CCleaner and Disk Cleanup regularly, but very rarely touch the registry. I have no performance issues.

SevenOfNine said:

ignatzatsonic said:

I have used System Restore for the purposes you mentioned--rather than using the uninstall routine of the application.

The ONLY problem I've ever had with SR is that perhaps one time in 50 it won't successfully complete.

What happens when it won't successfully complete?

I get an onscreen message to the effect that it did not complete. It doesn't cause any problems--it just fails to run successfully and generates the error message.

Then I go to plan B---uninstalling the unwanted app by some other method, troubleshooting, or in an extreme case I might do an image restore.