Windows 7: Is there anyway to get earlier Restore Points?

muskrat · 23 Feb 2013

I checked System Restore on my laptop and it lists one on Feb 20,2013. I check the box to show more Restore Points and the list only goes back to Jan 30,2013, a total of six Restore Points.
Is there any way to restore my computer to a Restore Point in 2012, say 4 months ago if it is not on the Restore Point List?
This computer is three years old and Factory Restore is not what I want to do.

AddRAM · 23 Feb 2013

Welcome to the Forums :)

I would have to say no, if it`s not on the list, then it`s not possible.

As new restore points are made, old ones are deleted.

boohbah · 23 Feb 2013

you could make the size of the restore points disk space larger so the restores would go further back.

System Protection - Change Disk Space Usage

Mark Phelps · 23 Feb 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by muskrat

Is there any way to restore my computer to a Restore Point in 2012, say 4 months ago if it is not on the Restore Point List?

One thing you need to know, and MS does not go out of their way to tell you this, is that System Restore is actually OPERATING System Restore -- it does not restore your personal files to a previous point in time. It's not a time machine -- even though folks often presume that.

The best way to have a restore that works is to do your own image backups, that way, you can actually go back to an earlier point in time.

kado897 · 23 Feb 2013

You are correct that SR is for OS and installed programs, but a connected technology, previous versions, is for user data.

muskrat · 23 Feb 2013

My laptop is 3 years old with 250 gig hard drive. Now that I know you can allocate more space for Restore Points, how much space does a typical laptop use for its Restore Points if it is not modified by the administrator?

kado897 · 23 Feb 2013

I think between 5 and 10% will give you a fair amount of RPs but the only real way to protect yourself is, as Mark Phelps posted above, to make system images to an external drive.

Rus2 · 24 Feb 2013

I use a docking station and EaseUS ToDo Backup (free) and clone my SSD to an HDD about every month or so. I also use System Restore for more current backup.