Delete Win7 orphaned system image restore points ("backup" type)

pallmall said:

This is my other Win7 Pro "fresh install" on a desktop that has never set a restore point or created any backup images whatsoever....

...there are no "WindowsImageBackup" keys (or other restore keys) existing or "nested" within this Windows Backup "master key". There's just a "default" item with no Data or "Value not set".

I have seen another thread that deleted several registry keys from this same "master key" to get rid of their ancient restore points without issue . . . and this gives me good reason to delete the same with respect to the "WindowsImageBackup" key, as referring the two "E: drive" image backups on the former laptop that will never exist again unless I create an image anew. The laptop will likely default to an E: drive again if I create a backup, and I do not want to fish my way through three or more data entries if I need to address this register again - nor do I care for windows to get mixed up fishing for my new backup reference through there likewise. . . .

. . . am I missing something here . . . is there a checksum or similar that will go awry from deleting this said register ?

System Restore doesn't look in the registry for restore points, it will only list the restore points (Backup type or otherwise) that it finds in C:\System Volume Information.

There should be no harm in deleting any sub-keys you may have in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsBackup (but do NOT delete the WindowsBackup key itself). Then again, there would be no harm in leaving them there either.

I have also read that this type of purging is regularly executed in ridding unwanted program remnants with a search & delete also.

There are lots of registry cleaners that can do that sort of purge. They usually provide little if any benefit. The danger can be that some of the more aggressive ones may purge just one key too many and break something. It's safer not to use any form of registry cleaner.

For the particular keys that are bothering you they seem safe enough to delete. At worst I'd expect deleting them to return Windows Backup to its 'never used' state. If you are worried, then right-click on the WindowsBackup key and export to a .reg file before making changes. Double-clicking on a .reg file will import its contents into the registry.

Yes, I made a .reg file backup of the image backup key and values therein if things do not agree after a deletion. Thank you Bree. I'm gonna think about a third-party backup solution, and also call this one SOLVED and move on to a new thread issue involving a low CMOS battery and TPM boot corruption.