Where is W7 keeping the "Restore Points"?

[ben07]

The only way I know how to view Restore Points is to invoke System Restore and click Show me more points....and that's about it.

I allocated 5GB for System Restore and the last time I checked Windows was using less than 1GB out of the 5GB, however 2 restore points I created only few days ago are missing from the "Show me more points...", so now I'm trying to locate where exactly is W7 storing all those Restore points and hopefully I can copy/save to a different location/file as backup.

Thanks.

P/s I've gone thru all folders in C, but I couldn't locate the Restore Points folder!

 

[Lee]

You have run into a common problem with 7. For some reason Microsoft doesn't want you go back more than a week. Can't give you a reason why. Maybe someone where on the forums will be able to answer your question. Here is a web site explaining Windows 7 restore. This article gives you an extensive look into the Restore Feature. Maybe it will help you a little bit.

 

[ben07]

Thanks Lee, for both the info and link!

 

[Legbiter]

Hmmm, I was hoping to find the initial question answered rather than skipped.

So anyone know where they lurk during the hours of daylight?
- I've cloned to a larger HDD, not realising that restore points are Not carried across.
Plan A - Locate them on the old drive (untouched) and try adding them to the new drive.
Plan B - get a plan B.

 

[whs]

Restore points are kept in Shadowstorage. If you want to know how your shadowstorage is used, issue this command:

vssadmin list shadowstorage

And if you want to see the restore points (at least their description), use this command:

vssadmin list shadows

And if you want to know what's inside each restore point, use Shadow Explorer

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/132087-shadowexplorer-recover-lost-files-folders.html

And if you want to change the size of the shadowstorage, use this command:

vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=20GB

20GB is only an example. You can use any number. You can also say /MaxSize=xx%

 

[Layback Bear]

Excellent video Wolfgang.

 

[whs]

Thanks Jack. I like video tuts because you can show better than with words what needs to be done.

 

[Legbiter]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge whs, it has added to my learning, however using ShadowExplorer I can now look Inside the restore points on my old HDD but it seems not actually activate a system restore point . . .

I'll paraphrase my post:
I wish to ACTUALLY FIND the restore points ie place a mouse cursor on the files and make them turn blue. Then drag them to the corresponding position on the Active HDD and make them do my bidding.

Reason: Restore Points were NOT cloned (despite sector-by-sector) and I now have a wish to use one to reset the OS to a previous point in time (entirely, totally and in full, Not just grab a random file). The only other option is refit the old HDD regress it and clone it again.

 

[whs]

What you are trying to do is not doable as far as I know. You can delete individual restore points (with CCleaner) but not copy them.

Note that restore points are highly volatile. If you want safe backups, make images - the more often the better.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[Legbiter]

Hmmm, Thanks once again. Been busy researching further and all things point to this very same answer. Can't say that I am surprised; the simple, the logical and the Bill Gates do not ever seem to co-exist. Sigh.

Perhaps I can get a result by imaging the old drive, which just might precede the issue I wish to eradicate.
Otherwise reinstall old and regress it.
Still annoyed about the non-cloning of restore points, my impression was that sector-by-sector gave an Absolute clone. It is not something that appeared in any of the advisories that I read (and there were many), otherwise I would have immediately set a restore point on the new drive as a fast fallback position.

 

[whs]

It is not that simple. Restore points are a very ingenious piece of art. Have you ever asked yourself how they manage to fit all the information of a 20GB OS into a restore point that is less than 1GB.

 

[Legbiter]

It is Art alright, sometimes it's the sort of art that you pay your money then walk in side to find an empty room.

 

[SIW2]

System volume information. Restore points could be invalid after if the volume definition has changed. e.g due to disk id collision, or file system resized.

 

[4wd]

...For some reason Microsoft doesn't want you go back more than a week...

Hello, no time limit here, total allocated disk space is the only factor.

 

[whs]

...For some reason Microsoft doesn't want you go back more than a week...

Hello, no time limit here, total allocated disk space is the only factor.

You are right. There is no time limit - only a space limit. It's a FiFo system (first in, first out).

 

[GeneO]

They are in the hidden System Volume Information folder on the drive FWIW. As mentioned, you can't copy them but you can manipulate the space they use with vssadmin.