Defragmenter programs can delete System Restore Points

[DavidE]

I doubt this is the cause of my issue, but I'll re-boot to Win 7 and see if that deletes Win 8 RP and resets max usage.
I see "Defrag" entries in Win 8 events, but the scheduled defrag did not run at that time.
SOMETHING else did run ...

Could booting in Win 7 add Event entries in Win 8?
I'll test it and let you know.

Thanks.

 

[DavidE]

I re-booted to Win 7 64 and then Win 7 32.
Re-booted to Win 8, and the RP is gone and max usage is reset to 0.
So, that explains what I'm seeing with that.

But, this still doesn't explain what is running to add DEFRAG entries to the Event log, when the scheduled defrag task did not run (as shown in Task History).
And, why are defrags run every few days when they should run once per week ...
But that's really a Win 8 question, not related to this thread topic.
Anyway, for this thread topic - my question is answered - solved.

 

[lehnerus2000]

But, this still doesn't explain what is running to add DEFRAG entries to the Event log, when the scheduled defrag task did not run (as shown in Task History).
And, why are defrags run every few days when they should run once per week ...
But that's really a Win 8 question, not related to this thread topic.
Anyway, for this thread topic - my question is answered - solved.

Various cleaners/utilities include tools, or access built-in Windows tools.
Glary Utilities has settings for boot defragging and auto-defragging.

Do you have any programs that might be in that category?

 

[DavidE]

No, I don't use those type of utilities.
The only cleaner I use is CCleaner.

I did find a Registry key that might have something to do with this:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction

 

[A Guy]

Windows 7 also has that key

BootOptimizeFunction

The following registry entries are located under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction.
Enable
Registry path

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
Version

Windows Server 2003

Accepted values for this entry are Y or N. If the entry is set to Y, Windows automatically optimizes the file location for boot optimization. This optimization occurs automatically if the system is idle for 10 minutes. Boot optimization improves startup time by locating startup files in contiguous clusters on the volume, reducing the movement of the disk head when reading the volume.

I believe by default Enable is set to Y. I have the Task disabled, and mine is set to N



A Guy

 

[gregrocker]

Used Puran Boot time on laptop and desktop PC's here with no loss of Restore Points on laptop, but the desktop had the "Missing" condition on C drive in System Protection which may have happened when it was Startup Repaired in the past without confirming that System Restore points lived on. This is the condition which requires Turning Off in System Protection the "Missing" C listing so that the real C shows up and can be turned On. I've only seen it happen after Startup Repairs recover an OS which then lists in WinRE as "C:\Windows 7 - Recovered."

Are others familar with this and agree it is a Startup Repair byproduct?

 

[ThrashZone]

Great thread

I've never seen the need for a third party program to clean what for the most part windows creates as in restore points,
Or me loading and uninstalling programs/ files...

Disk cleanup and system cleanup and More options inside of system cleanup is good enough for me,
Windows defrag usually runs in the middle of the night so if my machine is always off as far as I know it never runs ?

Interesting about the dual boot thing which I've never thought about dual booting into another os before x-p bites and win-8 well I'm not quite ready for that jump

After two years of use I'm sure re-install is a better option than defrag compulsions every night or every week ... large hdd's the space usually isn't a big deal,
Besides re-install is the best way to clean a system after learning what programs you like and which ones were not so great
Cheers.

 

[Pete4]

Reinstall is really very time consuming option if you have multiple paid programs and games. I was just forced to do fresh reinstall of Windows on my laptop due to HDD crash and just setting Windows the way I want it, took me whole afternoon and some, since everything is wrong on factory setup,(for example why is windows hiding system files from me??) took another 4 hours to reinstall 3.5 GB worth of Win updates and then fun began, looking for keys for all the games and paid programs to install and register them. Some older ones, I can't even find and lost it forever (partially due to moving). Some of my video files don't work due to video and audio codecs not installed, I still have to install printer and scanner drivers and then download another Gig of updates etc. etc. Long story, short it's been 4 weeks and I still don't have my PC 100% restored yet, so I would not do this again on my free will, ever. Granted, I work full time and have wife and 2 little kids so free time is hard to come by, but reinstalling fresh Windows every year or 2 is huge PITA. At least most of the programs I use are portable apps, thank you so much to whoever came out with the concept, otherwise I wouldn't even bother with fresh install, but just reimage old drive from backup. I don't know how other people do fresh reinstall every year, they must be much better organized than me and have plenty of free time on their hands.

 

[gregrocker]

Pete, what is this factory install you write about? I thought you said you were doing a clean or fresh install? If you spent all of that time doing the grossly inferior factory install then the time was wasted since it's the worst possible install of Win7 one can have, and one which no tech enthusiast would run.

Did you look at http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 ?


You only need to do one perfect install then save a backup image which replaces future reinstalls with a 20 minute reimaging operation.

 

[DavidE]

Windows defrag usually runs in the middle of the night so if my machine is always off as far as I know it never runs ?

Defrag should run later if the PC is off at the scheduled time.
You can check when it last ran in Windows Explorer Partition Properties.
If you have Task Scheduler History enabled you can see more info there.

 

[Pete4]

Pete, what is this factory install you write about? I thought you said you were doing a clean or fresh install? If you spent all of that time doing the grossly inferior factory install then the time was wasted since it's the worst possible install of Win7 one can have, and one which no tech enthusiast would run.

Did you look at http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 ?


You only need to do one perfect install then save a backup image which replaces future reinstalls with a 20 minute reimaging operation.

Sorry, I misspoke, it was fresh install and I should have said Windows default settings are wrong and I had to change many of them, like making all folders visible, show file extensions, disable remote desktop access for security or disable some services for better performance. I know about imaging properly set up system for future, but since the system is dynamic (adding new programs and updates, deleting old ones) it still requires considerable work and in my case I'm less organized, I only kept couple latest backups so it was all or nothing, so to speak and I choose nothing to have fresh start.

 

[ThrashZone]

Thank you David,
That I saw it's never run/ Weekly/ Wednesday 4 a.m. I believe I may have set that
After analyzing C-drive it only shows 2% fragmented this is after 18 months of use ?
Not bad I don't believe,
Most of it probably came from removing redundant windows updates in system cleanup ?
Cheers.