Maybe the answer to 99% of my many problems?

[grits]

I've never set up a PC before until this one. (Old one was set up by the tech at the shop where I bought it.)

So, I just assumed everything would work, never thought about having to 'configure' anything. That's where I'm lost 'cuz computer terminology is beyond me. For example, when I realized that I haven't had any 'automatic' restore points, I went into Task Schedular but it looked like it was set for wee hours of morning so left PC on over night but still nothing. So just a bit ago was searching forum for SR when I got a popup from IE, took a screen shot then re-booted, took a peek at Event Viewer & now am about 90 seconds from throwing this thing out the window.

I know I'm gonna get my fanny chewed for not posting a specific problem to a specific area but am so flustered I don't know if I'm coming or going.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Can you manually make a restore point?

I think the bare minimum "automatic" restore points are quite infrequent. Maybe once a week if one is not otherwise made.

I rarely if ever make a manual restore point, but seem to have 2 or 3 new ones every week--done by Windows automatically as a result of updates.

You shouldn't have to deal with Task Scheduler at all regarding restore points.

 

[F5ing]

How do you know that there are no restore points?

You can check to make sure System Restore is turned on for the drives you want: Go to Control Panel -> System -> System Protection (left panel towards the top).

As mentioned by ignatzatsonic, it appears points are created automatically less frequently than prior versions of Windows. The default seems to me to be once a week (unless updating/installing forces one).

There's a place in the regisistry where you can do much more customization of its behavior.

 

[fseal]

Yeah most restore points are made before installing software or updates. At least with software that uses the Microsoft installer engine. Otherwise you Just make them yourself at points you determine to be a "Stable" configuration.

I don;t think you want to make them all that often as there are only so many and you may roll good restore points off the queue too fast by doing it every night for example.

To see how to create a manual restore point, type "Create a restore point" into the start menu search box...

 

[seavixen32]

You can use an elevated command prompt to establish what's happening to system restore.

Click Start and type cmd in the Search box.

Right-click cmd under Programs and choose Run as Administrator and accept the UAC prompt.

Type these commands and press Enter after each one to run it.

Vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=2GB
Reduces the Shadow Storage to specified amount, choose any amount up to a maximum of 15% of your drive space

Vssadmin List ShadowStorage
Lista maximum storage allocated for restore points

Vssadmin List Shadows
Lists all restore points already written

Vssadmin List Allocated
Lists used storage to date

 

[grits]

I've caused myself confusion here because I'm getting replies about System Restore both here & in my other thread titled 'System Restore not working'. My bad!! I don't know if/how to split the SR from this thread & just keep this one to "was I supposed to 'configure' every file, folder, program, whatevers, in my PC? I bought it in Feb. but have seen a few places in here where some things were done sometime last year.

I will try to reply to the 4 posts already here.
I can & have manually made 1 or 2 myself besides the ones made by MS Updates & there's a couple from something I downloaded or uninstalled.
SR is found in Task Scheduler.
CCleaner Tools shows a list of points made.
I did the vssadmin yesterday.
I do have more to say about SR but will do so in my other thread.

Thank you.

 

[F5ing]

So is this thread dead? Or are you still trying to get answers on:

I don't know if/how to split the SR from this thread & just keep this one to "was I supposed to 'configure' every file, folder, program, whatevers, in my PC?

 

[cluberti]

Also be aware that having a large number of restore points is likely to cause performance issues (there's even a hotfix for that on Win7 SP1).

 

[grits]

So is this thread dead? Or are you still trying to get answers on:

I don't know if/how to split the SR from this thread & just keep this one to "was I supposed to 'configure' every file, folder, program, whatevers, in my PC?

I wish I could kill it & post properly: just one issue at a time.

I'm still wondering about configuring but would prefer that any System Restore posts go to my other thread.

Thanks.

 

[whs]

I'm still wondering about configuring

Configuring what?

 

[grits]

Maybe 'configure' isn't the correct term. Maybe 'preferences' would be better? I guess I'd have to pick my first couple sentences in my original post, plus what F5ing quoted in post #7 to try to get what I'm asking.

I didn't follow your advice: "Keep it simple".

If I knew how I'd delete this whole thread.

 

[bruce73]

Don't worry. I think it might self-destruct. Lol.