Solved Permanent Restore Point

[MourningStar]

I manually create a restore point. I want it to remain in place until I (me, myself and nobody/nothing else) personally delete it. How do I do this?

-thx

 

[Brink]

Hello Marc,

Unfortunately, restore points do not stay saved forever.

Creating a system image instead for that purpose would be better.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi MourningStar,

This thread might be useful: Can you permanently save a good restore point
If I was you, I would make a system image and keep it safe.

I hope this helps!

 

[MourningStar]

Thx all - ok I read the suggested thread. A few questions. Since I never 'mucked' with it, my system restore 'allocation size' is whatever factory default is. Therefore :

1 - Is a 'system image' typically smaller or larger than the restore point? I have about 2 gigs free on the 'D' (partitioned?) drive labeled 'Factory Image'. Would this be an acceptable location for the system image?

2 - In the past I have had to use the restore points to recover and it has always performed flawless and very simple (for a dummy like me). Would a restore of the system image be as idiot-proof a process and restore my computer just like a restore point??

 

[Brink]

A system image would indeed be larger than a restore point, but is a lot more reliable.

You could use "Windows System Image" with or without "Windows Backup", and/or use a 3rd party program like "Macrium Reflect" to create a system image with.

Here's some details about those to help if needed:

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup - Windows 7 Help Forums

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect | Windows 10 Tutorials

 

[Paul Black]

Hi MourningStar,

Thx all - ok I read the suggested thread. A few questions. Since I never 'mucked' with it, my system restore 'allocation size' is whatever factory default is.

You can increase the size of the system restore 'allocation size'. But it would not be recommended unless you keep a close eye on it. At some stage, the restore point that you want to keep will gradually get lower and lower in the list until it is eventually deleted.

1 - Is a 'system image' typically smaller or larger than the restore point? I have about 2 gigs free on the 'D' (partitioned?) drive labeled 'Factory Image'. Would this be an acceptable location for the system image?

I use AOMEI Backupper. It is easy to use and quite easy to restore from. I know that most people on this forum use Macrium Reflect as Brink has pointed out above. Using AOMEI Backupper, I found that it produces a system image that is about 40% of the OS size. The system image [whatever you use] must be kept on a seperate/external HDD rather than on a partition on the C:\ drive. This is because if your HDD was to fail, you would also lose the system images.

2 - In the past I have had to use the restore points to recover and it has always performed flawless and very simple (for a dummy like me). Would a restore of the system image be as idiot-proof a process and restore my computer just like a restore point??

The link that Brink posted will walk you through Macrium Reflect if that is the way you are going to go!

I hope this helps!

 

[LMiller7]

System Restore was designed for short term use only. In the interests of keeping restore points a reasonable size not everything is saved. That not saved will cause you trouble if you go back too far. The further back you go the more likely that the restore will fail or leave you in a worse state than before. I would not care to go back any further than a month, and that only if necessary. On those few occasions I have used System Restore it has only been with the most recent restore point.

An image backup is far more reliable and can go back much further, years if you have a backup that old. And you can restore to a new hard drive if the original fails.

 

[MourningStar]

thx all

System Restore was designed for short term use only. In the interests of keeping restore points a reasonable size not everything is saved. That not saved will cause you trouble if you go back too far. The further back you go ...

Did not know that, so ...

I regularly (read : religiously) backup files important to me on an external drive. Suppose I make a habit of manually creating a restore point on a regular basis, say once a week? Is this too frequent or not enough? If this is acceptable I suppose I could configure my calendar to remind me or can this be done via some automated way? more thoughts?

 

[RolandJS]

Since you're already routinely back up stuff onto an external hard-drive, simply use Macrium Reflect or EaseUS ToDo or any one of several free backup / restore utilities to make full images of your OS and Data partitions. I've done that for both my laptops, however, I use two external HDDs for "twin backups".

 

[SIW2]

As previously,mentioned you can create a system image.

If you have restore point created previously that you want to keep, you can mount it and create an image of it.

A simple way to do that is with system restore explorer to mount the restore point, then capture the mount point with dism++ or gimagex.

I manually create a restore point. I want it to remain in place until I (me, myself and nobody/nothing else) personally delete it. How do I do this?

-thx

 

[MourningStar]

This is all sounding a bit over my head and and likely more involved than my simple needs. I have my back-up stuff on multiple externals (strictly for peace-of-mind). My machine will be 10 years old next year and have never needed to do anything more than restore point recovery and even that only a few times. Since I am aware of my limited computer-literacy I avoid doing anything that I am not 100% confident in my ability to achieve. Back in the Win95/ME days I did have to use the factory recovery discs for that rare disaster that would occur. However, I stayed with ME until I bought this W7 machine and it's been good to me. Never once had to do a re-install. To conclude, I appreciate all the advice but, it looks as though I'll be ok with regular restore point creation.

Nonetheless, this 'image back-up' thing interests me alot so I will study-up on it and hope I will gain a confidence for implementation. Thus, I will mark this topic 'solved'.

-thank you

 

[bawldiggle]

How long do System Restore Points survive for ? (If only one RP is ever created)
I just read on another forum (a 2010 thread) SRP are deleted after 90 days. ?

 

[SIW2]

Last I heard, that is the case for normal retore points.


If you use windows system image, shadow storage is created on the drive you store the system image. The resore points in there do not have a time limit, as far as I know.

 

[bawldiggle]

@SIW2

I don't use RPs any more (although Revouninstaller makes a RP before starting an uninstall).

@ MourningStar . . . . . if you are still with us

I am using Aomei Back Upper PRO, I can clone the entire drive to another drive.
- just swap the HDDs and your PC will work as before.
I made a clone so that I could experiment with hard stuff (for me anyway)
- make sure you label both HDDs, so that you dont get lost. Guard the last good clone with your life.
- while you are learning you will always have a pristine disc/SSD to swap in ( and reuse the corrupted disc )
- you can play with Backup images and know you have the pristine original under your mattress, if needed.

I am 73 and only started with Win-7 ... 5 years ago ... and AOMEI Backupper 11 months ago.
This forum is brilliant for getting help, if you do come back message me and I will join your thread

 

[SIW2]

Aomei is very good.

Best Windows Backup and Restore Software | AOMEI Backupper

 

[Paul Black]

Aomei is very good.

I agree .

 

[RolandJS]

Aomei is very good.

+1, agreed! I read many good things about AOMEI.

 

[raj2007]

As previously,mentioned you can create a system image.

If you have restore point created previously that you want to keep, you can mount it and create an image of it.

A simple way to do that is with system restore explorer to mount the restore point, then capture the mount point with dism++ or gimagex.

Hello Mr.SIW2
i know that it is an old thread but may you explain these steps in more detail.
never used dism++ or gimagex. just downloaded it now to check.
i would be very grateful. thanks a lot.

 

[Brink]

A system restore point will never be permanent.

The best option for this would be to create a system image instead.

 

[raj2007]

A system restore point will never be permanent.

The best option for this would be to create a system image instead.

thanks mr.Brink
appreciate your answer and it is so true.
i had experienced this that till this date created restore points were not available when needed the most.
they were all deleted no matter what you do.
i have allocated 15gb space for restore point on new installed os which had 100gb free space and yet it was deleted in 2 days.

i was just trying to understand the method which mr.SIW2 had mentioned.
never heard or read that anywhere so i was curious as well.

i have used restore point and system restore explorer.
i have also mounted the restore point with system restore explorer.
but after that i do not know what to do.
what does it mean that " then capture the mount point with dism++ or gimagex".

thanks a lot again for your time and effort.
really appreciate it.

it just the size and time of restore points which attracts the most.