System Restore - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable System Restore in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable System Restore for all users in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

System Restore is enabled by default in Windows. If this is disabled, System Restore is turned off, and the System Restore Wizard cannot be accessed. The option to configure System Restore or create a restore point through System Protection is also disabled and grayed out.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: System Restore Enabled and Disabled

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable System Restore A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
NOTE: This is the default setting.
Enable_System_Restore.reg

Download


2. To Disable System Restore A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below. Disable_System_Restore.reg

Download


3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

4. Double click/tap the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

5. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

7. If the Configure button is still grayed out, then see: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/81499-system-restore-configuration-enable-disable.html

8. If enabled, you can now turn on system protection for restore points.

OPTION TWO

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. In the left pane, double click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, and System Restore. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, double click/tap on Turn off System Restore to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. To Enable System Restore A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: The default setting is Not Configured.5. To Disable System Restore A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

8. If the Configure button is still grayed out, then see: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/81499-system-restore-configuration-enable-disable.html

9. If enabled, you can now turn on system protection for restore points.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Enable or Disable System Restore Configuration in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7
• How to Turn System Protection On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Change the System Protection Disk Space Usage in Window 7
• How to Delete System Protection Restore Points in Windows 7
• Create a "System Protection Properties" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• System Restore General Troubleshooting to Fix Issues
• How to Make a "Create System Restore Point" Shortcut in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Add "Create Restore Point" to Context Menu in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Create a System Restore Point in Windows 7
• How to Automatically Create A System Restore Point at Startup
• How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista and Windows 7 when Dual Booting with XP
• How to Undo the Last System Restore in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Extract Files and Folders from System Restore Points in Windows 7 and Vista

 

[Brink]

betaupsilon,

In your situation, I would recommend to keep system images. They are much more reliable than restore points, and won't be deleted when you defrag.

 

[betaupsilon]

betaupsilon,

In your situation, I would recommend to keep system images. They are much more reliable than restore points, and won't be deleted when you defrag.

I would agree with you, except on one point that IMAGES take considerable disk space which makes them not ideal for small to intermediate changes in the system. I use images for significant events. I like to use RESTORE PTS to bridge the gap between my 2 most recent images. Once a new image is created I then delete the RESTORE PTS & start fresh.

So it is disappointing that DEFRAG ruins that approach. I do not view DEFRAG as a change in the system. It just rearranges the furniture on the deck so to speak.

By the way, I did an experiment with the DEFRAG utility. I expanded out the MAX disk space for SYS PROTECTION. I had 4 restore points that took 1.1 Gb of disk space. After DEFRAG the disk usage ballooned to 4.3 Gb. So are the SHADOW copies getting bigger or are there invisible SHADOW copies being created by the DEFRAG utility?

 

[Brink]

Defrag wouldn't create any shadow copies, so I'm not sure what that could be from either.

I can see defrag wiping restore points if it messes with its allocated space.

 

[betaupsilon]

Defrag wouldn't create any shadow copies, so I'm not sure what that could be from either.

I can see defrag wiping restore points if it messes with its allocated space.

I'll run the experiment again & use the vssadmin cmd to ascertain if each SHADOW is actually growing & report back.

 

[betaupsilon]

Defrag wouldn't create any shadow copies, so I'm not sure what that could be from either.

I can see defrag wiping restore points if it messes with its allocated space.

I'll run the experiment again & use the vssadmin cmd to ascertain if each SHADOW is actually growing & report back.

I have a list of my SHADOW copies, but it does not report the size of each. I only get the VOLUME SHADOW storage info. Is there a way to get size info on individual copies?

 

[Brink]

You might see if the program TimeTraveler may work for that.

Getting the size of a volume shadow copy snapshot | Joco blog

TimeTraveler™

 

[betaupsilon]

I have a list of my SHADOW copies, but it does not report the size of each. I only get the VOLUME SHADOW storage info. Is there a way to get size info on individual copies?

I actually booted into WinPE mode & accessed the SYS VOL INFO folder directly. I took a snapshot on my phone of the directory & I believe I have the sizes of the individual copies. I still have to do the DEFRAG & will upload the snapshots tomorrow.

 

[betaupsilon]

Hi Shawn,
I got the snapshot of the SHADOW copy change on my phone. The last SHADOW went from 320 Mb to 4.6 Gb. So the DEFRAG operation is writing directly to the last SHADOW made by SYS PROTECTION. My understanding was that a SYS RESTORE PT is a SNAPSHOT. It should not be changing in time. This is not the case here. Is the last SHADOW associated with my RESTORE PT or is it something else? I have 4 RESTORE PTS as indicated in the 3rd snapshot.

 

[Brink]

What is the max storage size set to for system protection?

If it's at least the same size or larger, then it would just be defrag having the max allocated space for system protection available now instead of growing to max as restore points are created.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/335-system-protection-change-disk-space-usage.html

 

[betaupsilon]

What is the max storage size set to for system protection?

I expanded the MAX to be 15Gb.

If it's at least the same size or larger, then it would just be defrag having the max allocated space for system protection available now instead of growing to max as restore points are created.

I don't follow what you are trying to say.

 

[Brink]

I just meant that defrag had just made the max size show for it instead of just what was used.

 

[betaupsilon]

I just meant that defrag had just made the max size show for it instead of just what was used.

I still do not understand. If the SHADOW is associated with a RESTORE PT is it not fixed? The RESTORE PT is a snapshot in time. Whatever changes in the system after that should not be written to the SHADOW?

If I had not changed the MAX disk space then I would have lost all of my previous RESTORE PTS. If what you are saying is correct then I shouldn't lose them?

 

[Brink]

Yes, but it's the shadow volume for the total max size.

I'm not sure why defrag is increasing the size either, and max size was the only thing I could think of that may be responsible. You could test by reducing the max size to see if there are any coincidences with defrag.

 

[betaupsilon]

Yes, but it's the shadow volume for the total max size.

I'm not sure why defrag is increasing the size either, and max size was the only thing I could think of that may be responsible. You could test by reducing the max size to see if there are any coincidences with defrag.

If I went to the trouble of another experiment would it provide the necessary info to block what DEFRAG is doing?

 

[Brink]

No. It may only let you know if defrag is setting the size based off of max size or not.

 

[betaupsilon]

I was reading somewhere about relocating the RESTORE PTS to another drive or partition. Is that even possible?

 

[whs]

That is possible in the server edition. But in normal Windows they have to stay in the shadowstorage of the partition. If you want, you can use imaging. That allows to put the images anywhere.

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

 

[betaupsilon]

That is possible in the server edition. But in normal Windows they have to stay in the shadowstorage of the partition. If you want, you can use imaging. That allows to put the images anywhere.

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

Nah, I am very familiar with IMAGING. I like to use my RESTORE PTS as intermediaries between imaging periods, but the DEFRAG utility if on an automated schedule ruins that strategy. Why the DEFRAG utility can write to a SHADOW copy presumably dedicated to a RESTORE PT completely baffles me.

 

[whs]

You are hopping around in circles. But that is no solution. I tell you, with the restore points you will never be safe. They are volatile. Since you know imaging, why don't you use that - but not Windows imaging. That is another headache.

 

[Scoop]

Shawn,

I have a couple of questions about System Restore / disable.

I'm running Win 7x64 Home Premium so I don't have Group Editor access.

In the past, I've disabled (& enabled) System Restore in the following way:

Control Panel / System & Security / System / System Protection :

For example, to disable Restore Points on my C: drive (OS Drive), I click on the right-hand pane "System Protection" option, select my C: drive, then turn off System Protection (attached images).

I usually disable it before I install Win Updates to save time and prevent redundant Sys Restore creation points after each Update install (as I typically install 1 update at a time).

I also don't rely on Sys Restore Points as a recovery tool since I Clone (or Image) before installing Win updates.

My questions are:

1) Is the method I use (attached images) accomplishing the same as using your REG file downloads?

From what I can tell, it's the same but I'm not sure about it (per my 2nd question).

2) Are there specific Win Updates that override the user's setting that have the Sys Restore Points disabled?

Here's what I noticed today when I installed the April Win Update rollups & the Monthly Malicious Software Removal Tool KB890830 .

Prior to installing KB890830, I disabled Sys Restore Points using the method I've used in the past (attached images).

That seemed to work as the Win Update dialog Install screen briefly (for about 2 seconds) displayed "Creating a Restore Point", bypassing the usual Restore Point creation status bar, and quickly changed to the "Download Update / Install" dialogs.

However, when I installed the April Rollups Net Framework KB4014981 and the Win 7 Security Monthly Rollup KB4015549, The Sys Restore Points were created, seemingly overriding my current settings for my C: drive (Sys Protection off).

Do the major Rollup updates override the user's Sys Protection settings?

Or is it because my method (attached images) isn't accomplishing the same thing as your REG download (disable) ?