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]

Hello Scoop,

Q1) You are only turning system protection off for the drive like in the tutorial linked below. The .reg files in the tutorial will completely disable system restore preventing you from being able to turn on/off system restore for any drive.

System Protection - Turn On or Off - Windows 7 Help Forums

There's nothing wrong with just turning off system restore, but if you wanted to make sure it stays off and disabled, then the .reg files will do that.


Q2) If system protection is turned on, then it's normal for Windows to automatically create a restore point before installing a Windows Update.

It's also not unusual for a Windows Update to reset some settings back to default.

 

[Scoop]

Shawn,

Thanks for the info . I'll set the REG to 'disabled' before I install next month's rollups.

 

[Brink]

I hope it will help.

 

[Scoop]

Shawn,

I disabled the Restore Points with your REG download before installing this month's Win 7 Rollup's & the monthly Malicious Removal Tool update.

It worked great, reducing the install times by eliminating redundant Restore Point creations.

The only thing that I noticed was when installing the monthly malicious removal tool KB890830, was that the "Creating Restore Point" screen duration lasted longer than the Rollup installs (where those only were displayed 2-3 seconds).

 

[Brink]

Hey Scoop,

That would be normal when you have System Restore disabled. It causes it to take longer to try and create a restore point, and then only to fail before continuing on with the update.

 

[Scoop]

Makes sense. Thanks for the info.

I've found that after the 1st WU (I usually select KB890830 first & that's the one where it takes ~2 min's to detect that Restore Points has been disabled.

The subsequent Rollup WU's are all fast, without any Restore Point query/search observed.

Works great

 

[Brink]