Preventing "fake" Win Update restore points

Silver · 02 Mar 2013

I think this is an "Update" thread vs. a "Restore Points" thread...

I have Automatic updates turned off and no updates are showing in the update history, however when I go to restore points, I have one listed every couple days for "Windows Update." I read in this forum that no updates were done, but that the RP was created when Windows goes through the motions.

The problem this creates for me is that I now no longer have the restore point for the date I need, prior to installing some suspect software. Yes, I've now increased the disk size for Restore Point to 10%, but I still have the issue of not being able to go back to an older restore point. So....

Q1: Can I stop Windows Update from creating these restore points? They are needlessly taking up all my SR space. (There were no actual computer changes, so this was a dumb idea, Microsoft).

Q2: If I restore to the oldest RP in the list, will older ones then show up? (Yes, once this is resolved, I will get an imaging software - another good idea I got from this forum).

NoelDP · 02 Mar 2013

What is the update that the Restore point refers to?

Please follow the Windows Update Posting Instructions and post the requested data.

Silver · 03 Mar 2013

Perhaps I wasn't clear - I do not want Windows to update, and they are correctly not being done, as far as I can tell. It seems that the update process still does something even though it is theoretically turned off. That something creates a Restore Point.

I did do the scannow process, and it found nothing wrong. I also checked the Control Panel, as shown, and there was nothing showing as far as errors.

As I understand it, the SURT does bring updates to my computer, correct? Would it prevent Restore Points from being set?

NoelDP · 03 Mar 2013

CheckSUR does NOT install updates - it merely checks the integrity of existing updates and the base OS that are known to cause problems, and attempt to fix them, or flags them for manual fixing.

System Restore automatically creates a restore point according to the built-in schedule - that schedule shouldn't be tampered with as it can have unpredictable outcomes, but it can be switched off.

Why are you so against installing updates in general?

Silver · 04 Mar 2013

There are many legitimate reasons for not installing updates, and mine relates to my livelihood. The important thing is that I be able to return my computer to an earlier time, and right now, I cannot do that because of worthless restore points being created by Windows Update. This needs to be prevented.

I still have the question - if I restore my computer to its oldest restore point, will older restore points (those that existed at that time) appear on my list?

NoelDP · 04 Mar 2013

Simple answer - no.
Older restore points are deleted - the older the restore point the less reliable it is going to be.
If you want long-term backups, then imaging and proper backup procedures are the proper way to do it.
System Restore is more of a get-out-of-jail-free card than anything else, as it covers only a limited part of the system (and none of the user data, at least in theory, apart from the registry)