Comments on: Change the System Restore Size in Windows Vista http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/ A technology news blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:48:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rob. Elinzhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-1240684 Rob. Elinz Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:19:49 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-1240684 My sincere thanks for this incredibly helpful bit of information. I have tried various means of cleaning up my mysteriously shrinking hard drive, and was told that I needed to shrink the system restore space. I thought I fixed the problem a few months ago, but it came back, and the cmd prompt here did the trick. Well done! My sincere thanks for this incredibly helpful bit of information. I have tried various means of cleaning up my mysteriously shrinking hard drive, and was told that I needed to shrink the system restore space. I thought I fixed the problem a few months ago, but it came back, and the cmd prompt here did the trick. Well done!

]]> By: Brian Penixhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-1225685 Brian Penix Sun, 31 Oct 2010 08:28:23 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-1225685 To answer The PC Tech Guy above... You will lose the space if you restore from those "idiot disks" provided by most PC manufacturers these days. Why? Because when you update using Windows Update, it sets a restore point on all the updates. I just went through that and found my 300 GB drive 31% full. I turned off system restore when done updating and watched it drop to just 17%. And this is before any of my external software was installed. Now I don't know about you but I don't think the loss of 14% of my drive, even if it is for 90 days, is a good thing. So thanks Martin for showing me how to limit the size of that beast! To answer The PC Tech Guy above…

You will lose the space if you restore from those “idiot disks” provided by most PC manufacturers these days. Why? Because when you update using Windows Update, it sets a restore point on all the updates. I just went through that and found my 300 GB drive 31% full. I turned off system restore when done updating and watched it drop to just 17%. And this is before any of my external software was installed. Now I don’t know about you but I don’t think the loss of 14% of my drive, even if it is for 90 days, is a good thing.

So thanks Martin for showing me how to limit the size of that beast!

]]> By: The PC Tech Guyhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-1016601 The PC Tech Guy Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:36:03 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-1016601 System restore only holds restore points for up to 90 days, therefore, System Restore can take a lot of space if you frequently install/uninstall, and create restore points. To have System Restore take up around 10 GB of space... well I don't know what you're doing with your PC. And even if it does, after 90 days of its creation date, it'll be gone. System restore only holds restore points for up to 90 days, therefore, System Restore can take a lot of space if you frequently install/uninstall, and create restore points. To have System Restore take up around 10 GB of space… well I don’t know what you’re doing with your PC. And even if it does, after 90 days of its creation date, it’ll be gone.

]]> By: Dennis Bhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-954900 Dennis B Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:10:39 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-954900 What a great help. I just purchased an Acer 1410 netbook/laptop with a 250 GB drive. Twenty GB used by hidden drive. C drive indicated a 220GB size but after two weeks and installing only a few basic programs (program folder showing 4+Gb and Windows at 16GB the usable space was now showing 160GB. I spent much time trying to account for the loss. Many thanks to you for offering the solution. Dennis What a great help. I just purchased an Acer 1410 netbook/laptop with a 250 GB drive. Twenty GB used by hidden drive. C drive indicated a 220GB size but after two weeks and installing only a few basic programs (program folder showing 4+Gb and Windows at 16GB the usable space was now showing 160GB. I spent much time trying to account for the loss.

Many thanks to you for offering the solution.

Dennis

]]> By: Missing Hard Drive Space (Vista) | Pixelizmhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-917790 Missing Hard Drive Space (Vista) | Pixelizm Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:17:46 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-917790 [...] http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/ [...] [...] http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/ [...]

]]> By: Johnhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-875056 John Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:25:41 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-875056 Thumbs up for post, thumbs down for vista and Microsoft, as usual. Thumbs up for post, thumbs down for vista and Microsoft, as usual.

]]> By: Vista problems? Anyone else? - Computers - PCs, laptops, hardware, software - Page 3 - City-Data Forumhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-725687 Vista problems? Anyone else? - Computers - PCs, laptops, hardware, software - Page 3 - City-Data Forum Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:57:18 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-725687 [...] were complaining about their HD's filling up. I discovered that this was a Restore issue, and that this is the way to keep it to a decent size. I can't imagine a program allowing the HD to take up 45 gigs on a 300 gig HD or more. Mine is [...] [...] were complaining about their HD’s filling up. I discovered that this was a Restore issue, and that this is the way to keep it to a decent size. I can’t imagine a program allowing the HD to take up 45 gigs on a 300 gig HD or more. Mine is [...]

]]> By: Hiiirhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-709699 Hiiir Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:58:15 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-709699 Hi, thanks for the tip! But I have two drives, C and D. Do I need to limit the D drive as well? Hi, thanks for the tip!

But I have two drives, C and D. Do I need to limit the D drive as well?

]]> By: Heerohttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-526762 Heero Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:32:09 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-526762 Yeah,talking about lost disk spaces...I'm using a 1tb harddrive for my system. Then one day I found I lost more than 100gb for no reason... Yeah,talking about lost disk spaces…I’m using a 1tb harddrive for my system. Then one day I found I lost more than 100gb for no reason…

]]> By: NagaDarkhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-379935 NagaDark Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:18:46 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-379935 Yeah thanks now i can have more free room only using 40% instead of only 25% + System Recovery. of my hard drive space because it increases the life time of the HD by 300% especialy i had only 512 MB instead of the 4GB i have now. The more Ram the bigger the lifetime of the HD Yeah thanks now i can have more free room only using 40% instead of only 25% + System Recovery. of my hard drive space because it increases the life time of the HD by 300% especialy i had only 512 MB instead of the 4GB i have now.
The more Ram the bigger the lifetime of the HD

]]> By: Shanehttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-353872 Shane Wed, 28 May 2008 11:16:47 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-353872 Hi all My problem started when i did a system recovery, I did the recovery everything went back to be nice and new and i started installing my firewall etc and world of warcraft when i happened to notice my harddrive saying 10.1gb of 48.8gb free!!! Im a little confused by it all and dont know whow to do what yous aid i ran the command line on the c drive and i get the error you dont have the correct permission to run this utility from a command line that has elevated admin access?? I really am lost but on top of it all my hd is supposed to be 80gb so i have lost 30gb straight away and on top of it the 50gb it has given me only has 10gb space free, please help i am close to throwing the tower out of the window as i have had no end of problems with it Help would be much appreciated Hi all

My problem started when i did a system recovery, I did the recovery everything went back to be nice and new and i started installing my firewall etc and world of warcraft when i happened to notice my harddrive saying 10.1gb of 48.8gb free!!!

Im a little confused by it all and dont know whow to do what yous aid i ran the command line on the c drive and i get the error

you dont have the correct permission to run this utility from a command line that has elevated admin access??

I really am lost but on top of it all my hd is supposed to be 80gb so i have lost 30gb straight away and on top of it the 50gb it has given me only has 10gb space free, please help i am close to throwing the tower out of the window as i have had no end of problems with it

Help would be much appreciated

]]> By: Bill S.http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-238410 Bill S. Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:29:12 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-238410 I also want to thank you for explaining things clearly. I was trying to figure out why I had 122gb used on a 455gb hd (500gb), when files only added up to 68gb. The net amount of 55gb is roughly 12% of my 455gb drive, within (but approaching) the 15% allocation you described. I agree with your assessment of folks becoming users rather than 'controllers' of their computers, as less and less customization becomes available. This does protect against people hopelessly tangling themselves up with 'system fixes'; but it also turns us into rather passive users, who often can't find answers to legitimate questions (like this one: 'where'd my disk space go?') Gracias. Bill S. I also want to thank you for explaining things clearly. I was trying to figure out why I had 122gb used on a 455gb hd (500gb), when files only added up to 68gb. The net amount of 55gb is roughly 12% of my 455gb drive, within (but approaching) the 15% allocation you described.

I agree with your assessment of folks becoming users rather than ‘controllers’ of their computers, as less and less customization becomes available. This does protect against people hopelessly tangling themselves up with ‘system fixes’; but it also turns us into rather passive users, who often can’t find answers to legitimate questions (like this one: ‘where’d my disk space go?’)

Gracias. Bill S.

]]> By: michaelhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-231996 michael Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:34:37 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-231996 Thank you so much... i have been turning insane trying to figure out where my free space has gone. you are saviours, thank you. Thank you so much… i have been turning insane trying to figure out where my free space has gone. you are saviours, thank you.

]]> By: markhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-117648 mark Mon, 14 May 2007 17:42:33 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-117648 thanks for the advice i just recovered 23gig of space on my hd.....thank you very much..:-) thanks for the advice i just recovered 23gig of space on my hd…..thank you very much..:-)

]]> By: Microsoft Talk » Blog Archive » Vista Tip: Change System Restore Sizehttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-114512 Microsoft Talk » Blog Archive » Vista Tip: Change System Restore Size Tue, 01 May 2007 07:11:46 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-114512 [...] gHack Posted in Vista, Vista Tip Link to this Entry Email This [...] [...] gHack Posted in Vista, Vista Tip Link to this Entry Email This [...]

]]> By: Danielhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-113843 Daniel Sat, 28 Apr 2007 21:32:31 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-113843 What a surprise: on my 100GB notebook disk the free space went from 15GB to 29GB as soon as I changed the max to 3GB. I've only been using the restore utility for a week, so that tells you how quickly it fills up. Much better. What a surprise: on my 100GB notebook disk the free space went from 15GB to 29GB as soon as I changed the max to 3GB.

I’ve only been using the restore utility for a week, so that tells you how quickly it fills up.

Much better.

]]> By: Danielhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-113842 Daniel Sat, 28 Apr 2007 21:27:19 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-113842 Thank you for providing this. It really annoys me how Vista hides settings like this. New restore points are created EVERY DAY by default on vista with no clear way to change that either. 15% space will be used within a few weeks no matter what you do with computer (unless you change the setting of course). Absolutely ridiculous. Maybe the HD manufacturers had a word with MS? Did they want to force more sales by cleverly shrinking the size of everyone's disk by 15%? Anyway, I'll go ahead and use your tip. Thanks! Thank you for providing this. It really annoys me how Vista hides settings like this. New restore points are created EVERY DAY by default on vista with no clear way to change that either.

15% space will be used within a few weeks no matter what you do with computer (unless you change the setting of course). Absolutely ridiculous. Maybe the HD manufacturers had a word with MS? Did they want to force more sales by cleverly shrinking the size of everyone’s disk by 15%?

Anyway, I’ll go ahead and use your tip. Thanks!

]]> By: RRShttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-113127 RRS Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:12:34 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-113127 In Windows XP, the space allocated for system restore is a maximum allotment and not a restriction of the use of any space on the hard drive. I suspect the same is true for Vista. One would not have to worry about Vista taking up 15% of space for system restore unless there are enough system restore points over time accumulated adding up to that amount. On my Windows XP Professional system with over 100 GB of data a single restore point takes up 75 MB of space and I maintain only a few restore points at any given time. In Windows XP, the space allocated for system restore
is a maximum allotment and not a restriction
of the use of any space on the hard drive.
I suspect the same is true for Vista.

One would not have to worry about Vista taking up
15% of space for system restore unless there
are enough system restore points over time
accumulated adding up to that amount.

On my Windows XP Professional system with
over 100 GB of data a single restore point
takes up 75 MB of space and I maintain only
a few restore points at any given time.

]]> By: emrahhttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1/#comment-113020 emrah Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:55:11 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/#comment-113020 thanks thanks thanks! as an additional question how much space do the vista require for 1 restore point (as an estimation- 300MB or 1GB or what?) thanks thanks thanks!

as an additional question how much space do the vista require for 1 restore point (as an estimation- 300MB or 1GB or what?)

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