deleting System Restore files. is this safe?

**norin** · 04-14-2005, 08:57 AM

just wanted to know if it is safe for me to delete old system restore files. like system restore files that are over 2 or 3 months old. can this be done? is it safe? and what directory do they reside at? thanks

Herk · 04-14-2005, 12:40 PM

Hi norin
As long as everything is running fine it shouldnt be a problem deleting these.
As Im sure you have seen,To turn off System Restore Click Start > Right Click My Computer > Properties. Click the System Restore tab and Check "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives". Click Apply. When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. Click Yes to do this then Click OK.
This will delete them. Also, from the System restore tab, you can click settings and adjust how much disk space is used, the lower you go, the fewer restore points will be created. Oh yeah dont forget to turn it back on

Geekgirl · 04-14-2005, 12:45 PM

Sometimes it is a good thing to delete old restore points. If you had a situation where your system was infected with spyware/adware/malware you surely wouldnt want to go back to that saved point.
Like Herk said, When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted.
It's always wise to make sure your system is free of such things before deleting restore points so you do have a good one to go back to.

**norin** · 04-14-2005, 12:57 PM

ok so.... run ad-aware, run spybot, run complete AVG test, run a trendmicro if need be for Xtra security, and then delete restores then make new one?

btw i ran HJT and log was clean i ran it like last week.

Geekgirl · 04-14-2005, 01:02 PM

Sounds like a stable/clean enviroment to come back to, git-r-done

**norin** · 04-14-2005, 02:30 PM

thanks will get right on top of this.

04-14-2005, 08:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
norin TSF Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: L-Town, Maine Posts: 1,748 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System	deleting System Restore files. is this safe? just wanted to know if it is safe for me to delete old system restore files. like system restore files that are over 2 or 3 months old. can this be done? is it safe? and what directory do they reside at? thanks __________________

04-14-2005, 12:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,344 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Sometimes it is a good thing to delete old restore points. If you had a situation where your system was infected with spyware/adware/malware you surely wouldnt want to go back to that saved point. Like Herk said, When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. It's always wise to make sure your system is free of such things before deleting restore points so you do have a good one to go back to. __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM

04-14-2005, 12:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
norin TSF Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: L-Town, Maine Posts: 1,748 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System	ok so.... run ad-aware, run spybot, run complete AVG test, run a trendmicro if need be for Xtra security, and then delete restores then make new one? btw i ran HJT and log was clean i ran it like last week. __________________

04-14-2005, 01:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,344 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Sounds like a stable/clean enviroment to come back to, git-r-done __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM

04-14-2005, 02:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
norin TSF Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: L-Town, Maine Posts: 1,748 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System	thanks will get right on top of this. __________________

04-14-2005, 12:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Herk Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 584 OS: XP	Hi norin As long as everything is running fine it shouldnt be a problem deleting these. As Im sure you have seen,To turn off System Restore Click Start > Right Click My Computer > Properties. Click the System Restore tab and Check "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives". Click Apply. When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. Click Yes to do this then Click OK. This will delete them. Also, from the System restore tab, you can click settings and adjust how much disk space is used, the lower you go, the fewer restore points will be created. Oh yeah dont forget to turn it back on