System Restore in Windows: What You Need to Know

System Restore is a feature that Microsoft adds in Windows. In Windows Vista, System Restore can be used in many different ways to recover system if problem occurs. It can be used for the rolling back of system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of a failure.

System Restore uses System Protection to create and save restore point in your computer. These restore points contain information about registry or other information that Windows Vista used. System Restore can make Restore point everyday, even when you install Windows Vista Service Pack. However, you should create restore point in short period of time to recover your system if any problem exists.

System Restore does not copy any personal file or information. Therefore, it cannot recover deleted or damaged files.

To use System Restore in Windows Vista, go to All Programs>Accessories>System Tools or you can use Run>rstrui.exe (C:\Windows\System32\rstrui.exe). You must have at least 300MB free space in your hard drive to activate System Protection. Besides, System Protection can use up to 15% of your disc space. The old restore points will be deleted. System Restore will add new Restore Points in the hard drive. System Restore do not work with FAT or FAT32, it only works on NTFS.

When activating System Restore, you can choose different restore point by click "Choose a different restore point" > Pick a restore point you want to recover > Click "Next". Your system will reboot. System Restore will back your Windows to the restore point.

Now, imagine that your hard drive is up to 500 GB. If you use system restore, it will cost 15% (75 GB) of your hard drive. To change it, you have to use Volume Shadow Copy Administrative. You have to go to Run>vssadmin.exe.

Type "vassadmin.exe /?" and push "Enter" to see all the options this tool provide. To see how much hard drive space that System Restore occupies, type "Vssadmin List Shadow Storage. To change disc space using by System Restore, type