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How to disable/enable System Restore (Turn System Restore on or off)
System Restore is a utility included in modern Windows operating systems starting from Windows Millennium edition. Installation of a software, driver or a Malware infection can make unexpected changes to the system files and cause Windows to behave in an unpredictable manner. System Restore regularly saves “restore points” on your computer, so that the system files can be restored to an earlier point in time. System Restore is not available for a disk that’s formatted using the FAT or FAT32 file systems.
System Restore saves information about Windows system files, programs, registry settings and other system information that Windows uses. They do not contain personal files, such as email, documents or photos.
Turn System Restore on or off Windows 7
Turn System Restore off or on Windows Vista
Turn System Restore off or on Windows XP
Location of System Restore files
The System Restore files are generally stored in a hidden and protected folder named _RESTORE folder in Windows Millennium and System Volume Information in later operating systems. It is located in the root directory of your hard disk. This folder is marked by the system as read only and hidden. It can be viewed only after making a few configuration changes from an Administrator account.
Why disable System Restore?
System Restore backs up the bad with the good, hence as a part of malware cleaning it is advised to turn off and on System Restore to eliminate the presence of malware infected files in the System Restore points.
IMPORTANT: Remember to turn off and on System Restore only after disinfecting your computer, because an infected restore point is better than no restore point.
Turn System Restore on or off Windows 7
Press Windows Key and the Pause key on your keyboard together to open System Properties.
or
Right-click Computer (either on the start menu or the desktop).
Select Properties.
In the left pane, click System protection. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation
.
Under Protection Settings, click the disk, and then click Configure.
Click Turn off system protection, click Apply, and then click OK again.
To turn on System Restore:
Do one of the following:
To be able to restore system settings and previous versions of files, click Restore system settings and previous versions of files.
To be able to only restore previous versions of files, click Only restore previous versions of files.
Click Apply, and then click OK again.
Turn System Restore off or on Windows Vista
Press Windows Key and the Pause key on your keyboard together to open System Properties.
or
Right-click Computer (either on the start menu or the desktop). Select Properties.
In the left pane, click System Protection. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
To turn off System Restore for a hard disk, clear the check box next to the disk, and then click Apply and OK.
Or
To turn on System Restore for a hard disk, select the check box next to the disk, and then click Apply and OK.
Turn System Restore off or on Windows XP
Press Windows Key and the Pause key on your keyboard together to open System Properties.
or
Right-click My Computer (either on the start menu or the desktop), Select Properties.
In the System Properties dialog box, click the System Restore tab.
Click to select the Turn off System Restore check box. Or, click to select the Turn off System Restore on all drives check box. Click OK.
When you receive the following message, click Yes to confirm that you want to turn off System Restore:
You have chosen to turn off System Restore. If you continue, all existing restore points will be deleted, and you will not be able to track or undo changes to your computer. Do you want to turn off System Restore?
After a few moments, the System Properties dialog box closes.
To turn on System Restore
Click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box. Or, click the Turn off System Restore on all drives check box.
Click OK.
After a few moments, the System Properties dialog box closes.
Related Information: How antivirus software and System Restore work together
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks. This works well and you are very helpful!
Thanks so much! This E-set Antivirus trojan was particularly hard to get rid of any other way I tried, but this worked, and worked the first time! So helpful
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Your step by step instructions were very easy to follow. Everthing worked as you said, where others have failed. Thank you so very much.
I have windows vista, but I get as far as clicking on system protection, and I don’t see the system restore tab. Mine shows Computer Name, Hardware, Advanced, and Remote.
Shan,
Thank you so much for posting these easy-to-follow instructions.
Your method worked like a charm the very first time.
Thank you. Your solution worked perfect. My husband owes both of us!
Thanks thanks thanks, step by step worked well and now have a happy computer and Mrs . . . .
Mine was a little different. After accidentally installing the Windows 7 2012 virus thing, it messed up the computer described at this link – http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/dealing-with-the-windows-security-suite-2009113/
But it affected me a little differently. It blocked off Internet Explorer from working, and I had to delete the fake virus folder. This was difficult, as I couldn’t do so with it running and it kept popping up. So I had to quickly use task manager to stop it from running then delete the folder. This got rid of the fake virus program but internet explorer wont work now. Whenever I try to open it, a window comes up that says ‘Open With..’ then I click Internet Explorer and then ‘OK’. It then opens with a file download window that has nothing on it [no estimated time, no details, nothing] and another file download window that says ‘Do you want to run or save this file?’. If I click save and save it to a folder or anywhere, it just stays there. If I click it, it starts all over again. If I click run, it opens up an Internet Explorer ‘Security Warning’ asking ‘Do you want to run this software?’. It has the options to Run or Don’t Run. When I click run, it just opens back to the original ‘Open With..’ window and it starts all over again, all the while the blank file download is still running. Does anyone know what I can do to fix this? I’ve been told to completely reformat the laptop, which will erase everything on the computer. I don’t really want to do this. Are there any other ways? I’d really appreciate someone’s help. Please.
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