Solved Do I Need System Restore?

Mitch · Dec 22, 2023

Hello, I did a clean install of Windows 11 a couple of weeks ago on our Dell AIO Desktop. It has a 1tb HDD Data Drive and a 512GB SSD C drive. I deleted the partitions and formatted the C drive - I left the data drive alone. There were 2 other partitions which were greyed out which I couldn't delete and I installed Windows on the C drive.
Everything went well, but yesterday when I went to turn on System Protection and create a Restore Point the following error message appeared - "Restore Point could not be created for the following reason - Insufficient storage available to create either the shadow copy storage file or other shadow copy data. Error code 0x8004231F."
Dell suggests I may need to redo the installation and that the 2 greyed out partitions may be involved, but I really don't want to repeat the process.
I don't use System Restore and on the 2 times I used it in the long past, it failed both times. I use the paid version of Macrium Reflect which has helped me on several occasions.
Can I just ignore the System Restore issue or will the problem affect other functions - I've left it turned on. I'm wondering if there's a solution to this which doesn't need a reinstall? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

zebal · Dec 22, 2023

System restore uses C partition to save it's thing, other partitions therefore can't have anything to do with it.

What you might need to do is increase amount of space that is available to system restore.
This is done in:
Start -> Settings -> System -> About -> Advanced System Settings -> System Protection tab

Here select C drive, make sure protection is "on" and click on "Configure" button
Under disk space usage move the slider to increase amount of space available.

Ghot · Dec 22, 2023

System Restore isn't really necessary, if you use backup software.
I've had my System Restore turned off since this Win 11 install in October 2021.

garioch7 · Dec 22, 2023

@Ghot ,

I concur that System Restore "isn't really necessary," but one of the Gurus here says: "You can never have too much backup."

I image my computers weekly, just finished, but I also use System Restore. It is great for a quick restore if a new program mucks up the works. The "trick" with System Restore is to boot into Safe Mode before attempting to restore a System Restore Point. I have never had a "restore" of a System Restore Point fail in Safe Mode. Trying to restore a System Restore Point in Normal Boot Mode most often results in failure because of anti-virus software or other conflicts.

Unlike you, I always have System Restore enabled. I create a System Restore Point before imaging my computers. I also use it prior to removing or installing a program. It is an added layer of redundant fallback if something goes south. "You can never . . . "

As always, just my two cents. YMMV. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

HowdyDo · Dec 22, 2023

garioch7 said:
@Ghot ,

I concur that System Restore "isn't really necessary," but one of the Gurus here says: "You can never have too much backup."

I image my computers weekly, just finished, but I also use System Restore. It is great for a quick restore if a new program mucks up the works. The "trick" with System Restore is to boot into Safe Mode before attempting to restore a System Restore Point. I have never had a "restore" of a System Restore Point fail in Safe Mode. Trying to restore a System Restore Point in Normal Boot Mode most often results in failure because of anti-virus software or other conflicts.

Unlike you, I always have System Restore enabled. I create a System Restore Point before imaging my computers. I also use it prior to removing or installing a program. It is an added layer of redundant fallback if something goes south. "You can never . . . "

As always, just my two cents. YMMV. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

How can I create a desktop shortcut for system restore? A tutorial might be good for us older folks? :)

NavyLCDR · Dec 22, 2023

It would probably be helpful to see a screenshot of disk management.

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management at Ten Forums

www.tenforums.com

garioch7 · Dec 22, 2023

@HowdyDo ,

@Brink has created an amazing collection of Windows 11 Tutorials. You can access them from the menu bar at top.

You might be looking for this one:

Enable or Disable System Restore in Windows 11 Tutorial

Have a great weekend.

Regards,
Phil

Edwin · Dec 22, 2023

HowdyDo said:
How can I create a desktop shortcut for system restore?

"C:\Windows\System32\SystemPropertiesProtection.exe"

HowdyDo · Dec 22, 2023

garioch7 said:
@HowdyDo ,

@Brink has created an amazing collection of Windows 11 Tutorials. You can access them from the menu bar at top.

You might be looking for this one:

Enable or Disable System Restore in Windows 11 Tutorial

Have a great weekend.

Regards,
Phil

Thanks: I have it enabled, I'd like a shortcut to get to it. :)

HowdyDo · Dec 22, 2023

Edwin said:
"C:\Windows\System32\SystemPropertiesProtection.exe"

View attachment 82051

OK, I found that no problem but how can I create a desktop shortcut if that's at all possible? :)

Edwin · Dec 22, 2023

HowdyDo said:
how can I create a desktop shortcut if that's at all possible? :)

Paste that String into a Create Shortcut dialog...

Mitch · Dec 22, 2023

Thanks all for taking the time to reply. I was given Cmd Prompts to try -

vssadmin list shadowstorage
vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for= /on= [/maxsize=]
vssadmin resize shadowstorage / for=C: /On=C: /maxsize=900MB

Was wondering if anyone has used these commands before with any success? Also, should I leave Sys Restore switched on or turned off. Dell has installed Dell Support which shows in Sys Restore configuration so I'm not sure how turning restore off affects this or not?. I moved the sliders up but no luck. Thanks again.

thecaretaker · Dec 22, 2023

NavyLCDR said:
It would probably be helpful to see a screenshot of disk management.

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management at Ten Forums

www.tenforums.com

I'd like to see that too. Something hints that the C partition is extremely small if it can't make a restore. I'm wondering how many partitions have been created on the disk. Maybe Mitch would have been better off formatting the drive. DM should show all.

HowdyDo · Dec 22, 2023

Edwin said:
Paste that String into a Create Shortcut dialog...

View attachment 82052

That link can't be found. Hmmm

HowdyDo · Dec 22, 2023

HowdyDo said:
That link can't be found. Hmmm

I got it. There was a small quotation mark in the string. I missed it. I got the shortcut. Thanks: Phil :)

Mitch · Dec 22, 2023

@thecaretaker Hi. I deleted all the partitions I could and formatted the C drive. There were 2 partitions greyed out which I couldn't delete. The C drive shows the full 512GB less the OS. Dell thinks it's the size of the shadow storage area. Thanks

cereberus · Dec 22, 2023

There are two camps when it comes to system restores.

1) those that like them.

2) those that dislike them

I am firmly in the latter camp and turn them off as they are unreliable.

I use proper image backups instead.

However, it is important to understand if you restore image backups, you could lose new data since last backup.

I keep my data on a separate partition which is backed up independently of the image backup partitions.

Either approach comes down to user preference, but in my opinion, no you do not need system restores.

However, you need an alternative recovery strategy if you choose not to use them.

SIW2 · Dec 22, 2023

Creating a restore point creates a shadow copy. The shadow copies can be very useful for other things.

for a shortcut the path can be just SystemPropertiesProtection.exe

cereberus · Dec 22, 2023

SIW2 said:
Creating a restore point creates a shadow copy. The shadow copies can be very useful for other things.

Such as?

Haydon · Dec 22, 2023

garioch7 said:
I have never had a "restore" of a System Restore Point fail in Safe Mode. Trying to restore a System Restore Point in Normal Boot Mode most often results in failure because of anti-virus software or other conflicts.

Under 'Advanced Boot' options is an option to continue with 'System Restore'. I never had the need to use this option, but going this way would presumably give 'System Restore' the best chances of success.