System Restore - disk space

How to Change the System Restore Disk Space Usage Amount in Vista ​

   Information

By default Vista allocates 15% of your selected hard drive volume to storing System Restore points after installation. If System Restore is turned on much later, it may only allocate a minimum of 30% of the available free space instead. When the allocated space fills up with restore points, System Restore will delete the older restore points to make room for the new ones. System Restore needs at least 300 MB allocated to it to run, and will not run on a hard drive smaller than 1 GB. In the Vista Business and Ultimate versions, this area is also where backup copies of deleted or changed files are stored and made available through the Previous Versions feature (Shadow Copy). For more information about the Vssadmin command, see: Microsoft Technet: Vssadmin

   Note

System Restore needs to be turned on to be able to change it's storage size. To turn on System Restore and select what drives Vista is to create restore points for, see: How to Turn System Restore On or Off in Vista

   Warning

• If you shrink the available storage space for a selected drive, Vista will kick out the system restore points and backups on a first-in, first-out basis. The oldest restore point will be deleted as the new one is saved when out of available max space. This will, of course, leave you with fewer restore options.
• If you dual boot with Windows XP, then everytime you start in XP the System Restore Points and all except the most recent Complete PC Backup files in Vista get deleted. For how, see: How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista when Dual Booting with XP

   Tip

If you just want to free up some space, then you can run Disk Cleanup instead.

STEP ONE

How to See the Current Allocated System Restore Size

1. Open a elevated command prompt.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, click on Continue.​

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3. In the elevated command prompt, type vssadmin list shadowstorage and press Enter. (See screenshots below)​

NOTE: This will give your the details on the Used, Allocated, and Maximum spaces of Shadow Copies for the available disks that you selected to have restore points created for in step 6 here: How to Turn System Restore On or Off in Vista. The left screenshot is for just one drive selected, and the right screenshot is for two drives (C & D ) selected.​

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Result	Description
Used	This is the amount currently used on the hard disk.
Allocated	This is the amount that it has reserved from the hard disk at this time.
Maximum	This is the maximum amount it will allocate and use from the hard disk.

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STEP TWO

How to Change the Maximum System Restore Size

NOTE: If you disable or enable System Restore for a selected drive, the original default values will be set back and the restore points will be deleted. For how, see: How to Disable or Enable System Restore in Vista.

1. In same elevated command prompt window from above, type for EX:​

WARNING: If you change the MAX size to a smaller size than the current Used size shown in METHOD ONE above, then the older restore points will be deleted to adjust to the new size. Nothing will happen to the restore points if you make the MAX size larger than the current Used size shown in METHOD ONE above.​

A) For the listed C: drive, type the command below and press Enter.​

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vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=[B][COLOR=red]3GB[/COLOR][/B]

B) For the listed D: drive, type the command below and press Enter.​

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vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=D: /On=D: /Maxsize=[B][COLOR=red]3GB[/COLOR][/B]

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   Note

See the screenshots below step 5 in OPTION ONE above under the Shadow Copy Storage association line for each drive listed.​

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Command	Description
/For=	The For volume: listed. (Ex: C or D above)
/On=	The Shadow Copy Storage volume: listed. (Ex: C or D above)
/Maxsize=	What you want to limit the maximum storage size of Shadow Copies (restore points) to. For example, # + GB or MB (Ex: 3GB or 3MB) This must be 1MB or larger.

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2. You will get a Successfully resized the shadow copy storage association message.​

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3. If not, repeat step 1.​

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4. If yes, then check with STEP ONE above to confirm the change for the selected drive.​

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5. Close the elevated command prompt when done.​

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That's it,
Shawn



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Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a System Restore Shortcut in Vista
• How to Create a Create System Restore Point Shortcut in Vista
• How to Create a System Restore Point in Vista
• How to Undo the Last System Restore in Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista
• How to Turn System Restore On or Off in Vista
• How to Use Disk Cleanup in Vista
• How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
• How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista when Dual Booting with XP
• How to Change the Automatic System Restore Point Settings in Vista Task Scheduler
• How to Enable or Disable Create Vista System Restore Point when New Device Driver is Installed
• How to Enable or Disable Create Vista System Restore Point when a Application is Installed

 

[heph]

Hi Shawn,
Ohh Thanks alot. I discovered I had three different back ups and they had filled up all that space. Now I have the space back.

Thxs Heph

 

[nipo]

You would do steps 1 to 6B, then step 8 at this link below instead to select another drive letter to be used by System Restore to store it's restore points on.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66971-system-restore.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I´m sorry, there is no 6b steps or 8 to resolve my problem.

How is possible that restore points suddenly no more exist, even If I have enough disc space?

 

[Brink]

I'm sorry Nipo,

Do you mean that these steps are not available to you, or you do not see them in the tutorial here? :

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66971-system-restore.html

 

[Brink]

Hi Shawn,
Ohh Thanks alot. I discovered I had three different back ups and they had filled up all that space. Now I have the space back.

Thxs Heph

Your welcome Heph. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted out.

Shawn

 

[nipo]

Well I´d like to store restore points for System disk to another partition, not create restore points to each of partition.

And why some programs when I installed delete it the restore points?

If I resize space for Restore points are they will be deleted?

 

[Brink]

Nipo,

Well I´d like to store restore points for System disk to another partition, not create restore points to each of partition.

As far as I know, the restore points are only stored on the same drive that are selected for Vista to create restore points for.

And why some programs when I installed delete it the restore points?

It depends on the program. Some programs will have Vista create a restore point. If you are out of MAX space, then the oldest restore point will be deleted to make room for this new one. Some utility programs have a option to delete all restore points.

If I resize space for Restore points are they will be deleted?

Only the older restore points if you change the MAZ size to a smaller size than the current Used size.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[SIW2]

Hi Shawn,

I have a way of getting control of system restore, but I don't see anybody else using it - is there a fatal flaw in this that I have overlooked?

When my pc is in great shape, I create a restore point and delete the earlier ones. I then stop Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider, and stop and disable Volume Shadow Copy.

I just need to start those two services to access that restore point or create another and then repeat the process as often as I like.

I then have the restore points I choose for as long as I want them.

Seems better than not using it at all and having no restore points, and a lot better than letting it do it's own thing, using resources, disk space and deleting older points I might have wanted to go back to.

It works perfectly so far.

Thanks

SIW2

 

[Brink]

Hi SIW2,

I assume that you meant that you delete the old restore points first, then create a new one instead.

The only thing that I see that may come back to bite you later is that System Restore points are only help up to 90 days before they are automatically deleted. Since you killed the services, it may not do this, but then again it probably will when you start them next. As long as you create a new one before this time, you should be ok.

Other than that, I see no problem with it. Of course a Complete PC Backup will beat a System Restore any day since a System Restore may not always help.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[SIW2]

Thanks Shawn,

Yes, I usually create one every week or two. Sometimes use disk cleanup to remove all except last restore point - seems to work fine.

SIW2

 

[OldBloke]

Cabrón,

You can change the drive location by checking the drive you want them stored on instead in the System Properties window. Step 6 in this tutorial will show you how to if needed.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66971-system-restore.html

Hi Shawn,
I think if you check the box for D in that dialog, it enables setting restore points and shadow copies for D on D.

In Vista, you can't make it store shadows for C on D. That feature is only enabled on Server editions of Windows. In Vista, this command:
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=D: /Maxsize=3GB
always produces an error message.

So I think the only workarounds for Cabrón, if he wants to provide more space for more restore points and shadow copies, is to either resize his C: partition larger or make more free space on C:, maybe by moving his User folders such as Documents, Pictiures, Videos, etc, to another drive.

Alan

 

[Brink]

Hi Alan,

Yes thank you, that had been updated in the tutorial itself to make that point more clear.

 

[rawbery79]

How do I change the allocated shadow copy storage space?

It keeps deleting my restore points or only saving them on the D drive where I can't get to them.

 

[Brink]

Hello Rawbery,

The Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space is controlled by Vista as it is needed for restore points and shadow copy. It is limited to the Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space size you set. Increasing the max size will eventually lead to a larger allocated size if Vista needs the space.

In this tutorial, check to make sure that only the C: (System) drive is checked with Vista on it to have restore points only for it.

If you dual boot with XP, then this tutorial can help stop XP from deleting you Vista restore points whenever you startup XP.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bennys]

Hello Shawn !
I have three drives: C:, D:, E: on my computer. I turned on the System Restore for the C: and E drive.
I used the vssadmin list shadowstorage cmd above and it shows all three drives' Allocated System Restore Size while only two are selected, any reason why? Would you recommend setting SR on all three drives ?
Also, my System Restore only saves points for 1 day period. Do I have an option to extend the time it stores information in case I want to restore back to a few days instead of one?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Bennys,

I'm not sure why all 3 drive letters would show up unless you had them checked in System Protection.

I would only recommend having System Restore turned on for all three if you want or need to do a System Restore for them at some point.

You can adjust the settings for the System Restore task to how often you want restore points to be automatically created.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/1...-change-automatic-restore-point-schedule.html

Of course, you can manually create a restore point anytime you like.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bennys]

Thanks Shawn.
As stated in this tutorial "By default Vista allocates 15% of your selected hard drive volume", however; it does not apply when I extended the volume space, must I manually make the change to 15% of my current volume size?

Hi SIW2,

Of course a Complete PC Backup will beat a System Restore any day since a System Restore may not always help.
Shawn

Now you tell me. Great advice is now heeded.
I just performed a Complete PC Backup and since I'm in a learning mode, I'll be doing quite a few changes to the computer so mistakes are expected. If, I somewhere down the line, choose to do another Complete PC Backup to the same drive, must I delete the old one first or will it automatically be overridden?

Just out of curiousity, why don't I see anyone restoring their E: drive? Is it already set as a default by the manufacturer?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Q1) You would only need to change the system restore disk space if you wanted it larger or smaller.

Q2) No need to delete the old Complete PC Backup. When you create a new one to be saved on the same drive, it will do a incremental backup of only what has changed since the last Complete PC Backup.

Q3) Usually people only have their C: system drive with Vista on it set for restore points to be created for. Unless they have something on a E: drive that they need or want restore points for, it would be a waste of disk space.

 

[bennys]

Thanks Shawn.

Q3) Usually people only have their C: system drive with Vista on it set for restore points to be created for. Unless they have something on a E: drive that they need or want restore points for, it would be a waste of disk space.

My E: drive has11.4 GB and initially, it was almost completely empty until I turned its System Restore on. Now, it's gradually depleting the drive space. My yearning inquiries are(has always been):
1. O.K...what is on my E: drive anyway?
2. What is it backing up when it is not even being used. Furthermore, Vista has set the system drive(C: ) as the SR default.
By setting a SR for it, how does it affect my disk space? I didn't notice any change in both C: and D: drive.

Thanks again.

 

[AcidBurn89]

thanks Brink, worked perfectly...gained ~70GB of overused shadowcopy space...

 

[Brink]

You're welcome AcidBurn.

Shawn