System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete

INFO: When you are dual booting with Vista and XP, this will show you how to stop XP from deleting all of the System Restore Points and Shadow Copies in Vista everytime you start XP.
For more information, see: Microsoft Help and Support: KB926185

NOTE: In Vista, shadow copies are used to maintain System Restore Points. Additionally, shadow copies are used to maintain Complete PC Backup files. Therefore, when you access the volume from an earlier operating system (XP), it will delete all restore points and all except the most recent versions of Complete PC Backup files in Vista.

WHY: This problem occurs because the volume snapshot driver that is included with Vista uses disk structures that are incompatible with earlier versions of Windows. Therefore, the earlier operating system deletes Vista shadow copies with the associated restore points. This behavior occurs because the earlier Windows operating systems do not recognize the new disk structures.

WARNING: This does not actually fix the problem. It is a workaround that will stop XP from deleting the restore points and shadow copies. After you restart XP, you will not be able to access the volume Vista is on from XP. However, you can still access the volume that XP is on from Windows Vista.

RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Create a System Restore Shortcut in Vista

2. How to Create a System Restore Point in Vista

3. How to Undo the Last System Restore in Vista

4. How to Do a System Restore in Vista

5. How to Change the System Restore Disk Space Usage in Vista

6. How to Turn System Restore On or Off in Vista

7. How to Create a Create System Restore Point Shortcut in Vista

8. How to Change the Default Boot Partition in Vista

9. How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista


OPTION ONE:
Through a Download:
NOTE: This needs to be done in XP, not Vista.
WARNING: This download assumes that Vista is installed on the D: drive. If this is not true for you, then do OPTION TWO below to do this with the drive letter that your Vista is installed on instead.

1. To Stop XP from Deleting Restore Points -
A) Stop_XP.reg < Click To Download

2. To Restore Default Settings in XP -
A) Restore_Default_Settings.reg < Click To Download

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. Restart XP to apply the changes.
8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).


OPTION TWO:
The Manual Way:
NOTE: This needs to be done in XP, not Vista.
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Click on Run, then type regedit and press Enter.
3. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

MountedDevices_Reg.jpg

4. To Stop XP from Deleting Restore Points -
NOTE: If you already have the Offline key under MountedDevices, then go to step 4C. (See screenshot below)
A) In the left pane, right click on MountedDevices and click New -> Key.
B) Type Offline and press Enter.
C) In the right pane of Offline, right click on a empty area and click New -> DWORD (32bit) Value.

Offline_Reg.jpg

D) Type \DosDevices\D: and press Enter. (See screenshot below step 4E)
NOTE: If your Vista is not installed on the D: drive, then substitute D: with the drive letter that it is installed on.
For example, if it is installed on the C: drive, then type \DosDevices\C: instead.

E) In the right pane, right click on \DosDevices\D: and click Modify.

REG_DWORD.jpg

F) Type 1 and click OK. (See screenshot below)

Modify.jpg

G) The registry should now look like this. (See screenshot below)
H) Go to step 6.

Finished.jpg


5. To Restore the Default XP Settings -
A) In the right pane, right click on \DosDevices\D: and click Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

6. Restart XP to apply the changes.


That's it,
Shawn