Users can call the built-in System Restore Dialog by launching rstrui,exe
Is there a similar GUI programm for CREATING a System restore Point?
In another words: How can I DIRECTLY (without navigating) start the built-in System Properties dialog and jump to the "System Protection" tab?
Option 2 in the following tutorial could be the most convenient way to create a restore point.
Add Create Restore Point Context Menu in Windows 10
To be honest, I wouldNOTput a lot of faith inSystem Restore Points, they are renowned for being VERY temperamental.
I would however, suggest that you create a regularSystem Image.
I hope this helps.
And see e.g.
How to Create System Restore Points using Script or Command-Line? - Winhelponline
which covers a range of approaches including a script (vbs file).
System Restore is great- when restoring completes successfully. As such it's a great complement to disk imaging as it does not affect personal data.
Option two in the said tutorial enables you to create a restore point by a mere two clicks.
Sometimes Windows 10 silently deletes old SRPs.
This can be e.g. if a scheduled task creates automatically new SRP at Windows startup.
If the reserved storage is not sufficient to hold a new SRP the oldest is silently removed.
How can I avoid this?
If I manually (or automatically) try to create a new SRP and the reserved stored is not enough then Windows should prompt me to confirm the removal of the oldest SRP. How can I achieve this?
But there is another, more problematic issue:
It seems to me that Windows is running a kind of cleanup service in background which checks after a while (e.g. after 2 weeks) if there are some "too old" SRPs. If Windows find such SRPs then they are automatically and silently removed even if there is no necessity.
Can someone confirm this?
How is this cleanup feature called and how can I disable it?
@tobwen,
I'll try to answer your questions. I am no expert. If I am wrong, I am sure some one will come to the rescue.
I have to point out that it is possible my answers might have already been mentioned in this thread. If so, I apologize sincerely to members who had made the same answers before me. I just cannot find the courage to go over 7 pages of 66 posts to find out.
RE: If the reserved storage is not sufficient to hold a new SRP the oldest is silently removed. How can I avoid this?
My answer: Increase the Disk Space Usage from System Restore.
In the Search Box, type System Restore > Enter > click Configure > under Disk Space Usage, move the slider to the right to increase % ( mine is at 21%) > Apply > OK
RE: If I manually (or automatically) try to create a new SRP and the reserved stored is not enough then Windows should prompt me to confirm the removal of the oldest SRP. How can I achieve this?
My Answer : I have no answer to that.
RE: It seems to me that Windows is running a kind of cleanup service in background which checks after a while (e.g. after 2 weeks) if there are some "too old" SRPs. If Windows find such SRPs then they are automatically and silently removed even if there is no necessity.
Can someone confirm this?
My answer: To my understanding, each restore point has 90 days "shelve life". After 90 days, it will be deleted by the system.
RE: How is this cleanup feature called and how can I disable it?
My answer: Don't think there is a name for it. Don't think it can be disabled either.
If you want more control and flexibility, you will need to turn to 3rd party solutions.
You could have a look at e.g. Rollback RX
RollBack Rx Home | Horizon DataSys Corporation Horizon DataSys Corporation
(Free version available but no longer supported- so the licensed version is current).
Be careful about how such a program behaves when upgrading your PC.
The routine use of disk imaging is an ultimate means of protection, with images kept separately from the disks/partitions protected, allowing restoration even if your disk dies - or even to a new PC. However, unlike System Restore, restoring and image restores personal data to a previous date too. On the other hand, it's also a full backup of it.
The creation of restore points seems somewhat erratic in Win 10, but you can schedule their creation (tutorial).
Finally, as has been said, never rely solely on System Restore; it can suddenly start consistently failing to complete restoring- then some weeks or months later start working again.
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