MC Home - ISC Home - Securing Computing - Turn System Restore On or Off

Turn System Restore On or Off

Overview
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP

Overview

The System Restore feature is used in Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 to return the computer to an earlier state if a system failure or other major problem occurs.

System Restore works by creating backup copies of selected files on your computer and storing them in a special folder on the protected drive. If virus or spyware files are backed up and stored in this folder, then they may be detected and removed, but they may reappear when the computer is restarted. (System Restore will put the files back thinking that they are important system files.)

IMPORTANT! To ensure that all viruses and spyware are removed from a computer that has Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7, you must turn off System Restore, run the virus/spyware scan, and then turn System Restore back on when you are finished.

Windows 7

1. Log in to the Administrator account.
2. Click the Start button and select Control Panel.
3. Click System and Security.
4. Click System.
5. In the left pane, click System Protection.
6. If you are prompted to enter an administrator password, then go ahead and enter it.
7. Click a drive.
8. Click the Configure button.
9. To turn System Restore off, click the Turn off system protection button, click the OK button, and then click the Yes button.
   
   To turn System Restore on, click the Restore system settings and previous versions of files button and then click the OK button.
10. Restart the computer.

Vista

1. Log in to the Administrator account.
2. Click the Start button and select Control Panel.
3. Click System and Maintenance.
4. Click System.
5. In the left pane, click System Protection.
6. In the task list on the left, click System Protection.
7. If you are prompted to enter an administrator password, then go ahead and enter it.
8. To turn System Restore off, under Create restore points automatically on the selected disks, uncheck the checkboxes next to each hard drive listed, click the Turn System Restore Off button for each disk that you uncheck, and click the OK button.
   
   To turn System Restore on, under Create restore points automatically on the selected disks, put checkmarks in the checkboxes next to each hard drive listed and click the OK button.
9. Click the Apply button.
10. Click the OK button.

Windows XP

1. Log in to the Administrator account.
2. Click the Start button and select Control Panel.
3. In the left pane, click Switch to Classic View.
4. Double-click System.
5. Click the System Restore tab.
6. To turn System Restore off, put a checkmark in the Turn off System Restore checkbox.
   
   To turn System Restore on, uncheck the Turn off System Restore checkbox.
7. Click the OK button.
8. Restart the computer.