Windows not automatically creating System Restore points

Basically, this is a branch-off of my earlier thread about the virus infection I had (but fixed). While trying to fix it, I realized that my system is no longer creating System Restore points automatically (system checkpoints). The only restore points I've had available for nearly a month are ones that were created when I installed/uninstalled something or created one myself. I have my System Restore settings set to use the maximum amount of disk space for System Restore, and up until recently, I had about 2-3 system checkpoints per week. Anybody have an idea why this would happen, and if so, what I would do to fix it?

I'm still reformatting my computer fairly soon, but I'd like to know anyway.

 

I've got fairly the same problem....it's set to save restore points automatically and does it maybe once every month or so...

 

It may have to do with home much of your hard drive space you have partitioned for system restore data. You may have used up all the space set aside for that data.

Go to Control Panel -> System -> System Restore Tab , then select the drive (most likely C), and click settings. There is a sliding bar there where you can specify how much is set aside for System Restore.

 

I have that slider set to the maximum value, I've had it set to the maximum value since I got this computer.

 

There was a way to manually set more of your hard drive space than Windows allows you. I've forgotten it but I shall try and find out for you.

The thing i'd have to say though is:- system restore is useless. Really, it's just awful, leaves behind a load of mess and can often create more problems than it fixes.

 

What??

System restore 9 times out of 10 saves the day. Everyone seems to think it screws with your files and everything but all it is, is an archival of the vital windows files at that point in time. I used to be a tech for Dell, we used to use this at least once a day, never had an issue.

 

Yeah, System Restore has saved my ass a few times. I don't use it regularly or anything, but just as an example, when I had this most recent virus infection, I pulled up System Restore in hopes that it might help me out, only to discover that I didn't have any available restore points before the time of the infection.

 

It's done it for me, or at least done enough to remove the infected files from memory so I could just delete them manually.

 

Typically if you can't remove a virus the conventional way, it's likely latched itself onto a vital windows process. That's when you system restore back before this happened, it replaces that file, and you're good to remove any remaining installers for the virus. Basically system restore isn't going to remove viruses or spyware, but it's part of your arsenal for taking them out.

 

Oh yeah, people who have no idea what they're doing are lost. But I mean, if you were to get a virus ... armed with removal tools etc, if you couldn't remove it because it was now ... say explorer.exe, you can windows restore and then from there you have a decent chance of getting it off your system. It's a tool not an instant fix.

 

Well, my computer randomly decided to stop being a bitch and started giving me restore points again, I've now gotten 5 in the last week after not having any for over a month.

As tempermental as my computer seems to be, I guess there's no point in this thread anymore, so *locks*