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Resolved Question

Saving Restore Points

Aug 15, 2018 6:46AM PDT

Prior to July 1 2018 Win 10 Upgrades, I could use system restore to go backwards to negate major problems with an upgrade.

Same package of Win 10 updates did not save into the "WindowsOld" folder. All the device drivers - were "migrated" whatever that means, creating real problem with my BenQ monitor that I also have not yet figured out! And my OneNote 2007 changed into OneNote2016 again without any easily discernable backup despite the fact that Microsoft is Not supposed to mess with personal files, etc, etc, Just endless problems in that one update package. Sorry, abit of a rant there...

My first priority Q: Is there some place in settings for me to set a preference for saving at least 3 to 5 restore points?

Thanks, yourHELPisappreciated

Discussion is locked

THANKS_for_help has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
FYI: An update from yourHELPisappreciated
Aug 29, 2018 3:29AM PDT

Hi again,
It's post August Win 10 update. Using per your helpful advice here, I was able to move the slider and give LOTS more room for saving restore points. But once again, Win 10 upgrade deleted ALL of them but the current date of the graduated upgrades done in August. By that I mean that in the past 3 months, they download the whole update package to your machine, then make the changes in increments over a period of days. This time they did a restore point for each of these days. But June, July, etc are all gone.

Leaves me with same issue. No control over my own machine! Just thought you might like to know this for other Home users. I expect that your advice would be to create a backup and save on other media other than on one's own harddrive.

Cheers,
"yourHELPisappreciated"

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Yep, The Full Windows 10 Major Upgrades Are A New Install..
Aug 29, 2018 10:25AM PDT

The full Windows 10 update/upgrades, such as the April 2010 Update is more like a new installation of the operating system than a monthly update. Microsoft has decided to perform this type of upgrade about every 6 months. (At this point, it appears like another will be coming sometime around October 2018.) In such cases, the traditional restore points are removed and new ones will be created. A Windows.old folder will also be created at that time so the user can revert back to the previous version should something go haywire.

As such, your expectation of our advice is correct. The safest way to keep a previous version of your computer is to frequently make backups on removable media of some type. Of course, that's always good advice for other reasons. If your hard drive goes south one day, the ONLY way to get your data and computer system back to its previous state is if you have backups somewhere other than on the HDD.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Best Answer

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To Save More Restore Points....
Aug 15, 2018 12:28PM PDT

You can add more space like this: RIGHT click on "This PC" on the desktop (or in File Explorer), then click on the blue "Advanced System Settings" on the left, then click on the "System Protection" tab, then highlight the C: drive listing, then click on the "Configure"button. Once there, slide the "Max Usage" slider to the right to increase the amount of space System Restore can use.

I normally use the 2% setting on a 1 TB HDD for two or three restore points, but if you'd like to increase that to something more, it's not a problem. Just recognize that the more space used for Restore Points, the less space you have for other files and such.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Post was last edited on August 15, 2018 12:31 PM PDT

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Thanks so much, Gif
Aug 16, 2018 12:01AM PDT

That is the just the missing info which I needed. I had been to that screen and had also seen a reference to the slider in another post but just could not find it!

Thanks for taking the time to write it all down for me.

Cheers,
"HELPwithwin10"

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Answer
Re: system restore
Aug 15, 2018 9:01AM PDT

All system restore points are saved until you delete them or until you run a version upgrade (such as going from 1709 to 1803). Those version upgrades make a windows.old folder that is kept for a month, unless you delete it earlier.
The regular Windows Updates are not supposed to delete restore points nor to create a windows.old folder.

OneNote is a program, not a personal file. But Microsoft should mess with that either. My Windows 10 laptop still run Office 2007 without any issues.

It's advised by everybody (except Microsoft ... ) to tell Windows Update to never update drivers. Pick what you like from https://www.google.com/search?q=disable+windows+10+driver+update

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thanks for clarification re creation of Windows.old folders
Aug 16, 2018 12:55AM PDT

Thanks, Kees-B,

Did not know that. So much to learn.

Will look more through newbies for my other 2 q's : OneNote 2007 and how to reinstall drivers for the monitor. And will start new discussions if need be.

Please know that your site is by far the most help I have received since July 1st have spent endless hours trying to sort out the issues. You folks are a God send!

Cheers,
"Iappreciateyourhelp"

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Answer
I haven't heard of a fix to do this.
Aug 15, 2018 9:08AM PDT

However my advice continues to be to avoid and disable W10's automatic driver updates. There are many web pages to turn that off.

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Thanks - I thought I had done so!
Aug 16, 2018 12:59AM PDT

Hi,

After the June updates, having had to restore through using the windows.old folder, I thought I had done just that. I would not be surprised if Microsoft just ignored my directions as per what was checked or not checked off for them to change.

There was much more too but will try to keep my Q's to one at a time in future posts.

Again, thanks for your help.
Cheers,]
"I appreciatethehelp!