Information
System Restore regularly tracks changes to your computer's system files, and uses a feature called System Protection to create restore points of selected hard disks in your computer. System Protection is turned on by default for the Windows 7 hard disk or partition on your computer.
This will show you how to turn System Protection On or Off for creating System Restore Points for system settings and previous versions of files in Windows 7. By default, System Protection is turned on for the hard disk or partition that Windows 7 is installed on. You could also use previous versions to restore older copies of files and folders.
You can select which disks have System Protection turned on for.
This article may or may not be applicable to Windows XP.
Note
It is not recommended to turn off system protection for your C: system drive (Windows 7) since it is a great tool to easily undo a mistake, for example one that may have crippled Windows 7, by just doing a system restore to go back to a previous restore point of your system dated before the mistake.
Warning
System Restore doesn't protect FAT32 and other FAT disks because FAT disks don't support the use of shadow copies. Shadow copies contain information about changes to documents and system files. Shadow copies require the NTFS file system. Windows 7 uses the NTFS file system.
Turning off System Protection for a disk deletes all restore points for that disk. You cannot restore the disk until you turn on System Protection again and a restore point is created for that disk.
Here's How:
1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).
A) Click on the System icon.
B) Go to step 3.
OR
2. Open the Start Menu.
A) Right click on the Computer button and click on Properties.
3. Click on the System Protection link. (See screenshot below step 4)
4. Close the System window. (See screenshot below)
5. Click on the available hard disk drive or partition, that you want to turn System Protection on or off for, to select it. (See screenshot below step 6)
NOTE:
Windows 7 should be the C: drive with (System). Under the Protection column, you will see if System Protection is turned On or Off for the available disk.
6. Click on the Configure button. (See screenshot below)
7. To Turn On System Protection for System Settings and Previous Versions of Files
A) Restore system settings and previous versions of files. (See screenshot below step 10)
B) Go to step 10.
8. To Turn On System Protection for Only Previous Versions of Files
A) Only restore previous versions of files. (See screenshot below step 10)
B) Go to step 10.
9. To Turn Off System Protection for the Selected Disk
A) Turn off system protection. (See screenshot below step 10)
10. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
11. Repeat steps 5 to 10 if you want to turn on System Protection for another available listed disk drive.
12. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 6)
This article may or may not be applicable to Windows XP.
