Hi all,

I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC -- a Dell
DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a Dell XPS 410
also with 2 GB RAM.

My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.

I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2 and all
updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long time to
complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and all
updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never has taken
more than 10 minutes and usually less time.

Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the Hard
Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for SR to
complete?

Thanks.

Alan

likely the 2gig ram
machine has been supe'd
up with lot's of non
microsoft software.

system restore can be
done via safemode as well.

might actually be faster too.

--

db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.
><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>


..


"Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Hi all,
>
> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC -- a Dell
> DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a Dell XPS 410
> also with 2 GB RAM.
>
> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>
> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2 and all
> updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long time to complete.
> Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
>
> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and all updates
> and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never has taken more than 10
> minutes and usually less time.
>
> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the Hard
> Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for SR to complete?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Alan
>

How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?

JS

"Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Hi all,
>
> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC -- a
> Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a Dell
> XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>
> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>
> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2 and all
> updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long time to
> complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
>
> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and all
> updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never has taken
> more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>
> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the Hard
> Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for SR to
> complete?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Alan
>

Alan wrote:
> Hi JS,
>
> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free. On the
> machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>
> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>
> Alan
>
> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>
>> JS
>>
>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC -- a
>>> Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a Dell
>>> XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>
>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>
>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2 and
>>> all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long time to
>>> complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
>>>
>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and all
>>> updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never has taken
>>> more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>
>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the Hard
>>> Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for SR to
>>> complete?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>
>
>
Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three
partitions. System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive,
which is 120 GB. It never takes longer than five minutes to do a
restore. Running System Restore on data drives is unnecessary.

Bill

Hello Bill,

Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden partition on
both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory" restore, but nothing
other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.

Alan

"Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Alan wrote:
>> Hi JS,
>>
>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free. On the
>> machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>
>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>
>>> JS
>>>
>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC -- a
>>>> Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a
>>>> Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>
>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>
>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2 and
>>>> all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long time to
>>>> complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
>>>>
>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and all
>>>> updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never has
>>>> taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>
>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the
>>>> Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for SR
>>>> to complete?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> Alan
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three partitions.
> System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive, which is 120 GB.
> It never takes longer than five minutes to do a restore. Running System
> Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>
> Bill

What is the size of a typical Restore Point folder (RPXXX)?

JS

"Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
news:OCdAqImFIHA.4956@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hello Bill,
>
> Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden partition on
> both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory" restore, but nothing
> other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.
>
> Alan
>
> "Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Alan wrote:
>>> Hi JS,
>>>
>>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free. On the
>>> machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>>
>>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>>
>>>> JS
>>>>
>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC --
>>>>> a Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a
>>>>> Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>>
>>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>>
>>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2 and
>>>>> all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long time
>>>>> to complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to
>>>>> complete.
>>>>>
>>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and all
>>>>> updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never has
>>>>> taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>>
>>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the
>>>>> Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for SR
>>>>> to complete?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alan
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three partitions.
>> System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive, which is 120 GB.
>> It never takes longer than five minutes to do a restore. Running System
>> Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>>
>> Bill
>
>

I can't get in to see the information, JS.

In Windows Explorer, as soon as I left-click on the System Volume
Information folder on BOTH machines, I receive a message saying: "C:\System
Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied."

When I right-click and display Properties for the System Volume Information
folder, it shows there are 0 bytes, 0 Files and 0 Folders. Its create date
and time is Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 1:08:16 PM.

When I right-click on the Windows folder and display Properties, it shows a
create date and time of Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 12:52:55 PM.

Alan

"JS" <@> wrote in message news:eJHamPmFIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> What is the size of a typical Restore Point folder (RPXXX)?
>
> JS
>
> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
> news:OCdAqImFIHA.4956@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Hello Bill,
>>
>> Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden partition on
>> both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory" restore, but
>> nothing other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>> "Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
>> news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Alan wrote:
>>>> Hi JS,
>>>>
>>>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free. On
>>>> the machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>>>
>>>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>>>
>>>> Alan
>>>>
>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>>>
>>>>> JS
>>>>>
>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC --
>>>>>> a Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a
>>>>>> Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2
>>>>>> and all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long
>>>>>> time to complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to
>>>>>> complete.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and
>>>>>> all updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never
>>>>>> has taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the
>>>>>> Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for
>>>>>> SR to complete?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three
>>> partitions. System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive,
>>> which is 120 GB. It never takes longer than five minutes to do a
>>> restore. Running System Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>>>
>>> Bill
>>
>>
>
>

See if this info helps:
http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windo...formation.html

JS

"Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
news:ukVC$FpFIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I can't get in to see the information, JS.
>
> In Windows Explorer, as soon as I left-click on the System Volume
> Information folder on BOTH machines, I receive a message saying:
> "C:\System Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied."
>
> When I right-click and display Properties for the System Volume
> Information folder, it shows there are 0 bytes, 0 Files and 0 Folders.
> Its create date and time is Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 1:08:16 PM.
>
> When I right-click on the Windows folder and display Properties, it shows
> a create date and time of Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 12:52:55 PM.
>
> Alan
>
> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:eJHamPmFIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> What is the size of a typical Restore Point folder (RPXXX)?
>>
>> JS
>>
>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>> news:OCdAqImFIHA.4956@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> Hello Bill,
>>>
>>> Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden partition
>>> on both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory" restore, but
>>> nothing other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>> "Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
>>> news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Alan wrote:
>>>>> Hi JS,
>>>>>
>>>>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free. On
>>>>> the machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>>>>
>>>>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alan
>>>>>
>>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> JS
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my
>>>>>>> PC -- a Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's
>>>>>>> machine -- a Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2
>>>>>>> and all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long
>>>>>>> time to complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to
>>>>>>> complete.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and
>>>>>>> all updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never
>>>>>>> has taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the
>>>>>>> Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for
>>>>>>> SR to complete?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three
>>>> partitions. System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive,
>>>> which is 120 GB. It never takes longer than five minutes to do a
>>>> restore. Running System Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>>>>
>>>> Bill
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Hi JS,

Okay, I found a KB article, # 309531, that explains how I can access the
System Volume Information folder.

Looking on my PC -- the one with the 250 GB hard drive -- the latest Restore
Point made today -- is 1.15 GB uncompressed, and has 530 RDB files, with
each RDB being 2112 KB. A Restore Point made yesterday is 1.41 GB
uncompressed and has 672 RDB files with each RDB being 2108 KB.

Some other random RP dates and statistics:
- RP from 9/26/07 is 99.4 MB uncompressed, and has 20 RDB files with each
RDB being 2024 KB
- RP from 9/16/07 is 132 MB uncompressed, and has 41 RDB files with each
RDB being 1993 KB
- RP from 8/23/07 is 156 MB uncompressed, has 53 RDB files with each RDB
being 1917 KB.

The earliest Restore Point that I have is from 7/26/07. This one is 69.4 MB
uncompressed, and has 11 RDB files with each RDB being 1812 KB.

More information:
- RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
- RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
- RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)

From the System Restore GUI:
- On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points made
as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure what was
being updated on this date.)
- On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.

Alan


"Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
news:ukVC$FpFIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I can't get in to see the information, JS.
>
> In Windows Explorer, as soon as I left-click on the System Volume
> Information folder on BOTH machines, I receive a message saying:
> "C:\System Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied."
>
> When I right-click and display Properties for the System Volume
> Information folder, it shows there are 0 bytes, 0 Files and 0 Folders.
> Its create date and time is Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 1:08:16 PM.
>
> When I right-click on the Windows folder and display Properties, it shows
> a create date and time of Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 12:52:55 PM.
>
> Alan
>
> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:eJHamPmFIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> What is the size of a typical Restore Point folder (RPXXX)?
>>
>> JS
>>
>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>> news:OCdAqImFIHA.4956@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> Hello Bill,
>>>
>>> Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden partition
>>> on both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory" restore, but
>>> nothing other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>> "Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
>>> news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Alan wrote:
>>>>> Hi JS,
>>>>>
>>>>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free. On
>>>>> the machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>>>>
>>>>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alan
>>>>>
>>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> JS
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my
>>>>>>> PC -- a Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's
>>>>>>> machine -- a Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2
>>>>>>> and all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long
>>>>>>> time to complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to
>>>>>>> complete.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and
>>>>>>> all updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never
>>>>>>> has taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the
>>>>>>> Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for
>>>>>>> SR to complete?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three
>>>> partitions. System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive,
>>>> which is 120 GB. It never takes longer than five minutes to do a
>>>> restore. Running System Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>>>>
>>>> Bill
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Those early restore points look more normal, what been changed recently on
your PC that caused the jump to 1GB or more?

JS

"Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
news:%23T%23Oi6pFIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Hi JS,
>
> Okay, I found a KB article, # 309531, that explains how I can access the
> System Volume Information folder.
>
> Looking on my PC -- the one with the 250 GB hard drive -- the latest
> Restore Point made today -- is 1.15 GB uncompressed, and has 530 RDB
> files, with each RDB being 2112 KB. A Restore Point made yesterday is 1.41
> GB uncompressed and has 672 RDB files with each RDB being 2108 KB.
>
> Some other random RP dates and statistics:
> - RP from 9/26/07 is 99.4 MB uncompressed, and has 20 RDB files with each
> RDB being 2024 KB
> - RP from 9/16/07 is 132 MB uncompressed, and has 41 RDB files with each
> RDB being 1993 KB
> - RP from 8/23/07 is 156 MB uncompressed, has 53 RDB files with each RDB
> being 1917 KB.
>
> The earliest Restore Point that I have is from 7/26/07. This one is 69.4
> MB uncompressed, and has 11 RDB files with each RDB being 1812 KB.
>
> More information:
> - RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
> - RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
> - RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)
>
> From the System Restore GUI:
> - On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points
> made as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure what
> was being updated on this date.)
> - On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
> uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.
>
> Alan
>
>
> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
> news:ukVC$FpFIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>I can't get in to see the information, JS.
>>
>> In Windows Explorer, as soon as I left-click on the System Volume
>> Information folder on BOTH machines, I receive a message saying:
>> "C:\System Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied."
>>
>> When I right-click and display Properties for the System Volume
>> Information folder, it shows there are 0 bytes, 0 Files and 0 Folders.
>> Its create date and time is Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 1:08:16 PM.
>>
>> When I right-click on the Windows folder and display Properties, it shows
>> a create date and time of Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 12:52:55 PM.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:eJHamPmFIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> What is the size of a typical Restore Point folder (RPXXX)?
>>>
>>> JS
>>>
>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>> news:OCdAqImFIHA.4956@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hello Bill,
>>>>
>>>> Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden partition
>>>> on both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory" restore, but
>>>> nothing other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.
>>>>
>>>> Alan
>>>>
>>>> "Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Alan wrote:
>>>>>> Hi JS,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free. On
>>>>>> the machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> JS
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my
>>>>>>>> PC -- a Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's
>>>>>>>> machine -- a Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2
>>>>>>>> and all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long
>>>>>>>> time to complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to
>>>>>>>> complete.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and
>>>>>>>> all updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never
>>>>>>>> has taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the
>>>>>>>> Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for
>>>>>>>> SR to complete?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three
>>>>> partitions. System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive,
>>>>> which is 120 GB. It never takes longer than five minutes to do a
>>>>> restore. Running System Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

I'm copying these from my earlier post:

More information:
- RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
- RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
- RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)

From the System Restore GUI:
- On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points made
as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure what was
being updated on this date.)
- On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.

I really have NO idea why there were 12 Restore Points made as a result of
Software Distribution 3.0 Services. And it's possible that the uninstall and
re-install of Java has something to do with it.

But it's also possible that there is no correlation between these events and
the size of the RPs getting so big.

Alan

"JS" <@> wrote in message news:OjxGuMqFIHA.4628@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Those early restore points look more normal, what been changed recently on
> your PC that caused the jump to 1GB or more?
>
> JS
>
> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
> news:%23T%23Oi6pFIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Hi JS,
>>
>> Okay, I found a KB article, # 309531, that explains how I can access the
>> System Volume Information folder.
>>
>> Looking on my PC -- the one with the 250 GB hard drive -- the latest
>> Restore Point made today -- is 1.15 GB uncompressed, and has 530 RDB
>> files, with each RDB being 2112 KB. A Restore Point made yesterday is
>> 1.41 GB uncompressed and has 672 RDB files with each RDB being 2108 KB.
>>
>> Some other random RP dates and statistics:
>> - RP from 9/26/07 is 99.4 MB uncompressed, and has 20 RDB files with
>> each RDB being 2024 KB
>> - RP from 9/16/07 is 132 MB uncompressed, and has 41 RDB files with each
>> RDB being 1993 KB
>> - RP from 8/23/07 is 156 MB uncompressed, has 53 RDB files with each RDB
>> being 1917 KB.
>>
>> The earliest Restore Point that I have is from 7/26/07. This one is 69.4
>> MB uncompressed, and has 11 RDB files with each RDB being 1812 KB.
>>
>> More information:
>> - RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
>> - RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
>> - RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)
>>
>> From the System Restore GUI:
>> - On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points
>> made as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure what
>> was being updated on this date.)
>> - On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
>> uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>>
>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>> news:ukVC$FpFIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>I can't get in to see the information, JS.
>>>
>>> In Windows Explorer, as soon as I left-click on the System Volume
>>> Information folder on BOTH machines, I receive a message saying:
>>> "C:\System Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied."
>>>
>>> When I right-click and display Properties for the System Volume
>>> Information folder, it shows there are 0 bytes, 0 Files and 0 Folders.
>>> Its create date and time is Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 1:08:16 PM.
>>>
>>> When I right-click on the Windows folder and display Properties, it
>>> shows a create date and time of Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 12:52:55 PM.
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:eJHamPmFIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> What is the size of a typical Restore Point folder (RPXXX)?
>>>>
>>>> JS
>>>>
>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>> news:OCdAqImFIHA.4956@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hello Bill,
>>>>>
>>>>> Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden partition
>>>>> on both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory" restore, but
>>>>> nothing other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alan
>>>>>
>>>>> "Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
>>>>> news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Alan wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi JS,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free. On
>>>>>>> the machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> JS
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>>>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my
>>>>>>>>> PC -- a Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's
>>>>>>>>> machine -- a Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2
>>>>>>>>> and all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really
>>>>>>>>> long time to complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an
>>>>>>>>> hour to complete.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and
>>>>>>>>> all updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never
>>>>>>>>> has taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of
>>>>>>>>> the Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of
>>>>>>>>> time for SR to complete?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three
>>>>>> partitions. System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive,
>>>>>> which is 120 GB. It never takes longer than five minutes to do a
>>>>>> restore. Running System Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bill
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Turn of "Automatic Updates" for a while (several Days) and see if the
restore point drop down to normal. I think Microsoft has a habit of
trickling updates over a period of time and this could be the problem.

JS

"Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
news:%23yCDTTqFIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> I'm copying these from my earlier post:
>
> More information:
> - RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
> - RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
> - RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)
>
> From the System Restore GUI:
> - On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points
> made
> as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure what was
> being updated on this date.)
> - On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
> uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.
>
> I really have NO idea why there were 12 Restore Points made as a result of
> Software Distribution 3.0 Services. And it's possible that the uninstall
> and re-install of Java has something to do with it.
>
> But it's also possible that there is no correlation between these events
> and the size of the RPs getting so big.
>
> Alan
>
> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:OjxGuMqFIHA.4628@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Those early restore points look more normal, what been changed recently
>> on your PC that caused the jump to 1GB or more?
>>
>> JS
>>
>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>> news:%23T%23Oi6pFIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi JS,
>>>
>>> Okay, I found a KB article, # 309531, that explains how I can access the
>>> System Volume Information folder.
>>>
>>> Looking on my PC -- the one with the 250 GB hard drive -- the latest
>>> Restore Point made today -- is 1.15 GB uncompressed, and has 530 RDB
>>> files, with each RDB being 2112 KB. A Restore Point made yesterday is
>>> 1.41 GB uncompressed and has 672 RDB files with each RDB being 2108 KB.
>>>
>>> Some other random RP dates and statistics:
>>> - RP from 9/26/07 is 99.4 MB uncompressed, and has 20 RDB files with
>>> each RDB being 2024 KB
>>> - RP from 9/16/07 is 132 MB uncompressed, and has 41 RDB files with
>>> each RDB being 1993 KB
>>> - RP from 8/23/07 is 156 MB uncompressed, has 53 RDB files with each
>>> RDB being 1917 KB.
>>>
>>> The earliest Restore Point that I have is from 7/26/07. This one is 69.4
>>> MB uncompressed, and has 11 RDB files with each RDB being 1812 KB.
>>>
>>> More information:
>>> - RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
>>> - RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
>>> - RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)
>>>
>>> From the System Restore GUI:
>>> - On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points
>>> made as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure
>>> what was being updated on this date.)
>>> - On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
>>> uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>>
>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>> news:ukVC$FpFIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>I can't get in to see the information, JS.
>>>>
>>>> In Windows Explorer, as soon as I left-click on the System Volume
>>>> Information folder on BOTH machines, I receive a message saying:
>>>> "C:\System Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied."
>>>>
>>>> When I right-click and display Properties for the System Volume
>>>> Information folder, it shows there are 0 bytes, 0 Files and 0 Folders.
>>>> Its create date and time is Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 1:08:16 PM.
>>>>
>>>> When I right-click on the Windows folder and display Properties, it
>>>> shows a create date and time of Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 12:52:55 PM.
>>>>
>>>> Alan
>>>>
>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:eJHamPmFIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>> What is the size of a typical Restore Point folder (RPXXX)?
>>>>>
>>>>> JS
>>>>>
>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>> news:OCdAqImFIHA.4956@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Hello Bill,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden
>>>>>> partition on both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory"
>>>>>> restore, but nothing other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> Alan wrote:
>>>>>>>> Hi JS,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free.
>>>>>>>> On the machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message
>>>>>>>> news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> JS
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my
>>>>>>>>>> PC -- a Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's
>>>>>>>>>> machine -- a Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with
>>>>>>>>>> SP2 and all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a
>>>>>>>>>> really long time to complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes
>>>>>>>>>> to an hour to complete.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2
>>>>>>>>>> and all updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore
>>>>>>>>>> never has taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of
>>>>>>>>>> the Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of
>>>>>>>>>> time for SR to complete?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three
>>>>>>> partitions. System Restore is set to work only on the main C: drive,
>>>>>>> which is 120 GB. It never takes longer than five minutes to do a
>>>>>>> restore. Running System Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bill
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Okay, JS, although I had my A/U set to just notify me about downloads, I
have now turned it off completely.

I'll check the size of the RPs every few days and let you know.

Thanks for taking an interest in this post.

Alan

"JS" <@> wrote in message news:%23lqGblqFIHA.5272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Turn of "Automatic Updates" for a while (several Days) and see if the
> restore point drop down to normal. I think Microsoft has a habit of
> trickling updates over a period of time and this could be the problem.
>
> JS
>
> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
> news:%23yCDTTqFIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> I'm copying these from my earlier post:
>>
>> More information:
>> - RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
>> - RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
>> - RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)
>>
>> From the System Restore GUI:
>> - On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points
>> made
>> as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure what was
>> being updated on this date.)
>> - On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
>> uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.
>>
>> I really have NO idea why there were 12 Restore Points made as a result
>> of Software Distribution 3.0 Services. And it's possible that the
>> uninstall and re-install of Java has something to do with it.
>>
>> But it's also possible that there is no correlation between these events
>> and the size of the RPs getting so big.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:OjxGuMqFIHA.4628@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> Those early restore points look more normal, what been changed recently
>>> on your PC that caused the jump to 1GB or more?
>>>
>>> JS
>>>
>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>> news:%23T%23Oi6pFIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi JS,
>>>>
>>>> Okay, I found a KB article, # 309531, that explains how I can access
>>>> the System Volume Information folder.
>>>>
>>>> Looking on my PC -- the one with the 250 GB hard drive -- the latest
>>>> Restore Point made today -- is 1.15 GB uncompressed, and has 530 RDB
>>>> files, with each RDB being 2112 KB. A Restore Point made yesterday is
>>>> 1.41 GB uncompressed and has 672 RDB files with each RDB being 2108 KB.
>>>>
>>>> Some other random RP dates and statistics:
>>>> - RP from 9/26/07 is 99.4 MB uncompressed, and has 20 RDB files with
>>>> each RDB being 2024 KB
>>>> - RP from 9/16/07 is 132 MB uncompressed, and has 41 RDB files with
>>>> each RDB being 1993 KB
>>>> - RP from 8/23/07 is 156 MB uncompressed, has 53 RDB files with each
>>>> RDB being 1917 KB.
>>>>
>>>> The earliest Restore Point that I have is from 7/26/07. This one is
>>>> 69.4 MB uncompressed, and has 11 RDB files with each RDB being 1812 KB.
>>>>
>>>> More information:
>>>> - RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
>>>> - RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
>>>> - RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)
>>>>
>>>> From the System Restore GUI:
>>>> - On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points
>>>> made as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure
>>>> what was being updated on this date.)
>>>> - On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
>>>> uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.
>>>>
>>>> Alan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>> news:ukVC$FpFIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>I can't get in to see the information, JS.
>>>>>
>>>>> In Windows Explorer, as soon as I left-click on the System Volume
>>>>> Information folder on BOTH machines, I receive a message saying:
>>>>> "C:\System Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied."
>>>>>
>>>>> When I right-click and display Properties for the System Volume
>>>>> Information folder, it shows there are 0 bytes, 0 Files and 0 Folders.
>>>>> Its create date and time is Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 1:08:16 PM.
>>>>>
>>>>> When I right-click on the Windows folder and display Properties, it
>>>>> shows a create date and time of Tuesday, August 10, 2004, 12:52:55 PM.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alan
>>>>>
>>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message
>>>>> news:eJHamPmFIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> What is the size of a typical Restore Point folder (RPXXX)?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> JS
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:OCdAqImFIHA.4956@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> Hello Bill,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Both machines have only a C:\ drive. There might be a hidden
>>>>>>> partition on both machines that Dell puts in to enable a "factory"
>>>>>>> restore, but nothing other than C:\ shows in Windows Explorer.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Bill Sharpe" <wfsnopam@adelphia.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:u4aDgFmFIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> Alan wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Hi JS,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On the PC that has the 225 GB hard drive, there are 159 GBs free.
>>>>>>>>> On the machine that has the 325 GB drive, there are 251 GBs free.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I didn't mention it earlier, but both systems are using NTFS.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> "JS" <@> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>> news:O2QXJLlFIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>> How much free disk space do you have on these PC's?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> JS
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> "Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>>> news:%23swSCwkFIHA.3672@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my
>>>>>>>>>>> PC -- a Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's
>>>>>>>>>>> machine -- a Dell XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with
>>>>>>>>>>> SP2 and all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a
>>>>>>>>>>> really long time to complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes
>>>>>>>>>>> to an hour to complete.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2
>>>>>>>>>>> and all updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore
>>>>>>>>>>> never has taken more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of
>>>>>>>>>>> the Hard Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of
>>>>>>>>>>> time for SR to complete?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Are your drives partitioned? I have a 250 GB drive with three
>>>>>>>> partitions. System Restore is set to work only on the main C:
>>>>>>>> drive, which is 120 GB. It never takes longer than five minutes to
>>>>>>>> do a restore. Running System Restore on data drives is unnecessary.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Bill
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Hi Alan,

Set System Restore to only monitor the drive/partition Windows is installed on.
How to disable a monitored drive:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/drivedisable.html

Set System Restore to use 1 - 2 GB's of disk space to hold restore points.
How to Adjust the amount of disk space System Restore uses to hold restore
points:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/diskspace.html

Then test System Restore.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/tips.html#3

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org


Alan wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC -- a Dell
> DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a Dell XPS 410
> also with 2 GB RAM.
>
> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>
> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2 and all
> updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long time to
> complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
>
> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and all
> updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never has taken
> more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>
> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the Hard
> Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for SR to
> complete?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Alan
>
>

Hello Bert,

I'm not sure if you are seeing the posts between "JS" and me. But in case
you aren't, I'll copy/paste some of the information below.

Do you think there's some sort of correlation between the change in size of
the RPs I've been seeing -- from 286 MB to 1.40 GB in three days -- and
having Automatic Updates turned on, even just for notification?

Alan

"JS" <@> wrote in message news:%23lqGblqFIHA.5272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Turn of "Automatic Updates" for a while (several Days) and see if the
> restore point drop down to normal. I think Microsoft has a habit of
> trickling updates over a period of time and this could be the problem.
>
> JS
>

"Alan" <somewhere@nospam.not> wrote in message
news:%23yCDTTqFIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> I'm copying these from my earlier post:
>
> More information:
> - RP on 10/3/07 286 MB (300,489,048 bytes)
> - RP on 10/4/07 563 MB (590,877,298 bytes)
> - RP on 10/5/07 1.40 GB (1,506,288,752 bytes)
>
> From the System Restore GUI:
> - On 10/02/07 between 8:57 PM and 10:12 PM there are 12 Restore Points
> made
> as a result of Software Distribution 3.0 Services (I'm not sure what was
> being updated on this date.)
> - On 10/03/07 there are three Restore Points made as a result of Java
> uninstalls and reinstall of the latest version.
>
> I really have NO idea why there were 12 Restore Points made as a result of
> Software Distribution 3.0 Services. And it's possible that the uninstall
> and re-install of Java has something to do with it.


"Bert Kinney" <bert@NSmvps.org> wrote in message
news:OySr$iyFIHA.3548@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi Alan,
>
> Set System Restore to only monitor the drive/partition Windows is
> installed on.
> How to disable a monitored drive:
> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/drivedisable.html
>
> Set System Restore to use 1 - 2 GB's of disk space to hold restore points.
> How to Adjust the amount of disk space System Restore uses to hold restore
> points:
> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/diskspace.html
>
> Then test System Restore.
> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/tips.html#3
>
> Regards,
> Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
> http://bertk.mvps.org
> Member: http://dts-l.org
>
>
> Alan wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I have a question regarding the time for a System Restore on my PC -- a
>> Dell DM061/Dimension E520 with 2 GB RAM-- and my son's machine -- a Dell
>> XPS 410 also with 2 GB RAM.
>>
>> My PC has a 250 GB hard drive, while my son's is 325 GB.
>>
>> I notice that on both machines, which are running XP Home with SP2 and
>> all updates, System Restore takes what I think is a really long time to
>> complete. Each take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
>>
>> On my older Dell Dimension 2400, also running XP Home with SP2 and all
>> updates and which has a 40 GB hard drive, System Restore never has taken
>> more than 10 minutes and usually less time.
>>
>> Is the length of time for System Restore related to the size of the Hard
>> Drive, and is 45 minutes or so an excessive amount of time for SR to
>> complete?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Alan