How do I get System Restore to take up less space?

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It seems that all my System Restore settings are correct but twice I have wanted to use it and no matter what date I choose it coes through the process and tells me that I cannot restore my computer back to that date, No Changes Have Been Made to your computer. I have followed all your instructions and even increased the amount of space for System Restore. What else can I check ?

This works for XP but not for Vista in vista os system restore size has to be changed using "shadowstorage" and is quite complex. With the size of Hard drives today and the fact that system restore is set for 15% of the size of the hard drive this can become very large.
As you say above, you can zero system restore by turning it off and then on again. Remember to create a new restore point afterward.

I've had the same issue as Karl.

I, too, have totally lost all ability to use System Restore. I think I need to re-install XP, but don't have a disk to do it. Any ideas?

I tweaked some registry settings to actually allow more restore points in XP. Recently, I had many restore points created by just one install and I checked dates on the RP'integer' files in System Volume Restore\_restore{*} directory and deleted redundant files. Similarly, I use this measure to save space for earlier restore points not being 'queued out' as available space diminishes. Also it may be that saving one of these RP files on flash or encypting/password protecting it may save someone's bacon, if their system was hacked.

I have also just been through the above processes trying to do a System Restore to get a vital program running.
I also had the same message "Your computer cannot be restored to ..".
The answer is to boot in SAFE MODE, just keep tapping F8 when it starts rebooting. Then do your System Restore. Then it will work. Phew.
Incidentally, the program was TNT Express Shipper V5.02 used to create consignment notes to ship goods around.
One day I came in and cranked it up and had the message "ActiveX can't create the object (429)". I spent 6 days looking through forums and asking my IT team.
No luck, and I am no dummy at fixing pooters.
Finally I had to resort to System Restore.
I almost went nuts when I couldn't even do that.
A Google search found one forum that advised to boot in Safe Mode, and then Restore and it WORKED.
Cheers. Si

By using "Disc Clean-up", and selecting "More Options", and then deleting the shadow copies, it cleans up a TON of disc space (in Vista).

I've been using XP for eight years and never once had System Restore running or ever used it.

With regard to Karl's and Polyanna's problem, Sytem Restore will often fail due top Anti Virus programs. Security programs such as Norton and Kaspersky Internet Security, protect their own program files to prevent viruses from attacking them. e.g in Kaspersky, this is known as "self defence". If you turn off this protection in the settings of the secuity program, you will normally find that restore will then work. Don't forget to turn it back on! I have tried using the safe mode method that Simon mentions, but it is not always reliable

check this post to alter the size for system restore in vista
http://tandt-u.blogspot.com/2009/01/change-amount-of-space-used-for-system.html

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