[SOLVED] Windows System Restore needed on data (D:) drive?

[PaulQ2]

Is there any reason to have Windows system restore enabled on a D: drive? (non-system drive)

I searched and I can't believe there isn't a simple, clear answer to this somewhere on the web. Or maybe I didn't use the right search terms. I think the answer is no, but I want to confirm.

Thanks!

 

[wpgwpg]

If you want that drive backed up, the best thing to do would be to back it up with a good backup/restore program. I use the free version of Macrium Reflect, but there are numerous others as well. I put the backup file on an external USB hard drive.

 

[Mr.Spock]

Enable it if you want the ability to keep previous versions of your files, but it comes at the cost of saving those restore points - of course it doesn't help if the disk fails so some folks prefer backups or cloud-syncing

 

[PaulQ2]

Thanks to both of you. I was not looking at this as a way to backup files. I have a regular backup procedure in place already. I see Windows system protection as a way to protect myself from damage to windows files or installation that go wrong, not my own personal files. In fact, I didn't even know it preserved personal files.

I just didn't know if the D: drive needed to be turned on for some reason - to facilitate the back system protection on the D: drive.

I guess I'll leave it on. I have space. I don't see it as something that can cause harm.

 

[onespeedbiker]

Windows restore is designed to return the OS of Windows to a previous state, not as a backup for data. While nothing will be harmed enabling a data drive, there are no system files stored in your data drive, so it will not serve any real purpose and eat up drive space.

 

[PaulQ2]

Windows restore is designed to return the OS of Windows to a previous state, not as a backup for data. While nothing will be harmed enabling a data drive, there are no system files stored in your data drive, so it will not serve any real purpose and eat up drive space.

That's where I was leaning originally before I came here and I believe that's the answer.

However, this one thing sticks in my mind... I recall I had a system failure of some sort and it required me to use a restore point that was 3-4 days in the past. I noticed that a few files on my desktop vanished after the restore. I think they were a couple of 3rd party software installation files, maybe something else. The desktop was stored on the D: drive.

Why did that happen? I'll make a guess - the restored state did not include the references to those files so they disappeared from the desktop.

 

[onespeedbiker]

When you do a restore it changes the registry back before you downloaded those files to the data drive, so the Windows OS no longer realize they exsist.

 

[Mr.Spock]

yes, it can be used to revert personal files. even if you accidentally delete a file you can browse the previous version of the directory to copy it back. or just create a file with the same name and then right-click to restore the previous version (have done that a few times for the folks - they're less computer savvy so it's a quick save for them). And no it doesn't need to be on - it's just a feature you can choose or not.

Thanks to both of you. I was not looking at this as a way to backup files. I have a regular backup procedure in place already. I see Windows system protection as a way to protect myself from damage to windows files or installation that go wrong, not my own personal files. In fact, I didn't even know it preserved personal files.

I just didn't know if the D: drive needed to be turned on for some reason - to facilitate the back system protection on the D: drive.

I guess I'll leave it on. I have space. I don't see it as something that can cause harm.