We can’t think of a more important Windows feature, that is less understood and more underused than System Restore. Since Windows ME, Microsoft has given every Windows user a way to back out of catastrophe. In your hands, fellow Windows user, Microsoft has entrusted a virtual time machine. With System Restore you can back out of the biggest disasters, recover from software installations gone awry, back away from rogues, spyware, viruses, Trojans and more. Yet so few people think of it when bad things happen.
System Restore does have its downsides. Sometimes it’s a bit arcane. Sometimes it’s difficult to manage – for instance, removing old restore points requires a few more steps than it should. And with System Restore, it’s all or nothing. Up until now you could explore what was in your system restore points. Up until now – that is.
Today we’re going to tell you about a little freeware program that not only allows you to easily delete old restore points in just three steps (Open the program, click a restore point, then click delete) but also allows you to explore your restore points and even extract individual files from them.
Our freeware pick today is called System Restore Explorer. It’s not really a program for Windows newbies – it’s for you intermediate and advanced users. But if you’re a beginner – don’t be afraid to download it and take a look. The worst thing that could happen is you could delete a restore point you might not have wanted to delete. So don’t delete any restore points unless you’re sure you won’t need them anymore. We always recommend keeping at least three system restore points – the oldest, the newest, and one in between.
Anyway, getting back to System Restore Explorer, the developer has something he’d like to tell you:
“System Restore Explorer is a tool which allows you to browse system restore points on your computer and select individual ones for deletion should you wish to free up some disk space. It also allows you to mount the contents of a restore point into a folder so that you can browse and copy individual files, without the need to perform a full system restore.
When you select a restore point and mount it the tool will create a shortcut to that particular restore point which will allow you to browse the contents and copy files. Once you have finished with a particular restore point you can either use the tool to unmount it or simply delete the shortcut (deleting the shortcut will not delete the restore point)…”
If you’ve been looking for a way to explore your restore points more easily, or to view and copy files from restore points, or just for an easier way of deleting restore points you don’t need (restore points are very large files – having more than three just takes up a lot of drive space), then you’ll want to download, install, and try System Restore Explorer. It’s 100% free. It works exactly as the author describes.
Keep in mind this is a tool made for intermediate and advanced Windows users. If you’re a beginner, don’t worry, you really can’t do any harm with this program other than deleting a restore point by mistake. Remember: Every advanced and intermediate Windows user was a beginner too.
Apparently the author’s site has been taken down or there are problems with it. You can download System Restore Explorer from here.
On the chance that the author’s site’s problems are temporary, we are leaving this information on this post — just in case.
Read more about System Restore Explorer http://nicbedford.co.uk/software/systemrestoreexplorer/ . The download link is not obvious on the page, so here’s the direct link to the download for you: http://nicbedford.co.uk/files/InstallSystemRestoreExplorer.msi
The lowdown:
System Restore Explorer
A System Restore manager and more
Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7
32bit and 64bit
838 KB – Windows Installer
Do you have a freeware program you love? Tell us about it!
What a disappointment this doesn’t work on Windows XP. I went to download this program. As soon as you hit ‘run’ it tells you it cannot be installed on XP. I went to the website and they said they have problems so are restricting its use to Vista and higher. :o(
Hi ,Thanks for this very useful little utility.
Just wondering why you seem to fall in the same trap as many other websites to show that this works on XP.
There is a specific disclaimer that it does NOT work on XP.
Quote” “I have tested this tool on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 beta, unfortunately the SRRemoveRestorePoint function didn’t appear to function as described on Windows XP, so I have had to restrict the use of this tool to Windows Vista and newer (and there is a check in the install and the app )”
Even in the feedback it’s mentioned again and again.
Nic
August 24, 2010 at 14:41
Did you actually read the paragraph? It explains exactly why it does not support Windows XP and the fact that I added the error box deliberatly.
Josh
August 27, 2010 at 12:43
This would be an awesome tool to have if it only worked on XP, too bad it doesn’t. Thanks for sharing it anyways.
Reply
Nic
August 27, 2010 at 14:17
Thanks Josh, I’d love it to work on XP too, but Microsoft’s SRRemoveRestorePoint API just seems bugged on Windows XP.
I rest my case 🙂
omg i LUV you guys!
I think I will try it anyway. Though I’m sure you are all more gifted than myself!!. -Didn’t I read a recent letter that Windows has offered a “free” package of seldom used helpful tips? Really enjoy reading the comments and answers.I have learned so much since you folks have been my friends.
Hi Guess I wont try it!!!! I read NIC’s Blog. See ???? maybe I’m not as crazy as I thought.
@ InfoAve.
Please edit this article to leave out XP.
It has now been pointed out several times.
Just boggles my mind that the same mistake is repeated over and over ,especially since the disclaimer was made almost
a year and a half ago in August 2010.
Is there a mental block somewhere that prevents people
from comprehending what they read?
Why so rude DiggerP? I’m sure that these wonderful folks at Cloudeight comprehend much more about computers than you do. Perhaps the article should be edited, but why would you suggest it in this manner? (I am very grateful to these people for all that they have taught me.)