From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote in news:a9b9lzkh59zn$.dlg@v.nguard.lh:

Boris <nospam@invalid.com> wrote:

Windows 11, 25H2

I'm having a problem with System Restore, but this is nothing new. I
just thougt I'd finally ask here. Restore points seem to disappear
every once in a while. Here's the latest.

I've got plenty of disk space allocated for System Restore points.

The last time I looked, April 26, I had four restore points. The
latest was April 26.

Today, May 2, I did an update to Firefox, but I did not like the
update...it erased many of my Firefox settings and bookmarks, so I
decided to do a System Restore to April 6, but the only Restore point
was yesterday, May 1, which I assume was made automatically by
Windows, because I didn't create this Restore point. I restored to
that point, May 1, and all was well. Firefox was back with all my
settings and bookmarks.

Why did this happen? Why did all my previous bookmarks disappear? I
don't see a way to prevent this.

Coincidentally, KBs 5083769 and 5086096 were installed on April 30.
Could those KBs have wiped out my prior updates?

You allocate a fixed size reserve space for restore points. If the
reserve space gets used up (the next restore point won't fit), the
oldest restore point(s) are deleted to make room.

I had plenty of space reserved, enough that all of my restore points were saved, with more room for additional restore points.

Run sysdm.cpl. Select the "System Protection" tab. Click on Configure.
Set the Max Usage slider to how much reserve space you want. You will
see the current usage, and the max available per your setting.

Done this many times over the years.

Reserve points expire. As I recall, Microsoft lowered the expiration to
60 days. Even if there is plenty of reserve space left for more restore points, the too-old ones get auto-deleted.

None of my restore points that were removed were any near 60 days old, yet
all of them were removed. I suspect it was the one of the two updates I mentioned removed them.

Firefox bookmarks are a separate issue from Windows restore points. If
you save backups, maybe they include the folder for your Firefox
profile.

Do not rely on System Restore fixing problems. Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it fails.

True. I've had it fail. But this time, it did get me back to my Firefox settings.

The Firefox profile folder is data, not an

executable program respository. A restore point will not restore app
data. Its intent is NOT to restore the exact prior state of the drive.
It is a patchwork restore. If you want to restore the exact same state
of a drive, save image backups (and do not use the included Windows
Backup program, but a 3rd-party backup). System Restore is a system
restore (a bit flaky), not a data restore.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/system-restore-a5ae3ed9-07c4-

fd56-45ee-096777ecd14e

"System Restore works by utilizing restore points, which are snapshots
of the system's configuration and settings at a specific moment."

System files. Not data files. System Restore is a snapshot of system
files, not a drive-state backup solution.

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From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On 03-May-26 11:15 PM, Boris wrote:

VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote in news:a9b9lzkh59zn$.dlg@v.nguard.lh:

None of my restore points that were removed were any near 60 days old, yet all of them were removed. I suspect it was the one of the two updates I mentioned removed them.

No code exists in the last three updates to remove System Restore Points
or disable Volume Shadow Copy service.

What can happen, if feature update was installed the old restore points,
no longer valid for the new version/build are deleted and System Restore
reset to the previous configured condition(location and size). A new
restore point will not created until done manually or another update or program is installed.

Other causes, though user specific...restoring an image to an earlier
point in time - earlier version/build(i.e. prior feature update
version/build) created without restore points or created more than 60
days earlier the current date.

Yes, $#it can happen....lacking other reports from other admins(100K+
managed devices) and other reports of the same issue for a non-feature
monthly update, the only causes known at this time.
- Major windows update(feature update)
- Space limitation
- System Protection disabled(prior to an update)
- Volume Shadow Copy service disabled(user or 3rd party software,
possible imaging software. Also imaging software disabling where 60 day
limit is met
- Disk Error
- Disk Cleanup (Windows or 3rd party tool)
- Resizing partition (Disk Management or 3rd party software)
--
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From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On Sun, 5/3/2026 11:15 PM, Boris wrote:

VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote in news:a9b9lzkh59zn$.dlg@v.nguard.lh:

Boris <nospam@invalid.com> wrote:

Windows 11, 25H2

I'm having a problem with System Restore, but this is nothing new. I
just thougt I'd finally ask here. Restore points seem to disappear
every once in a while. Here's the latest.

I've got plenty of disk space allocated for System Restore points.

The last time I looked, April 26, I had four restore points. The
latest was April 26.

Today, May 2, I did an update to Firefox, but I did not like the
update...it erased many of my Firefox settings and bookmarks, so I
decided to do a System Restore to April 6, but the only Restore point
was yesterday, May 1, which I assume was made automatically by
Windows, because I didn't create this Restore point. I restored to
that point, May 1, and all was well. Firefox was back with all my
settings and bookmarks.

Why did this happen? Why did all my previous bookmarks disappear? I
don't see a way to prevent this.

Coincidentally, KBs 5083769 and 5086096 were installed on April 30.
Could those KBs have wiped out my prior updates?

You allocate a fixed size reserve space for restore points. If the
reserve space gets used up (the next restore point won't fit), the
oldest restore point(s) are deleted to make room.

I had plenty of space reserved, enough that all of my restore points were saved, with more room for additional restore points.

Run sysdm.cpl. Select the "System Protection" tab. Click on Configure.
Set the Max Usage slider to how much reserve space you want. You will
see the current usage, and the max available per your setting.

Done this many times over the years.

Reserve points expire. As I recall, Microsoft lowered the expiration to
60 days. Even if there is plenty of reserve space left for more restore
points, the too-old ones get auto-deleted.

None of my restore points that were removed were any near 60 days old, yet all of them were removed. I suspect it was the one of the two updates I mentioned removed them.

Firefox bookmarks are a separate issue from Windows restore points. If
you save backups, maybe they include the folder for your Firefox
profile.

Do not rely on System Restore fixing problems. Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it fails.

True. I've had it fail. But this time, it did get me back to my Firefox settings.

The Firefox profile folder is data, not an

executable program respository. A restore point will not restore app
data. Its intent is NOT to restore the exact prior state of the drive.
It is a patchwork restore. If you want to restore the exact same state
of a drive, save image backups (and do not use the included Windows
Backup program, but a 3rd-party backup). System Restore is a system
restore (a bit flaky), not a data restore.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/system-restore-a5ae3ed9-07c4-

fd56-45ee-096777ecd14e

"System Restore works by utilizing restore points, which are snapshots
of the system's configuration and settings at a specific moment."

System files. Not data files. System Restore is a snapshot of system
files, not a drive-state backup solution.

There is a bit of trivia here, on System Restore. There is also one registry setting, mentioned in this thread.

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/restore-points-being-deleted-automatically/

"As I understand it the reason restore points are being deleted under
Win10 is that MS have changed the default action of the standard
System Restore (SR) scheduled task rCo with no ability to over-ride. If you
allow the standard SR task to run it creates a new restore point and then
cleans out any restore points over 10 days old (this applies from 21H1 rCo
older versions used 17 days) rCo regardless of the amount of disk space
allocated for the System Restore shadow copies."

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/system-restore-a5ae3ed9-07c4-fd56-45ee-096777ecd14e

"These restore points can be created automatically by the system during significant events,
like software installations or updates, or manually before making major changes.

When a restore point is selected, System Restore reverts the system files, registry settings,
and installed programs to the state they were in at the time the restore point was created.
"

At one time, SR used to have an impact on your profile folders (maybe Downloads?).
But from Vista onwards, they made some changes to that.

You can undo Restorations if done from a regular running OS, but if you apply
a Restoration from Safe Mode, you cannot undo one of those.

Restore Points can also be deleted during an AV incident, as Restore Points
are consistently attacked by malware, as a persistence mechanism. The AV knows, if a malware is detected, it will put copies of itself into SR points, and
thus all the SR must be deleted as part of cleanup.

Paul
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From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

Boris <nospam@invalid.com> wrote:

Windows 11, 25H2

I'm having a problem with System Restore, but this is nothing new. I just thougt I'd finally ask here. Restore points seem to disappear every once
in a while. Here's the latest.

I've got plenty of disk space allocated for System Restore points.

The last time I looked, April 26, I had four restore points. The latest
was April 26.

Today, May 2, I did an update to Firefox, but I did not like the
update...it erased many of my Firefox settings and bookmarks, so I decided to do a System Restore to April 6, but the only Restore point was
yesterday, May 1, which I assume was made automatically by Windows, because I didn't create this Restore point. I restored to that point, May 1, and all was well. Firefox was back with all my settings and bookmarks.

Why did this happen? Why did all my previous bookmarks disappear? I don't see a way to prevent this.

April 6 is a 'long' time ago, but there should be Restore Points prior
to May 1. (FWIW, I have Restore points from April 20 till May 3, 11 in
total.)

I do not want to offend, but you *did* tick the 'Show more restore
points' in the 'System Restore' Control Panel applet, didn't you? (With
that unticked, my system only shows (4) Restore Points from April 29
till May 3.)

Coincidentally, KBs 5083769 and 5086096 were installed on April 30. Could those KBs have wiped out my prior updates?

--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote in news:10tb1hh.1344.1@ID-201911.user.individual.net:

Boris <nospam@invalid.com> wrote:

Windows 11, 25H2

I'm having a problem with System Restore, but this is nothing new. I
just thougt I'd finally ask here. Restore points seem to disappear
every once in a while. Here's the latest.

I've got plenty of disk space allocated for System Restore points.

The last time I looked, April 26, I had four restore points. The
latest was April 26.

Today, May 2, I did an update to Firefox, but I did not like the
update...it erased many of my Firefox settings and bookmarks, so I
decided to do a System Restore to April 6, but the only Restore point
was yesterday, May 1, which I assume was made automatically by Windows,
because I didn't create this Restore point. I restored to that point,
May 1, and all was well. Firefox was back with all my settings and
bookmarks.

Why did this happen? Why did all my previous bookmarks disappear? I
don't see a way to prevent this.

April 6 is a 'long' time ago, but there should be Restore Points prior
to May 1. (FWIW, I have Restore points from April 20 till May 3, 11 in total.)

I do not want to offend, but you *did* tick the 'Show more restore
points' in the 'System Restore' Control Panel applet, didn't you?

No offense taken. It's a legitimate question, and yes, I always tick that
box.


(With

that unticked, my system only shows (4) Restore Points from April 29
till May 3.)

Coincidentally, KBs 5083769 and 5086096 were installed on April 30.
Could those KBs have wiped out my prior updates?

--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

....winston <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

On 03-May-26 11:15 PM, Boris wrote:

VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote in news:a9b9lzkh59zn$.dlg@v.nguard.lh:

None of my restore points that were removed were any near 60 days old, yet all of them were removed. I suspect it was the one of the two updates I mentioned removed them.

No code exists in the last three updates to remove System Restore Points
or disable Volume Shadow Copy service.

Why do you say "or disable Volume Shadow Copy service"? I know System
Restore makes/uses a Volume Shadow Copy, but Boris has a recent (May 1)
Restore Point, so why the comment? But before answering, read on.

[...]

Yes, $#it can happen....lacking other reports from other admins(100K+ managed devices) and other reports of the same issue for a non-feature monthly update, the only causes known at this time.
- Major windows update(feature update)
- Space limitation
- System Protection disabled(prior to an update)
- Volume Shadow Copy service disabled(user or 3rd party software,
possible imaging software. Also imaging software disabling where 60 day limit is met

Since (well, at least after) the April Windows Update updates, I have
a problem with third party backup software (Cobian Backup) which fails
(times out) when trying to make a Volume Shadow Copy. All the services (including of course the Volume Shadow Copy service) are runningand I am
out of clues (also from Google), no error messages, other than the fact
that it times out (after (configurable) 5 (or 10) minutes.

So I'm wondering why you're saying what you're saying. Are other
backup software programs also having VSC problems (while the VSC
service *is* running)?

For the moment, I'll let the VSC fail and the backup continue and will
see if Macrium Reflect (Free) will have similar problems at the next
backup. If so, that will be more worrisome, but also 'better' because
more people will be using Macrium than Cobian, so mor chance of clues/
fixes.

- Disk Error
- Disk Cleanup (Windows or 3rd party tool)
- Resizing partition (Disk Management or 3rd party software)

I'm sorry to say that ever since November, Windows Update updates have
only giving me problems, instead of fixing things. First few months it
was Windows Update or/and the updates failing. Now (April) it's the
updates *causing* new problems. Sigh! (Please don't ask for a list! I'm
trying to forget the ones I had and concentrate on the one I have.)
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On 05/04/2026 3:27 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:

....winston <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

No code exists in the last three updates to remove System Restore Points
or disable Volume Shadow Copy service.

Why do you say "or disable Volume Shadow Copy service"? I know System Restore makes/uses a Volume Shadow Copy, but Boris has a recent (May 1) Restore Point, so why the comment? But before answering, read on.

It meant what it stated, no code in the latest Windows Updates included
code to disable VSC(necessary service for System Restore). The last
update that did was the feature update for Win11 25H2 - which disabled
it, then post feature update, enabled it to create a new restore(post 25H2)point.

[...]

- Volume Shadow Copy service disabled(user or 3rd party software,
possible imaging software. Also imaging software disabling where 60 day
limit is met

Since (well, at least after) the April Windows Update updates, I have
a problem with third party backup software (Cobian Backup) which fails
(times out) when trying to make a Volume Shadow Copy. All the services (including of course the Volume Shadow Copy service) are runningand I am
out of clues (also from Google), no error messages, other than the fact
that it times out (after (configurable) 5 (or 10) minutes.

So I'm wondering why you're saying what you're saying. Are other
backup software programs also having VSC problems (while the VSC
service *is* running)?

Yes, other backup programs are having problems(VSC timeout or not
recognized) with VSC and while it is running or not running.
e.g. Macrium 8.1 versions(local, local/cloud), Acronis(Cyber Protect
Cloud, True Image subscription but not perpetual editions 2017-2026)
- the most common, but not the only, issue is a hardening change that
added psmounterex.sys to the Win11 o/s vulnerable driver blocklist.
- In the case of psmounterex.sys, the imaging software may create the
image, but fail to mount for restoration.

At this end, I use Acronis True Image 2025 Perpetual and Macrium Reflect
Free. Both, after testing each on three different devices(Desktop Win10
22H2 ESU/Win11 25H2, Laptop Win11 25H2 and Surface Win10 22H2 ESU)
create, mount, and restore images without VSC issues.
- Also, System Restore has my last 4 Restore points(April, March, and
2 user/manual created restore points on Win11 25H2, and on the Win10
devices the usual restore points(2 total)- April and one manual created
prior to update and an April Acronis and Macrium image).

Note: On Win11 Core Isolation is disabled
--
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