Restore

I have had this problem before For some reason system restore writes large
files to the drive I suspect Norton turns on restore even though I have set
it to off. when I run a full scan. Then my free space on the drive drops
from say 900 megs to around 100.
Some guy named Mike had sent email with how to correct it and it worked and
had printed out the fix - now I can't find the print out - so - Help
Terry

Heather
Sat May 27 12:34:02 CDT 2006

"Some guy named Mike" or his cohort, Noel, will be around to sort out
the mess Symantec has made of your computer......did that *guy* not tell
you that Norton was not to be used with WinME???? Yes, I know he would
have, lol.

Good luck and go get a decent antivirus.....and purge your machine of
that useless piece of AV junk!!

I sure hate pussyfooting around, lol.

Heather

"Terry Cano" <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:Q6%dg.34412$4L1.8912@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
>I have had this problem before For some reason system restore writes
>large
> files to the drive I suspect Norton turns on restore even though I
> have set
> it to off. when I run a full scan. Then my free space on the drive
> drops
> from say 900 megs to around 100.
> Some guy named Mike had sent email with how to correct it and it
> worked and
> had printed out the fix - now I can't find the print out - so - Help
> Terry
>
>
>

Mike
Sat May 27 13:01:39 CDT 2006

Terry,

System restore doesn't write large files, it simply archives copies of
system or program files that you either delete or amend. The archived
files are identical to the original. The archive is maintained at the
size you have set, discarding older archived files as new files are
archived. That is except for those who install software from Symantec
which is seriously flawed and should not be used with Win Me (or IMO on
any system regardless of the operating system in use)..

You mention someone called Mike as having mailed you. I've never mailed
you but I can see I've answered a number of your questions in the Win Me
newsgroups. I suspect the following is the message you've lost:

<quote>
Without knowing the size of your C: drive (I did ask) those figures are
somewhat meaningless although having so many files, probably in
C:\_RESTORE\TEMP would suggest that the state manager's "knackered" and
needs "fixing".

The _RESTORE folders shouldn't occupy more than 12% of your C: drive or
400MB if the drive is <4GB. If more than that it would appear that System
Restore is not discarding (FIFOing) older data correctly, possibly because
at some time the system was not immediately rebooted following a state
change (switching SR either off or on).

So, my first suggestion is to reset System Restore:
System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and check "Disable
System Restore", Apply and IMMEDIATELY reboot. This will flush you
restore folder and erase all checkpoints, then,
System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and uncheck "Disable
System Restore", Apply and again IMMEDIATELY reboot.
This should now automatically create a new checkpoint immediately
following the restart. Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore
folder as explained earlier. A figure of 200MB is normally more than
adequate for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to be
available although increasing this to perhaps 400MB for a few days during
periods of large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.

If this doesn't clear down the _restore archive (and it doesn't always
when users have experienced similar problems) the next suggestion is to
boot to DOS using a floppy and delete the entire _RESTORE folder structure
from there:
a) Boot to DOS using a floppy. Do NOT choose "Minimal Boot" from the menu
when booting from a floppy but rather choose "Start computer with (or
without) CD-ROM support" otherwise the ATTRIB command will not be
available.
b) At the DOS A:\> prompt, type:

ATTRIB -H -S -R C:\_RESTORE
REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST

c) Remove the floppy
d) Reboot your PC
e) Delete the folder C:\OLDREST
f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was created.
g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder:

Finally you may want to give system restore the once over by carrying out
the following quick test.
a) Create a shortcut on your desktop to a file.
b) Create a manual checkpoint
c) Delete the shortcut
d) Restore you PC to the checkpoint you created.
Was the shortcut restored? Did you see any error messages?
</quote>
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail.com


Terry Cano <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote:

> I have had this problem before For some reason system restore writes
> large files to the drive I suspect Norton turns on restore even
> though I have set it to off. when I run a full scan. Then my free
> space on the drive drops from say 900 megs to around 100.
> Some guy named Mike had sent email with how to correct it and it
> worked and had printed out the fix - now I can't find the print out -
> so - Help
> Terry

Terry
Sat May 27 13:06:54 CDT 2006

Yep, mailed I meant in the group.
I believe this is exactly whatI was looking for.
Thanks - again.
Terry
"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:%23zuuTebgGHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Terry,
>
> System restore doesn't write large files, it simply archives copies of
> system or program files that you either delete or amend. The archived
> files are identical to the original. The archive is maintained at the
> size you have set, discarding older archived files as new files are
> archived. That is except for those who install software from Symantec
> which is seriously flawed and should not be used with Win Me (or IMO on
> any system regardless of the operating system in use)..
>
> You mention someone called Mike as having mailed you. I've never mailed
> you but I can see I've answered a number of your questions in the Win Me
> newsgroups. I suspect the following is the message you've lost:
>
> <quote>
> Without knowing the size of your C: drive (I did ask) those figures are
> somewhat meaningless although having so many files, probably in
> C:\_RESTORE\TEMP would suggest that the state manager's "knackered" and
> needs "fixing".
>
> The _RESTORE folders shouldn't occupy more than 12% of your C: drive or
> 400MB if the drive is <4GB. If more than that it would appear that System
> Restore is not discarding (FIFOing) older data correctly, possibly because
> at some time the system was not immediately rebooted following a state
> change (switching SR either off or on).
>
> So, my first suggestion is to reset System Restore:
> System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and check "Disable
> System Restore", Apply and IMMEDIATELY reboot. This will flush you
> restore folder and erase all checkpoints, then,
> System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and uncheck "Disable
> System Restore", Apply and again IMMEDIATELY reboot.
> This should now automatically create a new checkpoint immediately
> following the restart. Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore
> folder as explained earlier. A figure of 200MB is normally more than
> adequate for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to be
> available although increasing this to perhaps 400MB for a few days during
> periods of large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.
>
> If this doesn't clear down the _restore archive (and it doesn't always
> when users have experienced similar problems) the next suggestion is to
> boot to DOS using a floppy and delete the entire _RESTORE folder structure
> from there:
> a) Boot to DOS using a floppy. Do NOT choose "Minimal Boot" from the menu
> when booting from a floppy but rather choose "Start computer with (or
> without) CD-ROM support" otherwise the ATTRIB command will not be
> available.
> b) At the DOS A:\> prompt, type:
>
> ATTRIB -H -S -R C:\_RESTORE
> REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST
>
> c) Remove the floppy
> d) Reboot your PC
> e) Delete the folder C:\OLDREST
> f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was created.
> g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder:
>
> Finally you may want to give system restore the once over by carrying out
> the following quick test.
> a) Create a shortcut on your desktop to a file.
> b) Create a manual checkpoint
> c) Delete the shortcut
> d) Restore you PC to the checkpoint you created.
> Was the shortcut restored? Did you see any error messages?
> </quote>
> --
> Mike Maltby MS-MVP
> mcmaltby@hotmail.com
>
>
> Terry Cano <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
> > I have had this problem before For some reason system restore writes
> > large files to the drive I suspect Norton turns on restore even
> > though I have set it to off. when I run a full scan. Then my free
> > space on the drive drops from say 900 megs to around 100.
> > Some guy named Mike had sent email with how to correct it and it
> > worked and had printed out the fix - now I can't find the print out -
> > so - Help
> > Terry
>

Mike
Sat May 27 13:25:20 CDT 2006

Terry,

Hopefully you'll now be able to fix the problem. If not please post back
with full details and we can take it from there.

Best of luck,
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows [2001-2006]
mike.maltby@gmail.com


Terry Cano <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote:

> Yep, mailed I meant in the group.
> I believe this is exactly whatI was looking for.
> Thanks - again.

Terry
Sun May 28 17:38:11 CDT 2006


Hmm, really confused.
I could not use RENAM, DOS said REN wasn't supported.
I was able to change attributes and del the restore folder.
I rebooted and the restore folder was recreated without the hidden attrib
and the folder was empty.......hardly any disk space was recovered!
The drive is 4.65 gig and usually has close to 1 gig free....it is down to
300MB
I uninstalled Norton and recovered a little space now upto 434 MB Free
I checked all the known suspects, temp folders in and outside windows
Any ideas
Terry

Mike
Sun May 28 23:00:51 CDT 2006

Tony,

What boot floppy were you using? REN and the longer RENAME command are
internal to DOS and are always present if you booted from a Win Me boot
floppy. Until you go through all the steps in my earlier post you won't
recover any hard disk space because you haven't renamed and then later
deleted the _RESTORE folder. This renaming can only be done by booting to
DOS after first using the ATTRIB command you can then delete the renamed
folder once you boot back into Win Me.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


Terry Cano <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote:

> Hmm, really confused.
> I could not use RENAM, DOS said REN wasn't supported.
> I was able to change attributes and del the restore folder.
> I rebooted and the restore folder was recreated without the hidden
> attrib and the folder was empty.......hardly any disk space was
> recovered!
> The drive is 4.65 gig and usually has close to 1 gig free....it is
> down to 300MB
> I uninstalled Norton and recovered a little space now upto 434 MB Free
> I checked all the known suspects, temp folders in and outside windows
> Any ideas
> Terry

Terry
Mon May 29 03:19:32 CDT 2006

The Start Up Disk made from the create disk from the
control panel. I'll check the original instalation disk and see if REN is
on it.
Terry
"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:%234jk7RtgGHA.3984@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Tony,
>
> What boot floppy were you using? REN and the longer RENAME command are
> internal to DOS and are always present if you booted from a Win Me boot
> floppy. Until you go through all the steps in my earlier post you won't
> recover any hard disk space because you haven't renamed and then later
> deleted the _RESTORE folder. This renaming can only be done by booting to
> DOS after first using the ATTRIB command you can then delete the renamed
> folder once you boot back into Win Me.
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
> Terry Cano <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
> > Hmm, really confused.
> > I could not use RENAM, DOS said REN wasn't supported.
> > I was able to change attributes and del the restore folder.
> > I rebooted and the restore folder was recreated without the hidden
> > attrib and the folder was empty.......hardly any disk space was
> > recovered!
> > The drive is 4.65 gig and usually has close to 1 gig free....it is
> > down to 300MB
> > I uninstalled Norton and recovered a little space now upto 434 MB Free
> > I checked all the known suspects, temp folders in and outside windows
> > Any ideas
> > Terry
>

Mike
Mon May 29 03:41:54 CDT 2006

Terry Cano <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote:

> The Start Up Disk made from the create disk from the
> control panel. I'll check the original instalation disk and see if
> REN is on it.

You won't "find" REN since as I have already said it is an internal DOS
command, that is, it is built in to command.com and therefore always
available when at a DOS prompt unlike say ATTRIB which is an external DOS
command and requires the file attrib.exe to be in the path (as it will be
if you boot from a Win Me boot floppy and choose either option 2 or 3 from
the menu).

Perhaps you typed something else when you thought you typed REN..
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com

Mart
Mon May 29 04:26:37 CDT 2006

Excuse 'butinski' Mike,

To confirm, Terry should type "ren /?" at the command prompt. (no quotes)

Should give syntax instructions.

Mart



"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:OX%23T%23uvgGHA.5104@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Terry Cano <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>> The Start Up Disk made from the create disk from the
>> control panel. I'll check the original instalation disk and see if
>> REN is on it.
>
> You won't "find" REN since as I have already said it is an internal DOS
> command, that is, it is built in to command.com and therefore always
> available when at a DOS prompt unlike say ATTRIB which is an external DOS
> command and requires the file attrib.exe to be in the path (as it will be
> if you boot from a Win Me boot floppy and choose either option 2 or 3 from
> the menu).
>
> Perhaps you typed something else when you thought you typed REN..
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>

Terry
Mon May 29 22:34:48 CDT 2006


O.k., still no luck with the REN even with the \ even tried /
which I think is a dos switch?
But the attrib -h -s -r del c:\_restore
worked and I was able to delete the folder.

That didn't free up much.
So, I looked in SYSBACKUP deleted the older compressed files still not much
then I remembered this happened after Defrag and running NAV
I searched for the scan disk files and deleted the files that scan disk
created
File0000 etc
I got back close to 500 meg
Then I searched Drive C by file size and the Swap File is something like
212,175 which is large - easpecially considering 512 Megs of RAM 1.8 CPU
I'm letting Windows manage the Swap File
The other big folder was a Outlook Express Outbox DBX
I deleted that and now I close to the 1 Gig free.....
question how can I flush that swap File?

Terry

Terry
Mon May 29 22:37:23 CDT 2006


Oh, I also uninstalled Norton and got a program called Anticyber Crime
Terry

Mart
Tue May 30 03:49:07 CDT 2006

> question how can I flush that swap File?

Delete it in Real Mode DOS - using the Startup floppy. It will be
re-generated next time you boot into WinMe. But, there's no guarantee that
it won't want to re-build itself to a similar size - depends what's being
run and whether WinMe decides it needs a 'larger' Swap file.

If you're 'not happy' deleting it yet, rename it in RM DOS and then you can
're-claim' it, should things go pearshaped.

Mart


"Terry Cano" <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:s3Peg.2034$VE1.829@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>
> O.k., still no luck with the REN even with the \ even tried /
> which I think is a dos switch?
> But the attrib -h -s -r del c:\_restore
> worked and I was able to delete the folder.
>
> That didn't free up much.
> So, I looked in SYSBACKUP deleted the older compressed files still not
> much
> then I remembered this happened after Defrag and running NAV
> I searched for the scan disk files and deleted the files that scan disk
> created
> File0000 etc
> I got back close to 500 meg
> Then I searched Drive C by file size and the Swap File is something like
> 212,175 which is large - easpecially considering 512 Megs of RAM 1.8 CPU
> I'm letting Windows manage the Swap File
> The other big folder was a Outlook Express Outbox DBX
> I deleted that and now I close to the 1 Gig free.....
> question how can I flush that swap File?
>
> Terry
>
>

Mike
Tue May 30 04:00:13 CDT 2006

Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

>> question how can I flush that swap File?
>
> Delete it in Real Mode DOS - using the Startup floppy. It will be
> re-generated next time you boot into WinMe. But, there's no
> guarantee that it won't want to re-build itself to a similar size -
> depends what's being run and whether WinMe decides it needs a
> 'larger' Swap file.
> If you're 'not happy' deleting it yet, rename it in RM DOS and then
> you can 're-claim' it, should things go pearshaped.

Mart,

You have to remember though that Terry is running a unique version of DOS
that does not include the built in REN or RENAME command!
--
Mike

Mart
Tue May 30 04:18:08 CDT 2006

LOL

In that case Mike, he should ignore my last sentence <g>

Do you think "Anticyber Crime" will correct this Swap-File and other issues?

Mart


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:%231NDce8gGHA.1520@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:
>
>>> question how can I flush that swap File?
>>
>> Delete it in Real Mode DOS - using the Startup floppy. It will be
>> re-generated next time you boot into WinMe. But, there's no
>> guarantee that it won't want to re-build itself to a similar size -
>> depends what's being run and whether WinMe decides it needs a
>> 'larger' Swap file.
>> If you're 'not happy' deleting it yet, rename it in RM DOS and then
>> you can 're-claim' it, should things go pearshaped.
>
> Mart,
>
> You have to remember though that Terry is running a unique version of DOS
> that does not include the built in REN or RENAME command!
> --
> Mike
>
>

Mike
Tue May 30 04:38:01 CDT 2006

Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

> LOL
>
> In that case Mike, he should ignore my last sentence <g>
>
> Do you think "Anticyber Crime" will correct this Swap-File and other
> issues?

Not a clue Mart and its not something I worry about. For example on this
box with 2GB of RAM I'm using 307MB of swap file.

This thread started with a request for help to clear the _RESTORE archive,
something that may or may not have been done however it now appears that
this wasn't the cause of the space problem that the poster was
experiencing. I had expected the OP to have checked the size of the
_RESTORE archive but it seems that this couldn't have been very large and
not the cause of their space problems. I just hope he appreciates what he
has done in deleting a dbx files from the Outlook Express store when
possibly all that was necessary was to compact the store.
--
Mike

Noel
Tue May 30 05:09:04 CDT 2006

Well - getting rid of Norton will have freed up about 100MB on its own!
What is concerning though, is the amount of stuff in the Scandisk
residues.... sound like either the machine has regularly been switched off
at the plug while running, or he may have HD problems. (or RA problem,
perhaps, but less likely)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:uGPLnz8gGHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:
>
>> LOL
>>
>> In that case Mike, he should ignore my last sentence <g>
>>
>> Do you think "Anticyber Crime" will correct this Swap-File and other
>> issues?
>
> Not a clue Mart and its not something I worry about. For example on this
> box with 2GB of RAM I'm using 307MB of swap file.
>
> This thread started with a request for help to clear the _RESTORE archive,
> something that may or may not have been done however it now appears that
> this wasn't the cause of the space problem that the poster was
> experiencing. I had expected the OP to have checked the size of the
> _RESTORE archive but it seems that this couldn't have been very large and
> not the cause of their space problems. I just hope he appreciates what he
> has done in deleting a dbx files from the Outlook Express store when
> possibly all that was necessary was to compact the store.
> --
> Mike
>
>

Mart
Tue May 30 06:07:41 CDT 2006

Ditto to both your replies - in fact Noel, I was going to mention the
"File0000 etc I got back close to 500 meg" comment, but like Mike,
remembered this 'apparent' non- standard DOS and kept quiet <g>

Mart


"Noel Paton" <NoelDPspamless@crashfixpc.com> wrote in message
news:OxAqRE9gGHA.4452@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Well - getting rid of Norton will have freed up about 100MB on its own!
> What is concerning though, is the amount of stuff in the Scandisk
> residues.... sound like either the machine has regularly been switched off
> at the plug while running, or he may have HD problems. (or RA problem,
> perhaps, but less likely)
>
> --
> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)
>
> Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
> http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
>
> Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
> "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
> news:uGPLnz8gGHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:
>>
>>> LOL
>>>
>>> In that case Mike, he should ignore my last sentence <g>
>>>
>>> Do you think "Anticyber Crime" will correct this Swap-File and other
>>> issues?
>>
>> Not a clue Mart and its not something I worry about. For example on this
>> box with 2GB of RAM I'm using 307MB of swap file.
>>
>> This thread started with a request for help to clear the _RESTORE
>> archive, something that may or may not have been done however it now
>> appears that this wasn't the cause of the space problem that the poster
>> was experiencing. I had expected the OP to have checked the size of the
>> _RESTORE archive but it seems that this couldn't have been very large and
>> not the cause of their space problems. I just hope he appreciates what
>> he has done in deleting a dbx files from the Outlook Express store when
>> possibly all that was necessary was to compact the store.
>> --
>> Mike
>>
>>
>

Terry
Tue May 30 10:07:18 CDT 2006


O.k. just for my own interest I'll create a file on drive C:\ test
and from the start up disk DOS if I type c:\ ren test oldtest assuming the
syntax is correct
it should work right?
Terry

Mart
Tue May 30 10:39:04 CDT 2006

Er.. No! Terry, - Your syntax is correct but your command isn't.

Remember, its :-
REN [drive:][path]filename1 filename2

The correct command at the A:\ prompt should be ren c:\ test oldtest.

Mart


"Terry Cano" <tcmusic@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:GcZeg.36129$4L1.32432@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
>
> O.k. just for my own interest I'll create a file on drive C:\ test
> and from the start up disk DOS if I type c:\ ren test oldtest assuming the
> syntax is correct
> it should work right?
> Terry
>
>

Mike
Tue May 30 15:23:14 CDT 2006

Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

> Er.. No! Terry, - Your syntax is correct but your command isn't.
>
> Remember, its :-
> REN [drive:][path]filename1 filename2
>
> The correct command at the A:\ prompt should be ren c:\ test oldtest.

Note though that there should be no space between C:\ and TEST.

Which brings us neatly back to the original
REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com

Mart
Tue May 30 17:48:51 CDT 2006

Mike wrote :-

> Note though that there should be no space between C:\ and TEST.

Oops.. My bad!

You're quite right Mike, a typo on my part when writing my reply.

I'd actually tested it out on my WinMe box previously and obviously got it
correct on that box - otherwise it wouldn't have worked <g>

And for Terry's sake I've just re-confirmed that the space prevents it
working, proving that the syntax MUST be absolutely correct for the command
to work.

Mart


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:e7AercChGHA.1792@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:
>
>> Er.. No! Terry, - Your syntax is correct but your command isn't.
>>
>> Remember, its :-
>> REN [drive:][path]filename1 filename2
>>
>> The correct command at the A:\ prompt should be ren c:\ test oldtest.
>
> Note though that there should be no space between C:\ and TEST.
>
> Which brings us neatly back to the original
> REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>