how to enable or disable System Restore

enabling and disabling Windows XP's System Restore feature

step 1 - using registry editor.

• go to the registry editor (in run window - type '' regedit '' press enter)
• locate the key of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
• in the "DisableSR" set the value 1 to disable System Restore or 0 to enable System Restore

to prevent the System Restore service from starting

• Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sr
• double-click Start, and set the value to 4 to stop the service from starting or to 0 for normal startup

step 2 - using System Control Panel applet

• go to the control panel
• Start the System Control Panel applet (or right click on my computer, click properties)
• click system restore tab
• then uncheck the "Turn off System Restore on all drives" to enable System Restore, and check to disable System Restore.

delete older restore points while leave the system restore turned on

• go to the my computer
• right click the drive you want to clear, and click properties
• click disk cleanup button
• in the more option, select system restore and click cleanup.