System Restore Service

This is valid for Windows XP Home and Pro.

If you are experiencing "random" slowdowns and "high" CPU usage for no reason, these two services are the most likely cause of the problem. These services are also a major cause of "missing" disk space. System Restore Service could be taking up 3 GB of space, just on it's own.

System Restore Service creates system snap shots or restore points for returning to at a later time. Every time you install a program or new driver, plus on a schedule, this service creates a "restore point" to roll back to if a problem occurs. This service would have been nice in the Win95 days due to plenty of problems occurring (new DirectX version every 15 minutes) but not required for the "much" more stable WinXP. This is the FIRST thing that I get rid of on a clean installation. If you use this and enjoy it, good for you. I never will. I feel it is faster and less hassle to just install clean. A rather GOOD (and possibly the only) reason to use this "feature" is to roll back your OS after installing an unknown program or testing software. For example: BETA software of any kind or new, or before installing Service Pack 1. NOTE: If you disable this service, your previous "restore points" will be deleted. If, for what ever reason, you do not want this to happen, do not disable this service.

Get rid of System Restore Service and Indexing Service. I disable both, plus check the box, just in case it may decide to fire back up. This is valid for Windows XP Home and Pro. Where do you find it? Well...here's how 2 disable it..:-

With the default Category Control Panel:

With the default Category Control Panel:

1 Head to Start

2 Select Control Panel

3 Select Performance and Maintenance

4 Select System

5 Select System Restore Tab

6 Check "Turn off System Restore"

7 Select the Ok button to apply the settings

With the Classic Control Panel:

1 Head to Start

2 Select Control Panel

3 Select System

4 Select System Restore Tab

5 Check "Turn off System Restore"

6 Select the Ok button to apply the settings

After that, Disable and Stop the System Restore Service:

With the default Category Control Panel:

1 Head to Start

2 Select Control Panel

3 Select Performance and Maintenance

4 Select Administrator Tools

5 Select Services

6 Select "System Restore Service" (Double Click)

7 Select General Tab

8 In the Startup type: select "Disabled"

9 Select the Ok button to close the panel

With the Classic Control Panel:

1 Head to Start

2 Select Control Panel

3 Select Administrator Tools

4 Select Services

5 Select "System Restore Service" (Double Click)

6 Select General Tab

7 In the Startup type: select "Disabled"

8 Select the Ok button to close the panel