Windows 10: Why is system restore disabled by default?

SR was on by default on my clean install.

 

Seems a mixed bag. I have seen more than one instance of it being set off.

 

I had it disabled in 8.1 and after the upgrade to 10, it was enabled again. I have since disabled it. It is not disabled by default.

 

Except when it is.
I've done a couple of clean installs in the last few days, and had to switch it on manually both times.

 

Maybe it's a case of the sync function applying a setting you have or had on another 8.1 or 10 machine. That can happen if you log in with a MS account. I had sync also turned off in 8.1 so my setting never got saved in the cloud. I believe all the sync options are turned on by default in Win 10.

I turned System restore off after my 10 upgrade where it defaulted to on and then again after the cumulative update on the 5th turned it back on.

 

I have never had to use it so I always turn it off. It takes up space and the files can not be defragmented by the defrag program I use which is Puran. I've also read about many instances where System restore fails to fix a problem or even causes additional problems. Restoring a full system Image is a better way to go.

 

I had it turned on in 7 and it was disabled after the upgrade.

 

I generally install with a local account and not an MS Account. If it was trying to sync, it wouldn't find anything - perhaps why mine are generally switched off?

 

Ever notice most of the people with problems are using laptops/notebooks with little to no support for Win 10?

 

I agree with your analysis. I have 61 GB assigned to windows. After upgrading Windows (from 7 to 10) system protection was set on on my C:\ drive.

Following an in-place upgrade of 10 it was turned off as there wasn't (presumably) enough space left. I turned it on using the GUI though as it seemed easier than a registry change.

 

I also found the System Restore was turned off after the last W10 update, but why?
Why should windows update turn it off?

 

Wasn't on my system, just in Advanced Settings >> Startup and Recovery >> Automatically Restart was turned back on. I like to keep it off, so I can go to UEFI recovery options.

 

System Restore has always been enabled for me on Windows 7-10 and I always manually disable it.
I find that I have to disable it at least 3 times as it re-enables itself without telling you. Eventually it takes the hint and stays off.
I would rather re-format than ever use System Restore that causes more problems than it fixes. The feature should be removed from Windows completely.

 

Yup, I use/used Macrium in Win10 & 8.1, and in Win7 I just used the backup and image tool. a reimage to last known good one, is a lot better*Smile

 

I could never see myself re-formatting my system every time I need to fix something System Restore would be able to fix. When I first installed W10 I did a couple things to see what they did. Three times in one week System Restore fixed it. Each one took only 15 minutes max, and I didn't lose my stuff. I just carried on to try the next thing. I can't see re-formatting, re-setting up everything, installing all programs, and getting everything back to where they were before three times in that week. I decided to let the system do it's thing after the third time, and haven't needed to use restore again. I've never had issues with System Restore even on 7. It saved me more than I'd like to admit.