“I want to turn off Windows 7 System Restore. Is there a way to safely disable System Restore in Windows 7 or will I screw up my computer?”
Windows 7 System Restore is meant to provide some safeguards for you to easily roll back your Windows 7 configuration if you install software that conflicts with other parts of your computer. You can disable this feature, but then you lose the ability to roll back when you install software. There are times when you need to disable System Restore, like if you are trying to get rid of a virus or malware that might get stored in a System Restore point. In general, I would leave System Restore enabled as a precautionary measure, but disabling System Restore shouldn’t hurt Windows in any way.
To disable System Restore in Windows 7 (or Windows Vista) follow these steps:
Click the Start button, then right-click on Computer in the Start menu and choose Properties. This brings up the System Control Panel. You can also access this screen by holding down the Windows key and pressing the Pause/Break key.
On the left side of the System Control Panel, you should see a System Protection link, which you need to click to configure System Restore settings. Click the Configure button in the Protection Settings to Turn off System Restore.
Click the button next to Turn Off System Protection, then click OK to disable System Restore in Windows 7. If you want to turn System Restore on in the future, simply return tot this screen and choose Restore system settings and previous versions of files.
