Should I disable system restore for faster workstation builds?

[morganw]

Just setting up a new domain with the entire being that all the software is setup to install automatically with no manual configuration so that we can reimage PCs instead of wasting time fiddling with settings.

 

If I disable the system restore the entire rebuild process is under 40 minutes including big installs like Adobe CS3 master collection. With system restore turned on the process is more like 2 hours.

 

Since the workstation setup is now designed to be 'disposable' I think the faster rebuild time is worth disabling the system restore. Apart from not being able to roll back a problematic WSUS update (which shouldn't happen if the updates are tested before being approved) is there any reason to have it turned on?

[PiqueABoo]

Nope - I reckon it's home user technology well out of place in this kind of scenario. [Will be interesting to see who thinks otherwise now ]

[sted]

system restore can sometimes be useful and when it works its quicker than reimaging so i only turn it off if i need the hdd space

[teejay]

Yeah, would rather have quick build times. Once you've got everything automated so you can just build and walk away it's much less hassle than trying to use system restore and mess about. At least if you have a problem you are at a known configuration which makes it much easier to diagnose.

[6Foot2]

Having System Restore on gave us a problem when [initially] recovering from a major Conficker outbreak. The stations were getting the infection back again. The infection was 'hiding' in the System Restore files and Sophos was not cleaning it up [?]

 

Turning off SR solved the problem. It is off permanently now.

[tarquel]

+1 here. Used to do this in the school. It was far quicker and efficent to just redeploy the client OS again [and apps] via RIS that took about a hour or two rather than having to spend a lot more time than that fixing some broken OS due to some pupil having had fun pulling the power out / hitting the reset button mulitple times while the system was loading

 

I could start the rebuild and walk away to sort something else out while it was rebuilding....

 

...simples!

 

Obviously, a harder choice if you dont have everything automated of course

 

Nath

[tech_guy]

I always disable System Restore during the imaging process then might turn it back on depending on the machines and where they are after the imaging. If it's Win XP then we hit hibernation on the head as well.

[stevehp]

Having System Restore on gave us a problem when [initially] recovering from a major Conficker outbreak. The stations were getting the infection back again. The infection was 'hiding' in the System Restore files and Sophos was not cleaning it up [?]

 

Turning off SR solved the problem. It is off permanently now.

 

That's also why I've been disabling it. Nine times out of ten any spyware or viral infestations I have with machines the bugger always turns up in the hidden restore folders.

[morganw]

Thanks all, looks like it's getting turned off then.

[MatthewL]

We disable it via GPO to our entire estate due to problems where viruses can hide in the folder, plus there is no real need for it, its more for home users, we can re image a machine and have it backup and running in around an hour anyway which is good enough for us.

[pwds]

If it's Win XP then we hit hibernation on the head as well.

 

Do you use the American power management ADM for this or do you script it?