Make a Shortcut Icon to Create a System Restore Point in Windows Vista
One of the best features in Windows Vista is the updated System Restore feature, which saves people from certain destruction on a nearly daily basis, judging from the feedback on our forums. The only problem is that it takes far too many steps to manually create a new restore point. Can’t we just make a shortcut icon for it?
Naturally, we can. It’s as simple as a little vbscript that creates a restore point.
Create a System Restore Point Shortcut Icon
If you want to manually create the script, create a new file named something.vbs and paste in the following. Otherwise the downloadable scripts are provided at the bottom of the article.
If WScript.Arguments.Count = 0 Then
Set objShell = CreateObject(”Shell.Application”)
objShell.ShellExecute “wscript.exe”, WScript.ScriptFullName & ” Run”, , “runas”, 1
Else
GetObject(”winmgmts:\\.\root\default:Systemrestore”).CreateRestorePoint “description”, 0, 100
End If
You’ll notice that there’s a shellexecute line with a “runas”, which will automatically re-launch the script as administrator in order to create the restore point.
Once you have the script file saved somewhere, you’ll likely want to create a shortcut that you can customize. Just right-click / drag the file to where you want the shortcut… and choose “Create Shortcuts Here” when prompted.
Now you’ll have a shortcut icon that can be used to create a restore point. Note that you could change the icon in the shortcut properties if you want, or even assign a hotkey.
The downloadable script contains two different scripts, the default one will prompt you to type in a description for the restore point (very helpful when restoring), but there’s also a CreateRestorePointSilent script that will simply create the restore point without the prompt.
If you want to verify that the restore point is created, you can open up System Restore through the start menu search or control panel, and then choose the option to “Choose a restore point”, at which point you should see the new item in the list:
Remember to create a restore point whenever you are making changes to your system that you aren’t confident about… like installing questionable software.
Download CreateRestorePoint Script for Manually Creating Restore Points
Daily Email Updates
You can get our how-to articles in your inbox each day for free. Just enter your name and email below:
| Similar Articles | Featured Wiki Articles |
| Latest Software Reviews | Quick Linux Tips |
| Geek Arcade | Popular Forum Threads |
Is there a version for XP?
@BillyG
I just uploaded a new file that contains a script for XP as well.
I downloaded this scrip. When I ran it I received the following error:
There is no file extension in “C:\Users\Gadzooks64\Documents\My”.
What do I do now?
@gadzooks64
Looks like my script didn’t handle folders with spaces in the names. I’ve updated the script and re-uploaded with a fixed version. Sorry about that!
Thanks! Looks like it works now.
I use something similar for XP for years with this code:
Set IRP = getobject(”winmgmts:\\.\root\default:Systemrestore”)
MYRP = IRP.createrestorepoint (”My Restore Point”, 0, 100)
Thanks!
I noticed I was setting fewer restore points than I used to in XP. I’m curious if there’s a quick and easy way to check out how many restore points are saved so that I don’t keep too many and waste space?
You can also create a system restore point using this script;
set SRP = getobject(”winmgmts:\\.\root\default:Systemrestore”)
CSRP = SRP.createrestorepoint (”Created a Restore Point now”, 0, 100)
If CSRP 0 then
Msgbox “Error ” & CSRP & “: Unable to create System Restore point”
End if
I got the following message when I tried to cancel the operation by pressing “Cancel” button.
Script :\CreateRestorePoint\CreateRestorePoint.vbs
Line: 5
Char: 2
Error: Invalid Parameter
Code: 80041008
Source: SWbemObjectEx
How can I avoid this?
Just a little flaw: leaving the name field blank and pressing Cancel, this generates a windows script host error 80041008, line5 character2 invalid parameter.
Discovered accidently because I wouldn’t create a restorepoint after all.
bye, Rudolf
Can this .VBS file be placed in any folder?
At first I couldn’t create a file type of .VBS, so I did a search for *.VBS & then copied an existing file to My Documents folder. I then opened & replaced contents with those you recommended. I renamed it as something I’d recognize then created a desktop shortcut for it.
When I click on it, after I click ‘continue’, I get the following error msg: There is no file extension in “C\Users\John\Documents\My”.
Any suggestions?
Thank you.
If I click on the script download what do I do then? Does it come with install directions?
BTW…unrelated question…I tried to shut off DEP in VIsta with the command bcdedit.exe /set nx AlwaysOff and go the blue screen of death on startup. System restore wouldn’t work nor would going back to the command prompt and putting in bcdedit.exe /set nx AlwaysOn. I was forced to choose Restore to Original Dell setup (like a sys restore to day 1). What was my mistake?