[1] In Windows 10, System Restore is turned off by default and must be enabled by users in order to function.

Users concerned with performance or space usage may also opt to disable System Restore entirely.

Starting with Windows Vista, System Restore takes a snapshot of all volumes it is monitoring.

Files are stored using NTFS compression and a Disk Cleanup handler allows deleting all but the most recent Restore Points.

[3] The operating system deletes older restore points per the configured space constraint on a first in, first out basis.

It is not possible to restore the system if Windows is unbootable without using 3rd-party bootable recovery media such as ERD Commander.

The toolset includes ERD Commander for Windows XP that was previously a 3rd-party product by Winternals.

Before Windows Vista, System Restore protection was restricted to select locations and predetermined file types.

In addition, multi-booting different versions of Windows can disrupt the operation of System Restore.