The practical task for this PowerShell script is to disable, or enable the operating system’s restore points. From a learning point of view you can see how to build a PowerShell function and also discover another way of accessing the WMI classes.
Topics for PowerShell Set-SysRestore Function
- This Week’s Secret
- Set-SysRestore Function
- Enable-ComputerRestore
- Restore-Computer
- Guy’s Brief / Challenge
♣
This Week’s Secret
When I was trying to repair a Vista machine, I got into a knot trying a system restore; this was because the anti-virus program kept giving a false positive reaction to a file that I was trying to repair. By creating a PowerShell function I was able to control system restore while I sorted out the anti-virus problem.
Set-SysRestore Function
It is traditional to name PowerShell functions using existing verbs such as ‘get-‘ or ‘set-‘. At the heart of this function is the switch ($RestoreOpt) which calls upon the WMI class systemrestore. It is this parameter which provides the option to enable or disable the system restore.
One important point, you need to supply a different value for $sysName.
##########################################
##
## Author: Dave Stone, Brooks Automation
## Date: 6 May 2010
## Enables or disables the system restore on a given workstation
##
## Usage Set-SysRestore option computername
##
######################################
Function Set-SysRestore {
param(
$RestoreOpt = $(throw "Please specify option, disable or enable"),
$sysName = $(throw "Please specify a computer name or IP Address.")
)
switch ($RestoreOpt)
{
"disable"
{$SysRestore = [wmiclass]"\\$sysname\root\default:systemrestore"
$SysRestore.Disable("C:\")}
"enable"
{$SysRestore = [wmiclass]"\\$sysname\root\default:systemrestore"
$SysRestore.Enable("C:\")}
}
}
Set-SysRestore -RestoreOpt enable -SysName 192.168.1.166
Note 0: This is one of those PowerShell scripts where you need to ‘Run as Administrator’. Also Restore Points are a feature of client operating systems such as Windows 7 or Vista, and not servers. 
Note 1: Trace the two options for the -RestoreOpt parameter. The last line puts the function Set-SysRestore to work, and disables the system restore on the C:\.
Note 2: To turn off your restore, issue the reverse command:
Set-SysRestore -RestoreOpt disable -SysName YourComputer
Example:
Set-SysRestore -RestoreOpt disable -SysName MyWin7Computer
Note 3: Pay close attention to -SysName, your Windows 7 or Vista machine is unlikely to have an IP address of 192.168.1.166. You could of course use the hostname.
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Enable-ComputerRestore
One Advantage of the above WMI technique is that you can turn off system protection on the D, E or other drives. However, if you just wish to disable system restore on the C:\ drive then you can use PowerShell v 2.0’s Disable-ComputerRestore cmdlet.
# PowerShell 2.0 Enable Computer Restore Script
Clear-Host
Enable-ComputerRestore -drive "C:\"
# Disable-ComputerRestore -drive "C:\"
Reminder of Guy’s Brief / Challenge:
- Use the cmdlet: Get-WinEvent
- Your PowerShell script must do something useful.
- No more than 10 lines.
- No copying from the internet! It must be your code.
- The best script gets $10 paid into its writer’s PayPal account.
Summary of Function Set-SysRestore
Here is a great example of creating a PowerShell function to tackle one specific job, namely to switch system restore on, or off.
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See more Windows PowerShell examples
• PowerShell Home • Foreach loops • PowerShell Foreach • Foreach-Object cmdlet
• Syntax • Variables • -whatIf • -ErrorAction • Windows 8 PowerShell • Free CSV Import Tool
• PowerShell Functions • [System.Math] • Get-Credential • Windows PowerShell • PowerShell 3.0
Please email me if you have a better example script. Also please report any factual mistakes, grammatical errors or broken links, I will be happy to correct the fault.
