As JohnInKansas noted (earlier post - 04 March) System Restore only keeps a few restore points, and Windows will create them whenever it thinks fit, so they are soon discarded.

Having in my ME days used a little utility (RescueMe I think) which allowed me to manage restore points, discarding more recent ones and keeping older strategic ones, and even archiving them off to floppies (happy days!) I find XP's facilities a big step backwards.

Anyone know where XP keeps its restore data, and could I copy out and later back in the restore points I really want to keep? - or prevent Windows creating them without asking me first?