Win ME deletes all system restore points

[cutiebird]

I have a question about the behaviour of System Restore. Win ME keeps deleting restore points although there is plenty of space allocated. The "System Restore Disk Space Usage" slider was set on 440Mb (min is 200Mb and max 682Mb). I had 8 system restore points totalling 487Mb (via Treesize). I moved the slider to 488Mb and immediately Windows started deleting restore points until I only had 2 left.

Windows seems to delete restore points at random. Earlier this month I had 6 restore points, including 4 created in May and when I checked how many I had I found all had gone. What's the use of having System Restore enabled if Windows can't even keep at least one user created restore point? Is there any solution to this problem? Performance is not an issue with me. I simply want Windows to remember at least one restore point.

System

Windows ME
Celeron 700MHz
256Mb RAM in BE6 MB
WinFast 3D S320 II Ultra
12.5Gb DeskStar - IDE3 master - boot disk
20.5Gb Barracuda - IDE4 master
6.4Gb IBM - IDE2 master
Logitech MouseMan
Sound Blaster Live Value
NetComm 56Ultra SVD
ASUS 50x CD-ROM - IDE2 slave
HP CD-Writer 9100i - IDE1 slave

[EzyStvy]

Description of the System Restore Utility

"Once the Data Store reaches 90 percent of the allotted size, it begins to "purge" older Restore Points on a first-in first-out (FIFO) basis until the Data Store reaches 50 percent of its allotted size. The actual number of Restore Points available after this purge occurs may vary, based on what software was recently installed."

[cutiebird]

Yes, I have read the kb article and I noted the folowing:

"IMPORTANT NOTE: Reducing the disk space used by System Restore may FIFO existing Restore Points, so use caution when performing this action."

I increased the amount of space allocated to System Restore and yet it immediately deleted restore points. With the slider set to 440 Mb I have had 6 restore points for several days and yet when the older ones are purged how come sometimes none remain? The slider has never been moved lower than the 440 Mb spot.

With the slider on 440 Mb I've often had 6 sestore points and yet when all are removed the amount of space still taken up by the _RESTORE folder (and sub folders) is 204 Mb.

It seems I have to put the slider on the max (682 Mb in my case) to have any hope of ME keeping at least one restore point.