System Restore is a hog. I've been on the same install of Windows XP for 2.5 years. It's been through the ringer. It runs real fast b/c I've turned off the bells and whistles Windows throws at you --- as I'm sure all of you reading this post have done.
Perris, you are right. It's an invaluable tool for the masses who don't think before they click, and a quick fix for the technically inclined who like to tinker a little with their setup.
"systrem restore on the other hand is excellant for this reason because it monitors most important changes almost real time." - you should be monitoring them yourself. Simple Excel file will do.
But the flip side - imaging a good Windows install - if done correctly is almost as valuable. Yes, I have lots of programs installed - but I've got an image with all the key ingredients - the office suite, adobe cs, ftp server, client, teamspeak server, client, daemon toolz, ccleaner, spybot, msantispyware, adaware, and oh... BFV (cuz I've been addicted to it for a year now ... BF2 soon) So if the need arises, which it never does... I'll flash the image on. I keep a small repository on a partition that has the install packages for the additional programs I've installed since I established the pristine image - complete with updated favorites, a backup of my documents, and the usual assortment of save game files, game profile files.
Bottom line is with a good P4, vid card, and a gig of RAM on a 533 FSB board ---- I start XP SP2 with 1/3 of it's services, and start up crap.... I have 17 processes running at boot. It's blistering fast. Thanks to Black Viper, and a nasty habit of trying out registry tweaks .... it's going to be fast for a long time. Shame on MS for continuing to release bloated up systems that until tweaked, underuse the potential of a system with lots of resources to spare.