Is Microsoft Vista's System Restore flaky?

[darsunt]

I've been experimenting with System restore in some of my vista systems, and it seems very unpredictable. In one system I can erase old restore points, in another I can't. Sometimes the restore action works, sometimes it doesn't.
Should I avoid relying on this application?

Thanks

 

[MindoverMaster]

Use 7.

 

[Slaymate]

I would keep an updated back-up of your important files. You just never know what might happen, even if System Restore worked perfectly it won't help you if your hard drive crashes or something even worse happens.