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Main Area and Open Discussion => General Software Discussion => Topic started by: tinyvillager on July 29, 2007, 02:49 AM

Title: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: tinyvillager on July 29, 2007, 02:49 AM
I think i borked my system with some registry cleaning (never again) anyhow....
I'd hate do a complete reformat,does the system restore leave the machine sluggish after it "fixes" things?
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Grorgy on July 29, 2007, 03:28 AM
when its worked for me its worked ok, usually doesnt work at all tho lol
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: app103 on July 29, 2007, 04:08 AM
I haven't used it in XP yet, but it has saved my butt quite a few times in WinME.

If you have the restore points to work with, it can work well...but if you don't, you are out of luck.

It won't leave your machine sluggish when it's done...at least not any more than it was when the restore point was made.

But any software you installed after the restore point was made, you may have to reinstall. And any settings changes you have made in some programs may be lost, if they were done after the restore point.

What this does is replace the registry and system files with a copy of what was made as a backup when the restore point was made.

It can take quite a while to do, sometimes. So be prepared to have to wait.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: tinyvillager on July 29, 2007, 04:31 AM
Thanks guys,i've been pounding away at a few problems with Dial-a-fix,and massive data mining of the internet,i've said it before and i'll say it again,this has to be one of the more educated and polite forums,not to be smug or snobbish but in my research,one of which problems being a taskbar that would not keep my settings (now resolved) i must of come across twenty or so forums that was baked in spam and ads so obnoxious,i know ya gotta turn a buck for the bandwidth,but don't make something pop up every time i drag my mouse accross the screen.

I've also been medicating a migraine that actually put me in the emergency room.A cat scan and an i.v. of dilaudid later they wanted to do a spinal tap,went with the drug treatment instead,Oxycodone is a fun little pain killer.
Kills the pain,and gives you that nice warm feeling like being buzzed on beer without the bloat.

Once again thanks for responses.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Carol Haynes on July 29, 2007, 03:04 PM
If you have been messing with the registry System Restore may well work as it takes a snapshot of the registry as a restore point. I'm not sure though if it snapshots the whole registry as it seems a bit quick for that.

For future reference:

* Don't bother with registry cleaners (esp. in automatic mode) they always cause more problems than they solve. Automatic registry cleaning absolutely WILL hose your system - even on a clean install of windows it will find hundreds of registry errors to correct simply because MS does things in non standard ways in Windows - and if you install MS Office you get hundreds of errors more. Correct any of those MS errors and problems will come back to haunt you in the future - long after you forgot you did a registry cleanup ... by that time the only solution is a complete fresh install.

* If you must clean up the registry take a backup of the registry before you do it and manually work though all the errors found to find the right correction! You can do that easily using the built in backup utility unser Start > Accessories > System Tools or use a better reg backup application.

The only thing I do these days to the registry (apart from the odd manual edit) is to occasionally compress/defrag it using Resplendent Registry Manager. I'm not sure it does a huge amount of good but it does seem to make startup a bit quicker (briefly).
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: jmurr on July 29, 2007, 03:51 PM
System Restore has saved me on numerous occasions.  I usually set a restore point before I donanything that I think may hose my system.  So far, so good.  I have recently started using a program called "RegCure" to find and fix errors.  It seems to work very well and has high marks from 3rd party reviewers.. Worth a look www.regcure.com
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Curt on July 30, 2007, 10:03 AM
tinyvillager; Though I have tried to use it many times (because I installed so many different programs and did not understand how to do a proper backup) System Restore has never worked for me; not even once! Today I use TotalUninstall.

If it is important to you to clean your registry   I will dare to recommend the FREE / $15 Eusing Registry Cleaner (http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm) because it has proven itself to be gentle and safe to run - so safe that "we" are using it in DC member wreckedcarzz's CompuTech EasyInstall:

OK, here it is; EasyInstall.exe (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8345.0;attach=20299)
-wreckedcarzz (July 27, 2007, 11:10 AM)

Edit: it is of course also the one I use myself
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: tide on July 31, 2007, 01:57 PM
I have used XP's system restore several times usually after some software installation messes things up quite badly. I was rather amazed that it worked but most relieved that it did work!
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: wraith808 on July 31, 2007, 02:57 PM
Same here.  System restore has saved my bacon too many times to count!  Even with backups, it's still a pain to get to the exact point that you are with your system.  Being able to recover without having to resort to a backup has been a lifesaver.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: justice on July 31, 2007, 03:34 PM
Adobe acrobat 8 was until shortly not compatible with vista, vista would only boot in safe mode. my printer devices were borked. With safe mode i restored vista and all has worked fine since.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: mikiem on August 09, 2007, 06:49 PM
Restore in XP grabs a snapshot of your registry, I think limited, and a fairly limited snapshot of your files on hdd. If you set a restore point, install software, uninstall software, and do system restore you're probably very close to where you started. Anything beyond that can be iffy -- it may or may not delete added files/folders/reg entries. Vista uses a shadow copy of existing files, like a backup, so restoring the system is dramatically better -- however the shadow copies disappear if the hdd is opened in another OS, like XP, so dual boot folks beware.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Darwin on August 09, 2007, 07:14 PM
My experience with System Restore was not good - usually wound up messing things up more than helping... I've long since gone with a combo of Acronis True Image and Genie Backup Manager Pro to get me out of jams... Doesn't help the OP much, though. I'd suggest (late as I am to the discussion) setting a Restore Point before restoring and backing the file up somewhere so that if things are even more messed up than before the restore you can get back to your original starting point. I realize that the above is the textual equivalent of me mumbling with a mouth full of dry oats but hope the overall message made it through... I'm not too erudite at the best of times; today is a particularly bad day (up since 3 am)!
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Dirhael on August 09, 2007, 07:41 PM
My experience with it in the past have been that while it can help, it also creates just as many problems as it solves. Why? Simply because it isn't a complete backup/restore system. Because of this, it can leave lots of broken applications on your system it you don't install them in the default Windows folders (program files etc.).
However, if you did a restore point just before the cleaning and have made no changes to your system after that I think you should be just fine.

Personally, I'm using Rollback Rx and I'd recommend it or something like it in the future :)
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Darwin on August 09, 2007, 07:54 PM
On my Win2k machine I ran Winalysis 3 (http://winalysis.findmysoft.com/) before switching to Acronis and Genie. It's more configurable than System Restore, provides you with the option of complete file backups, and is more reliable than SysRestore. I haven't tried it under XP so can't comment on its effectiveness on more recent versions of Windows, but I never had a problem with it.

[edit: link fixed]
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: CleverCat on August 10, 2007, 01:11 AM
It always tells me I've made no changes!  :o

But I have..... >:(
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: ares09x on August 11, 2007, 06:17 PM
I've had a few different experiences with System Restore on XP:


Regarding registry cleaning, I have Norton SystemWorks, which I have set up to periodically analyze my registry, and it always finds things to clean up; something annoying that it will sometimes do is to remove shortcuts from my desktop, even though they worked fine before - it happens randomly, both which shortcuts are affected, and how often any are removed.  It seems to do this to "older" shortcuts, or those not used very frequently, because I usually can't remember what the shortcut was that it removed (otherwise I could just put it back).  >:(

Oh, well, the wonders of XP ...
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: wreckedcarzz on August 11, 2007, 07:40 PM
System restore on Windows XP quite frankly sucks... I have had it work, but about...10-15% of the time. As far as I can tell, for some reason it seems to depend on the install (if you install XP and it won't restore right, and 6 months later you reinstall it may work again... :huh:). I have done it on Vista and it is a lot better, but it takes FOREVER... >:(


And also...
* Don't bother with registry cleaners (esp. in automatic mode) they always cause more problems than they solve. Automatic registry cleaning absolutely WILL hose your system - even on a clean install of windows...
-Carol Haynes (July 29, 2007, 03:04 PM)

I have tried and used several (at least 5 off the top of my head) registry cleaners with no problems at all. Strange.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: mwang on August 11, 2007, 09:16 PM
In XP I tried it a few times before buying a disk imaging tool. Didn't work as I expected (returning the whole system partition--or the boot partition as MS calls it--to the exact state when the Restore Point was set). It would leave some things unchanged. It's by design (according to Help) but I didn't like it.

In Vista the ability of System Restore has been expanded. By utilizing volume shadow copy it could now restore individual files to a previous version (see the Previous Versions tab in a file's properties). I thought it's great, so I turned on System Restore for my data partitions (I still use an imager for the system partition). Ended up turning it off again a few days ago, for I never could find a previous version of any file, even files I change daily (my system setup diary, e.g.). The System Restore setting dialog suggested it did take snapshots of the designated partitions, and I even took some manual snapshots, but still couldn't get it working. I gave up for I didn't have time to investigate it further.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Carol Haynes on August 12, 2007, 04:07 AM
* Don't bother with registry cleaners (esp. in automatic mode) they always cause more problems than they solve. Automatic registry cleaning absolutely WILL hose your system - even on a clean install of windows...
-Carol Haynes (July 29, 2007, 03:04 PM)

I have tried and used several (at least 5 off the top of my head) registry cleaners with no problems at all. Strange.
-wreckedcarzz (August 11, 2007, 07:40 PM)

Very strange indeed - I would suggest that you haven't noticed problems ... yet. The biggest problem with registry cleaners is that unless you manually check every change that will be made (in most cases impossible because you will find hundreds on a freshly installed version of Windows) you will be changing intentional behaviour - especially in the case of Windows itself and MS Office if you use it. MS set the rules for use of the registry but break them all the time - if nothing else they install hooks in the registry when you install their software that allows their programs to use extensions and addons. Normally they are empty registry values but if you delete them (and all registry cleaners will flag them as pointless registry values unless they are explicitly excluded) and consequently you lose the ability to install those extensions. That is a simple example.

Othere examples of where automatic registry cleaning doesn't work are things like file assoications can get screwed up, you lose intentional blank values (where the existence of registry key alone acts as a flag to the software that installed it).

The biggest problem is that most consequences of registry cleaning are not immediately obvious - you only find out weeks or  months later and then blame something else for the problem.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: biox on August 12, 2007, 04:58 AM
I've given up on system restore and disabled it (XP).
Like others I've tried a few registry cleaners and some of them messed things up quite nicely. However, system restore didn't bring anything, or much, back. I've since used the "R" install and it works like a charm. Takes much longer but isn't like the old re-install that put another million user accounts plus settings on the disk.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Darwin on August 12, 2007, 08:02 AM
Ehtyar and Carol are right - registry cleaners, even if used VERY carefully, tend to mess things up. I find that the ONLY registry cleaning that I can do without something goig pear-shaped is MRU's, history, start menu shortcuts, and general shortcuts. I get anymore cheeky than that and I can guarantee that something will have to be reinstalled and reactivated. 
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: anrika411 on August 18, 2007, 10:39 AM
It's the best feature of XP.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: biox on August 18, 2007, 06:48 PM
It's the best feature of XP.
-anrika411 (August 18, 2007, 10:39 AM)
Care to expand on this a bit?

Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: terrawarra on August 19, 2007, 01:27 AM
I stopped using XP system restore many moons ago,.. I've been using the excellent freebie "ERUNT" since then.  It's quick, clean, simple to use and works every time.  It's saved my PC's life many times.  I make it a habit of creating a restore point almost every day,.. it may sound a little "over the top" but it works for me.  I usually delete any restore points more than a few weeks old to avoid cluttering up the system with junk.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: tomos on October 10, 2007, 10:22 AM
System Restore backs up system files of certain extensions (.exe, .dll, etc.), with the exception of files in My Documents folders, and saves them in a large compressed block for later recovery and use. It backs up the registry and most drivers. It does not back up or restore user data
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Restore

Windows XP periodically records a snapshot of your computer. These snapshots are called restore points. Windows XP also creates restore points at the time of significant system events (such as when an application or driver is installed) or you can create and name your own restore points at any time. If you’ve installed a program that has made your computer unstable, you can open system restore, choose a restore point, and return your computer to its previous stable state.
-http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/systemrestore.mspx

now does that mean a system restore from 2 weeks ago remove all the changes you've made to a system since -
i.e. any programmes installed in those 2 weeks get "uninstalled" ?
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Ralf Maximus on October 10, 2007, 10:29 AM
now does that mean a system restore from 2 weeks ago remove all the changes you've made to a system since -
i.e. any programmes installed in those 2 weeks get "uninstalled" ?
-tomos (October 10, 2007, 10:22 AM)

Yes, that's exactly what it does.  I have used System Restore many times to roll back my primary workstation to a stable configuration and it has worked perfectly every time.  However, I have made it a point to disable System Restore on all drives except C: (where Windows is installed).

It even has an "Undo" feature to roll forward to the point from which you last restored, should things get worse instead of better.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Carol Haynes on October 10, 2007, 11:01 AM
Yes it effectively uninstalls everything installed since the restore point BUT it doesn't remove the application files - so they will still appear in the START menu etc.

If you think you are going to need to use System Restore in this way it is probably worth manually fixing a named restore point before every installation - then at least you know what will need to be reinstalled by looking at the restore points before actually applying.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Lashiec on October 10, 2007, 06:21 PM
They get "uninstalled", as for example, you lose the registry settings created and the drivers if they installed some. Basically, you have to reinstall them to avoid problems. It's a side effect, but the only alternative is a complete image of the disk.

EDIT: :wallbash: Look for a second page before posting :wallbash:
Title: Windows System Restore with a single click
Post by: Curt on June 07, 2008, 10:32 AM
IF you are among those lucky people who can actually benefit from using XP's system restore, then this little piece of freeware will be right for you:  Easy HR Windows XP System Restore Point Creator (http://www.easyhr.com.au/software/easy_system_restore.htm)

Easy HR Windows XP System Restore Point Creator

Easily create windows restore points. Options for a quick create or you can add your own description. Create a Windsows XP System restore point with a single click.

 
    * Tested on Windows XP SP2.

    * Registration not required. This application is freeware. 

http://www.easyhr.com.au/software/easy_system_restore.htm
- "Download Easy HR Computer Uptime" is a silly typo, the file is the proper "SetRestore.exe"
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: PhilB66 on June 07, 2008, 11:20 AM
I am using System Snapshot (http://www.angelfire.com/wizard2/hkeylocal/system.htm) for Windows XP. Features:

  • Eliminates the need to have to navigate to the System Restore interface to create a restore point
  • Immediately creates a restore point for the System Restore utility
  • Can be configured to automatically load in the Windows system tray on Windows starts up
  • Offers a convenient system tray icon which can be used to create a restore point on the fly
  • Can be configured to automatically create a restore point on Windows or System Snapshot startup
  • Provides the ability to automatically create a restore point via Windows XP's Scheduled Tasks service or a 3rd party scheduler
  • Provides the option to add a description for the restore point
  • Includes options to disable access to the System Restore interface and System Restore settings
  • Takes up about 5k of memory

[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Deozaan on June 15, 2008, 01:11 PM
Windows XP System Restore usually makes me wait 5-10 minutes while it reboots and performs the Restore only to tell me that it couldn't restore to the point and it failed.

I've only been able to get it to work perhaps 2-3 times total in all the years I've run XP. It's not very dependable.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: LordDaMan on June 16, 2008, 12:15 PM
System restore worked wonders for me. I tried one of those total conversion packs to replace all the bitmaps inside various system files. The installer pretty much borked the entire system. i couldn't even boot normally without windows throwing up a ton of errors. I managed to get into safe mode ans ran system restore. It worked perfectly and made my system usable again
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: mouser on June 16, 2008, 12:30 PM
System Restore can save you, but in my view it should be something of a last resort, since it can leave your system in a state where anything installed after the save point is still on your drive, but not properly installed.

In other words, it rolls back SOME of the changes made to your system but not all, which is not a great place to be.  For emergencies it may be useful but avoid it if you possibly can.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Darwin on June 16, 2008, 02:10 PM
System Restore can save you, but in my view it should be something of a last resort, since it can leave your system in a state where anything installed after the save point is still on your drive, but not properly installed.

In other words, it rolls back SOME of the changes made to your system but not all, which is not a great place to be.  For emergencies it may be useful but avoid it if you possibly can.
-mouser (June 16, 2008, 12:30 PM)

This, sadly, has been my experience with System Restore. I have SR disabled, now, and rely on Super Flexible File Synch and Acronis True Image to keep me out of harm's way.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: tomos on June 16, 2008, 02:46 PM
rely on ... Acronis True Image to keep me out of harm's way.
-Darwin (June 16, 2008, 02:10 PM)

I sort of rely on Acronis TI as well, but I've never actually restored an image - it sort of reminds me of the first time I opened a computer to replace a CD drive, I was, ahh ... scared out of my wits :D
The idea of restoring an image has the same effect on me - MG - what if nothing works after :tellme:

Like the sound of Rollback RX but the price ($69...+ 19% tax here :() seems a lot more than it's worth (to me at any rate)
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Darwin on June 16, 2008, 03:10 PM
Have no fear, Tom! Restoring my system from an Acronis Image has been completely devoid of drama in the more than three years that I've been using True Image.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: cranioscopical on June 16, 2008, 03:53 PM
Have no fear, Tom! Restoring my system from an Acronis Image has been completely devoid of drama in the more than three years that I've been using True Image.
-Darwin
And how are you enjoying your C=64?
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: CleverCat on June 17, 2008, 03:00 AM
Have no fear, Tom! Restoring my system from an Acronis Image has been completely devoid of drama in the more than three years that I've been using True Image.
-Darwin (June 16, 2008, 03:10 PM)

Ditto here! ;)
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: registercleaner on November 17, 2009, 07:56 AM
I think it is the best feature of Windows XP.
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Clive on November 17, 2009, 10:37 PM
System Restore has worked for me but ,as with all things, you can't rely on it to get you out of all nasty situations. I use ERUNT (http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/) as another form of system restore. (I'm a belt & braces sort of guy when it comes to 'puters). Most of you will have already heard of it, no doubt
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: nicklettin on November 17, 2009, 11:03 PM
In my experience System Restore is far from perfect. I have used it to get me out of scrapes but as other respondents have observed it doesn't undo everything you've done so bits of files are still left on the hard drive making removal or reinstallation problematic. And yes, the respondent who said that program links still exist in the Start menu is quite correct and it's a real pain in the ass to deal with. Use Ystem restore as a last resort indeed, because as far as XP is concerned that's really all it's good for in my honest opinion.

Clive, thank you for reminding me of Erunt, I must reinstall it. ;D
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: delwoode on November 19, 2009, 11:31 AM
never worked for me when i really needed it too!  to be honest I have also used Acronis and maybe something else I forget, none of them were any good. I had to do a fresh instal
Title: Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.
Post by: Darwin on November 19, 2009, 12:36 PM
Acronis has been brilliant for me. The only time I tried System Restore was under XP and it worked *OK* (think: So far, so good, but far from good!). I've not used System Restore under either Vista or Win7. Haven't used the built in system backup feature, either.