Before installing something new on your system use the "system restore\create a restore point" feature on XP. I set the restore name as "Leroy's mm-dd-yy restore." I found that XP doesn't always set a "system check point" every single time a new application is installed. If the new installation fails then you can always go back and restore your system by running the feature from "Help and Support," and selecting your restore point as the one to restore to. Ironically, not all software includes an uninstall utility program for removing the application.
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Manually setting a restore point on XP.
- Thread starter xproforme
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I don t agree. This feature might be nice for people that don t know a lot of pc s in general but when you know a bit you should disable it and make an partition or hd image and just update iz before installing something new.
That s a better way and you are sure you get also installed none system files to go.
Image tools are a lot available but I advise to use one that reads out the partition or drive in bits. More accurate
That s a better way and you are sure you get also installed none system files to go.
Image tools are a lot available but I advise to use one that reads out the partition or drive in bits. More accurate
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- #3
Good suggestion for some people, but it seems the vast majority of computer users want simplicity not another complicated task to perform. Manually setting a restore point on XP is simple, effective, and understandable. Yet you do have a valid point. Although, I disagree that your method of disabling the restore feature is a good idea. Why would anyone disable the feature in the first place? I'd really like to know if you don't mind answering my question?
Disabling, temporarily, System Restore, is a way to clear restore points if you feel or in fact have had a virus, worm or other malware attack.
Then cleanup the mess.
Then re-enable restore.
I am not sure I agree with theOmega, but in the best of all possible worlds I would have enough disk space, very fast tape, or other means to backup in a "Full State" everything and everybody.
I am moving some clients to Windows 2003 for just this reason.
Then cleanup the mess.
Then re-enable restore.
I am not sure I agree with theOmega, but in the best of all possible worlds I would have enough disk space, very fast tape, or other means to backup in a "Full State" everything and everybody.
I am moving some clients to Windows 2003 for just this reason.
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I have a (Veritas) backup program that I have not used yet. It will backup my data to DVD-R/RAM and supports file writing over multiple discs. Should I backup all of my data to disc or is system restore adequate for this purpose? It sounds like system restore mostly fucuses on the operating system as my backup program reports that a large percentage of my data is unprotected. I know that it is important as having to reistall everything is time consuming not to mention backing up irreplacable original documents. Backing up to the HD is not pracitical in my case although I have a spare HD that I could install for this purpose. Any thoughts would be appreciated on this end. L Pena.
Maybe a little more costly but to me well worth it for the convenience, is having a 2nd hard drive (removable or external) and using a program like drive copy. I back up a 40gb hard drive in less than 25min. When I'm done I can take the drive with the copy on it and install it in place of the original in the event of a breakdown. No fooling with restore points, no worry about settings, drivers and the like. Just make it the startup drive and off you go.
I may have mis-spoken in saying to simply make the backup drive the startup drive. In my case I use removable drives for myself and any customers who want this system. However, if an external drive was used I don't know of anyway to make it the startup drive. There may be a way but I don't know it.
All would not be lost because you could attach the external drive to another system and use drivecopy to copy it to a new startup drive, relacing the old one. This would certainly not simplify the process, however.
But I still believe that if you use another internal or removable drive (which is connected as an internal when attached to the computer) That this is the simplest and fastest way out of trouble.
All would not be lost because you could attach the external drive to another system and use drivecopy to copy it to a new startup drive, relacing the old one. This would certainly not simplify the process, however.
But I still believe that if you use another internal or removable drive (which is connected as an internal when attached to the computer) That this is the simplest and fastest way out of trouble.
You will not convince XP to make a removable drive a "startup" drive. There are many packages that will peform an image of the existing boot drive and allow this to be stored on a removable or second drive. Some will even do this as an incremental backup (Drive Image, for one).
The ASR feature of ntbackup can also be used for this purpose.
The ASR feature of ntbackup can also be used for this purpose.
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