Backup of System State

[Broonie]

Hi There,

I might be being a bit stupid here but what is the point in having the
ability to restore sytem state using the Backup Utility in XP when
there is already the System Restore functionality. As far as I am
aware system state backs up the registry, system files, boots files
and +Com stuff but no program files where as System Restore will
include all program files.

If I can't boot into Windows for whatever reason I can't get to the
Backup Utility but I can get into the System restore from Safe Mode
with command prompt. Can someone please explain a scenario where I
would restore a System State using the Backup Utility instead of using
System Restore?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Hi There,

I might be being a bit stupid here but what is the point in having the
ability to restore sytem state using the Backup Utility in XP when
there is already the System Restore functionality. As far as I am
aware system state backs up the registry, system files, boots files
and +Com stuff but no program files where as System Restore will
include all program files.

If I can't boot into Windows for whatever reason I can't get to the
Backup Utility but I can get into the System restore from Safe Mode
with command prompt. Can someone please explain a scenario where I
would restore a System State using the Backup Utility instead of using
System Restore?

System restore isn't for backup purposes. It's for recovery (sometimes there
are air quotes around that) from Something Bad, such as a malware
infestation or software blowout.

Now, if your hard drive blows up and you have a system state backup, you can
restore your user accounts & groups, I guess. I don't use it on
workstations. If I back up workstations at all, I use cloning/imaging
software (I like Acronis TrueImage).

 

[Daave]

Hi There,

I might be being a bit stupid here but what is the point in having the
ability to restore sytem state using the Backup Utility in XP when
there is already the System Restore functionality. As far as I am
aware system state backs up the registry, system files, boots files
and +Com stuff but no program files where as System Restore will
include all program files.

If I can't boot into Windows for whatever reason I can't get to the
Backup Utility but I can get into the System restore from Safe Mode
with command prompt. Can someone please explain a scenario where I
would restore a System State using the Backup Utility instead of using
System Restore?

If your hard drive is shot, it would be impossible to run System
Restore.

Of course, imaging the hard drive would be better than backing up the
System State...

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

For a description of what is backed up, see:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...523d-48ac-8825-e850b0e548841033.mspx?mfr=true

 

[Broonie]

Systemrestore isn't for backup purposes. It's for recovery (sometimes there
are air quotes around that) from Something Bad, such as a malware
infestation or software blowout.

Now, if your hard drive blows up and you have asystemstatebackup, you can
restore your user accounts & groups, I guess. I don't use it on
workstations. If I back up workstations at all, I use cloning/imaging
software (I like Acronis TrueImage).

Thanks for that, makes sense.

Using your example above of the blown HDD I would first have to do a
new, clean install of XP and then use the Backup utility to restore my
system state. In doing this surely I have restored a registry bloated
with entires from the programs previously installed on the old blown
disk. Which leads to 2 questions.

1. What happens when I re-install the same programs - will it screw
the registry, resulting in strange behaviour when running them or will
the old registry entries be over-written when the programs are re-
installed?
2. What would happen if i backed up my program files folder as well as
my system sate and then, after I have restored my system state on a
new install of XP, simply copy the contents of my program files backup
into the new program files folder - will they work?

Cheers

Craig

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Thanks for that, makes sense.

Using your example above of the blown HDD I would first have to do a
new, clean install of XP and then use the Backup utility to restore my
system state. In doing this surely I have restored a registry bloated
with entires from the programs previously installed on the old blown
disk. Which leads to 2 questions.

No. System state is not for backup/restore of your OS, data or programs. It
would restore your users and groups. It would be next to useless. I always
take system state backups on my domain controllers, because System State in
AD is very very important. On a workstation, not so much, usually.

1. What happens when I re-install the same programs - will it screw
the registry, resulting in strange behaviour when running them or will
the old registry entries be over-written when the programs are re-
installed?

No - you'd *have* to reinstall all your apps, and restore all your user
data, regardless.

2. What would happen if i backed up my program files folder as well as
my system sate and then, after I have restored my system state on a
new install of XP, simply copy the contents of my program files backup
into the new program files folder - will they work?

Nope. If you want a full backup that restores everything, you need
imaging/cloning software such as Acronis. If you don't want to bother, just
back up all your user data files - you can use ntbackup or third party stuff
or simply a batch file that copies files. Then, if you have a HDD failure
you reinstall your OS and programs individually & then restore your data.

Acronis totally rocks, by the way.

Cheers

Craig

Hope this helps clarify things....