How can I restore files from System Volume Information

[im]

Windows XP SP3:
How do I restore the files and directory structure from a specific
System Volume Information subdirectory?
(In this case "G:\System Volume Information
\_restore{5D188000-1C00-45FE-B2BF-E9B71896436D}\RP268")

G: is is a non-boot FAT32 data drive. There are about 40 renamed
files (A00#####.original extension) and the "change.log.1" and
"RestorePointSize" files.

The change.log.1 looks like a complete table of contents format file,
but not very user friendly. Is there a way to display this in a
readable format? I could even rename files manually if required, if I
could easily read the TOC.

No Restore Points were found by System Restore, and the backup utility
didn't recognize the directory or files.
Frank

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Windows XP SP3:
How do I restore the files and directory structure from a specific
System Volume Information subdirectory?
(In this case "G:\System Volume Information
\_restore{5D188000-1C00-45FE-B2BF-E9B71896436D}\RP268")

G: is is a non-boot FAT32 data drive. There are about 40 renamed
files (A00#####.original extension) and the "change.log.1" and
"RestorePointSize" files.

The change.log.1 looks like a complete table of contents format file,
but not very user friendly. Is there a way to display this in a
readable format? I could even rename files manually if required, if I
could easily read the TOC.

No Restore Points were found by System Restore, and the backup utility
didn't recognize the directory or files.
Frank

Unless you can find a comprehensive description of the internal format used
for these log files, you would have to rename/move the backed up files
manually. With some 40 files, this appears to be an easy task.

 

[im]

Unless you can find a comprehensive description of the internal format used
for these log files, you would have to rename/move the backed up files
manually. With some 40 files, this appears to be an easy task.

Then what is the purpose of these (huge) directories? If neither
System Restore nor the Backup Utility, nor any other program, can use
them, and they are not human readable, why do they exist.?

Does this explain why my search for "System Volume Information"
returned thousands of hits asking how to delete the directories, and
none on how to use them.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Then what is the purpose of these (huge) directories? If neither
System Restore nor the Backup Utility, nor any other program, can use
them, and they are not human readable, why do they exist.?

Does this explain why my search for "System Volume Information"
returned thousands of hits asking how to delete the directories, and
none on how to use them.

System Restore can use them, unless something went wrong somewhere . . .

There are two easy things you can do manually:
- Restore any of the registry hives.
- Restore individual files, if you know where they came from.

 

[Nepatsfan]

Windows XP SP3:
How do I restore the files and directory structure from a specific
System Volume Information subdirectory?
(In this case "G:\System Volume Information
\_restore{5D188000-1C00-45FE-B2BF-E9B71896436D}\RP268")

G: is is a non-boot FAT32 data drive. There are about 40 renamed
files (A00#####.original extension) and the "change.log.1" and
"RestorePointSize" files.

The change.log.1 looks like a complete table of contents format file,
but not very user friendly. Is there a way to display this in a
readable format? I could even rename files manually if required, if I
could easily read the TOC.

No Restore Points were found by System Restore, and the backup utility
didn't recognize the directory or files.
Frank

Just out of curiosity, why do you have System Restore monitoring a data
drive. Since System Restore is designed to restore files used by the
operating system it will be of no help in recovering user's files.
Personally, I'm of the opinion that having System Restore monitoring your G
drive is a waste of hard drive space.

Nepatsfan

 

[im]

Just out of curiosity, why do you have System Restore monitoring a data
drive. Since System Restore is designed to restore files used by the
operating system it will be of no help in recovering user's files.
Personally, I'm of the opinion that having System Restore monitoring your G
drive is a waste of hard drive space.

Nepatsfan

You'll have to ask Bill.
This is a pretty standard installation of XP Pro Sp3. All 5
partitions across 2 physical drives (3 NTFS, 2 FAT) have the System
Volume Information directory structure. The only thing I'v ever done
with them until now is periorically delete the overgrown contents.

If you know how to control their creation or read the TOC file, please
let me know.

 

[im]

System Restore can use them, unless something went wrong somewhere . . .

There are two easy things you can do manually:
- Restore any of the registry hives.
- Restore individual files, if you know where they came from.

Well, that's what I want to do, restore individual files from from the
SVI directory on G: to a known place. What tool will do this?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Well, that's what I want to do, restore individual files from from the
SVI directory on G: to a known place. What tool will do this?

Standard copy and rename, either from a Command Prompt or using Explorer.