Restore Point Question

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I am running Win XP sp2 on a Dell 9100. I used a restore point to roll my pc
back to March 26 to resolve a problem. After the restore, I noticed some word
files which were created AFTER March 26. Why are there files on my pc from
AFTER March 26 and how does XP know that such files are not corrupt? I also
tried opening a file created BEFORE March 26 which I updated AFTER March 26,
and the system asked me which version I wanted to keep? Thank you. Bryan
 
bryan said:
I am running Win XP sp2 on a Dell 9100. I used a restore point to roll my
pc back to March 26 to resolve a problem. After the restore, I noticed
some word
files which were created AFTER March 26. Why are there files on my pc
from AFTER March 26 and how does XP know that such files are not corrupt?
I also tried opening a file created BEFORE March 26 which I updated AFTER
March 26,
and the system asked me which version I wanted to keep? Thank you. Bryan
Click to expand...

System Restore only restores the system, and hence, as a rule. has no effect
on .doc files, at all. You have to deal with those separately. It tells
you as much when you are using it.

That said, for some key folders, like the desktop, system32, root folder
etc, it seems to do a more thorough restore job, restoring a wider range of
files, and often restoring files with the same name (putting a (2) after
them), so you can end up with 2 files with virtually identical names.
eg abc.doc and abc(2).doc. That may be what Word picked up on, when you
tried opening the file.

Jon
 
Hi Bryan,

Curious, where were these Word files located?

System Restore can not detect file corruption. It merely replaces a core
set of system files along with the most of the registry to the state the
files where in on the date being restored to.

Here is a description of System Restore that you may find helpful.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/description.html
 
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your reply. Are you saying that I could have multiple copies
of system files as well as documents? If I do another restore in the future,
will I get 3 copies? Do I need to clean this up? I am slightly confused.
Thanks Bryan
 
Hi Bert,
I created the folder on the c drive for my word docs and some
spreadsheets. Thanks for the links; I will try to decifer them.

Best Regards,

Bryan
 
bryan said:
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your reply. Are you saying that I could have multiple
copies
of system files as well as documents? If I do another restore in the
future, will I get 3 copies? Do I need to clean this up? I am slightly
confused. Thanks Bryan
Click to expand...

Yes, you can sometimes have multiple copies of system files, on occasions,
turning up after a system restore. Fortunately they're fairly easy to spot,
though.

You can use the search facilities in Windows (Start > Find...) to do a
search for files containing '(2)' or '(3)' etc in C:\windows (+subfolders)
and so identify ( / delete ) them en masse. [If you delete any then make
sure you leave at least one file, though, with that name in the folder-
minus the bracketed number, renamed if necessary]. I tend to clean them up
periodically, (generally keeping the file without the bracketed number) as
part of my general housekeeping, and haven't experienced any problems, thus
far, AFAIK, as a result of that.

BUT...it probably does no actual harm at all, having these multiple file
versions in the Windows folders - so it may well be better just to leave
them be, to avoid any far more serious problems, that might result from an
overly hasty press of a delete button.

Jon
 
Jon,
So the file with the bracketed number is the one that existed AFTER the
restore point was created? I want to keep the version of these system files
that existed when I created the restore point (i.e. the clean version). I
assume that is why you suggested that I delete the ones with the bracketed
number. Am I correct? Sorry to be redundant, I am not a advanced user.

Once again, thanks for your assistance. It is greatly appreciated. Bryan

Jon said:
bryan said:
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your reply. Are you saying that I could have multiple
copies
of system files as well as documents? If I do another restore in the
future, will I get 3 copies? Do I need to clean this up? I am slightly
confused. Thanks Bryan
Click to expand...

Yes, you can sometimes have multiple copies of system files, on occasions,
turning up after a system restore. Fortunately they're fairly easy to spot,
though.

You can use the search facilities in Windows (Start > Find...) to do a
search for files containing '(2)' or '(3)' etc in C:\windows (+subfolders)
and so identify ( / delete ) them en masse. [If you delete any then make
sure you leave at least one file, though, with that name in the folder-
minus the bracketed number, renamed if necessary]. I tend to clean them up
periodically, (generally keeping the file without the bracketed number) as
part of my general housekeeping, and haven't experienced any problems, thus
far, AFAIK, as a result of that.

BUT...it probably does no actual harm at all, having these multiple file
versions in the Windows folders - so it may well be better just to leave
them be, to avoid any far more serious problems, that might result from an
overly hasty press of a delete button.

Jon
Click to expand...
 
Perhaps the best thing to do would be to experiment with a few restore
points and different file versions on your desktop (eg create a .doc file on
your desktop, set a restore point, change the content of the .doc file on
your desktop, and then use system restore to the point you just set) to
observe its effect.

Anyhow, you can check the properties of files, to decide which one you want
to keep,
in a number of ways

eg

(1) Right-clicking the relevant files and choosing properties

(2) Choosing the "Details" view in Explorer (View > Details), (including
after a search),
and right-clicking the titles row to choose the particular details you wish
to view
eg date created, date modified, date accessed (via the more.. menu) etc


Jon


bryan said:
Jon,
So the file with the bracketed number is the one that existed AFTER the
restore point was created? I want to keep the version of these system
files
that existed when I created the restore point (i.e. the clean version). I
assume that is why you suggested that I delete the ones with the bracketed
number. Am I correct? Sorry to be redundant, I am not a advanced user.

Once again, thanks for your assistance. It is greatly appreciated. Bryan

Jon said:
bryan said:
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your reply. Are you saying that I could have multiple
copies
of system files as well as documents? If I do another restore in the
future, will I get 3 copies? Do I need to clean this up? I am slightly
confused. Thanks Bryan

:

bryan wrote:

I am running Win XP sp2 on a Dell 9100. I used a restore point to
roll
my pc back to March 26 to resolve a problem. After the restore, I
noticed some word
files which were created AFTER March 26. Why are there files on my
pc
from AFTER March 26 and how does XP know that such files are not
corrupt? I also tried opening a file created BEFORE March 26 which I
updated AFTER March 26,
and the system asked me which version I wanted to keep? Thank you.
Bryan

System Restore only restores the system, and hence, as a rule. has no
effect
on .doc files, at all. You have to deal with those separately. It
tells
you as much when you are using it.

That said, for some key folders, like the desktop, system32, root
folder
etc, it seems to do a more thorough restore job, restoring a wider
range
of files, and often restoring files with the same name (putting a (2)
after them), so you can end up with 2 files with virtually identical
names. eg abc.doc and abc(2).doc. That may be what Word picked up on,
when you tried opening the file.

Jon
Click to expand...

Yes, you can sometimes have multiple copies of system files, on
occasions,
turning up after a system restore. Fortunately they're fairly easy to
spot,
though.

You can use the search facilities in Windows (Start > Find...) to do a
search for files containing '(2)' or '(3)' etc in C:\windows
(+subfolders)
and so identify ( / delete ) them en masse. [If you delete any then make
sure you leave at least one file, though, with that name in the folder-
minus the bracketed number, renamed if necessary]. I tend to clean them
up
periodically, (generally keeping the file without the bracketed number)
as
part of my general housekeeping, and haven't experienced any problems,
thus
far, AFAIK, as a result of that.

BUT...it probably does no actual harm at all, having these multiple file
versions in the Windows folders - so it may well be better just to leave
them be, to avoid any far more serious problems, that might result from
an
overly hasty press of a delete button.

Jon
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Jon,
This sounds like the safest approach. Thanks again for your kind
assistance. Bryan

Jon said:
Perhaps the best thing to do would be to experiment with a few restore
points and different file versions on your desktop (eg create a .doc file on
your desktop, set a restore point, change the content of the .doc file on
your desktop, and then use system restore to the point you just set) to
observe its effect.

Anyhow, you can check the properties of files, to decide which one you want
to keep,
in a number of ways

eg

(1) Right-clicking the relevant files and choosing properties

(2) Choosing the "Details" view in Explorer (View > Details), (including
after a search),
and right-clicking the titles row to choose the particular details you wish
to view
eg date created, date modified, date accessed (via the more.. menu) etc


Jon


bryan said:
Jon,
So the file with the bracketed number is the one that existed AFTER the
restore point was created? I want to keep the version of these system
files
that existed when I created the restore point (i.e. the clean version). I
assume that is why you suggested that I delete the ones with the bracketed
number. Am I correct? Sorry to be redundant, I am not a advanced user.

Once again, thanks for your assistance. It is greatly appreciated. Bryan

Jon said:
bryan wrote:

Hi Jon,
Thanks for your reply. Are you saying that I could have multiple
copies
of system files as well as documents? If I do another restore in the
future, will I get 3 copies? Do I need to clean this up? I am slightly
confused. Thanks Bryan

:

bryan wrote:

I am running Win XP sp2 on a Dell 9100. I used a restore point to
roll
my pc back to March 26 to resolve a problem. After the restore, I
noticed some word
files which were created AFTER March 26. Why are there files on my
pc
from AFTER March 26 and how does XP know that such files are not
corrupt? I also tried opening a file created BEFORE March 26 which I
updated AFTER March 26,
and the system asked me which version I wanted to keep? Thank you.
Bryan

System Restore only restores the system, and hence, as a rule. has no
effect
on .doc files, at all. You have to deal with those separately. It
tells
you as much when you are using it.

That said, for some key folders, like the desktop, system32, root
folder
etc, it seems to do a more thorough restore job, restoring a wider
range
of files, and often restoring files with the same name (putting a (2)
after them), so you can end up with 2 files with virtually identical
names. eg abc.doc and abc(2).doc. That may be what Word picked up on,
when you tried opening the file.

Jon




Yes, you can sometimes have multiple copies of system files, on
occasions,
turning up after a system restore. Fortunately they're fairly easy to
spot,
though.

You can use the search facilities in Windows (Start > Find...) to do a
search for files containing '(2)' or '(3)' etc in C:\windows
(+subfolders)
and so identify ( / delete ) them en masse. [If you delete any then make
sure you leave at least one file, though, with that name in the folder-
minus the bracketed number, renamed if necessary]. I tend to clean them
up
periodically, (generally keeping the file without the bracketed number)
as
part of my general housekeeping, and haven't experienced any problems,
thus
far, AFAIK, as a result of that.

BUT...it probably does no actual harm at all, having these multiple file
versions in the Windows folders - so it may well be better just to leave
them be, to avoid any far more serious problems, that might result from
an
overly hasty press of a delete button.

Jon
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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