Restore previous versions feature for XP?

[jminiman]

I love Vista, but on one of my laptops, the Aero effects are just too
much - I need a lighter OS and I'm reformatting with XP SP2. However,
I absolutely love the "Restore Previous Versions" feature. I use it
several times a week. Yes I know - everyone should be backing up
their system on a regular basis. I would *really* like to see this
feature somehow in XP. I know Windows Server 2003 has this built-in
for local files. But I don't want to run such a large OS on my
laptop.

Are there any tools out there that closely emulate "Restore previous
versions" aka Volume Shadow Copy for local files, in Windows XP? I
would like it to only keep track of file delta's, rather than store
away complete copies of the file.

Any ideas would be great!

 

[Guest]

If Aero was bothering you, why didn't you just turn it off?

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Wi...1a-9e6f-41f4-ae82-3ed2d5fa2fbf1033.mspx#EWHAC

Right Click on "My Computer", select "Proprities", Click "Advanced" tab,
Look under performance go to "Settings" - "Adjust for best performance" or
choose what to turn off. http://vistafaqs.com/viewfaq.aspx?faq=88

 

[jminiman]

If Aero was bothering you, why didn't you just turn it off?

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/c33fe91a-9e6f-41f...

Right Click on "My Computer", select "Proprities", Click "Advanced" tab,
Look under performance go to "Settings" - "Adjust for best performance" or
choose what to turn off.http://vistafaqs.com/viewfaq.aspx?faq=88

Well, yes, of course I am aware this would help a few issues, but my
company is not yet supporting Vista. I would like to find a tool such
as I've described above for Windows XP, not Vista.

 

[Andrew Murray]

Well, yes, of course I am aware this would help a few issues, but my
company is not yet supporting Vista. I would like to find a tool such
as I've described above for Windows XP, not Vista.

The closest thing I could guess that does anythig near the same thing as the
Restore Previous Version utility is System Restore in XP, and possibly the
System File Checker.

From reading this page,
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/afb7ed89-ed63-4e07-a482-d7004a8f40121033.mspx#EI
it gives the impression of "Restore Previous Version" being the equivalent
of System Restore in XP.

I'm sure there are 'restore and backup' type tools available for XP on the
internet...but maybe or maybe not to the same extent as the Vista tool.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I love Vista, but on one of my laptops, the Aero effects are just too
much -

So turn off Aero. It's completely optional.

 

[Bert Kinney]

If Aero was bothering you, why didn't you just turn it off?

The closest thing I could guess that does anythig near the same thing as the
Restore Previous Version utility is System Restore in XP, and possibly the
System File Checker.

From reading this page,
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/afb7ed89-ed63-4e07-a482-d7004a8f40121033.mspx#EI
it gives the impression of "Restore Previous Version" being the equivalent
of System Restore in XP.

I'm sure there are 'restore and backup' type tools available for XP on the
internet...but maybe or maybe not to the same extent as the Vista tool.

The major difference between System Restore and SFC in XP and Previous
Versions in Vista is that Previous Versions also keeps copies of data file.
System Restore and SFC only keep track of system files.

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[jminiman]

I was thinking more along the lines of "Continuous Backup" software,
such as shown here:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,137434-page,4-c,backuputilities/article.html

Has anyone here had success with these products for when non-system
files are overwritten?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I was thinking more along the lines of "Continuous Backup" software,
such as shown here:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,137434-page,4-c,backuputilities/article.html

Has anyone here had success with these products for when non-system
files are overwritten?

I think the whole idea of "Continuous Backup software" is a poor one.
It requires that the backup media (for example, a second hard drive)
be there and be available all the time.

I don't recommend backup to a second non-removable hard drive because
it leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and
backup to many of the most common dangers: severe power glitches,
nearby lightning strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer. A
second partition on your only drive is even worse, since you can add
drive failure to the list above.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept
in the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the
life of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
stored off-site.

Continuous backup can not provide that level of security.