System Restore: For and Against

D

Daddy

I make frequent, regular images of my system partition -- at least once a
day, and before I make any significant changes to my computer. For this
reason, I don't rely on System Restore. In fact, I turned it off long ago.
All it did was make my images bigger.

Now, years later, I'm reconsidering that decision because...well, it's a
healthy thing to do. I still don't see how System Restore benefits me, but
I'm open to other people's opinions. In my view:

For System Restore:
* It's faster than making an image (but it only takes me 9 minutes to image
my system partition.)
* My most recent restore point may be more recent than my most recent image.

Against System Restore:
* Why backup only a selection of system and user files -- if whatever is
causing trouble for my computer is not included in that selection, the
restore point doesn't help me.
* Restoring a restore point means I may end up with some system and user
files from a different date than the rest of my system and user files, which
might possibly lead to instability.
* Restore points are stored on the same disk from which they are taken!
* Even if a restore point succeeds in restoring my computer to a usable
state, there's no guarantee it will reverse all the damage caused by a bad
install, for example, the way an image can.

Anyone care to opine?

Daddy
 
P

Pegasus [MVP]

Daddy said:
I make frequent, regular images of my system partition -- at least once a
day, and before I make any significant changes to my computer. For this
reason, I don't rely on System Restore. In fact, I turned it off long ago.
All it did was make my images bigger.

Now, years later, I'm reconsidering that decision because...well, it's a
healthy thing to do. I still don't see how System Restore benefits me, but
I'm open to other people's opinions. In my view:

For System Restore:
* It's faster than making an image (but it only takes me 9 minutes to
image my system partition.)
+++ Agreed.
* My most recent restore point may be more recent than my most recent
image.
+++ Agreed.
Against System Restore:
* Why backup only a selection of system and user files -- if whatever is
causing trouble for my computer is not included in that selection, the
restore point doesn't help me.
+++ Disagreed. System Restore does not back up user files. But yes,
+++ using System Restore will not undo all damage.
* Restoring a restore point means I may end up with some system and user
files from a different date than the rest of my system and user files,
which might possibly lead to instability.
+++ I don't think so. My experience is that if System Restore works
+++ then the system is stable.
* Restore points are stored on the same disk from which they are taken!
+++ Agreed.
* Even if a restore point succeeds in restoring my computer to a usable
state, there's no guarantee it will reverse all the damage caused by a bad
install, for example, the way an image can.
+++ Agreed.
 
T

Terry R.

On 10/20/2009 2:51 PM On a whim, Daddy pounded out on the keyboard
I make frequent, regular images of my system partition -- at least once a
day, and before I make any significant changes to my computer. For this
reason, I don't rely on System Restore. In fact, I turned it off long ago.
All it did was make my images bigger.

Now, years later, I'm reconsidering that decision because...well, it's a
healthy thing to do. I still don't see how System Restore benefits me, but
I'm open to other people's opinions. In my view:

For System Restore:
* It's faster than making an image (but it only takes me 9 minutes to image
my system partition.)
* My most recent restore point may be more recent than my most recent image.

Against System Restore:
* Why backup only a selection of system and user files -- if whatever is
causing trouble for my computer is not included in that selection, the
restore point doesn't help me.
* Restoring a restore point means I may end up with some system and user
files from a different date than the rest of my system and user files, which
might possibly lead to instability.
* Restore points are stored on the same disk from which they are taken!
* Even if a restore point succeeds in restoring my computer to a usable
state, there's no guarantee it will reverse all the damage caused by a bad
install, for example, the way an image can.

Anyone care to opine?

Daddy

I say stick with what you already are doing. Keep it off and save the
disk space. A good backup is better than relying on SR. Too many think
SR is the save-your-butt program, and too many of those don't even have
a single backup.

SR has failed more times when NEEDED for myself or client machines that
leads me to believe it's worthless. Windows doesn't need to be
monitored daily for most users. If users make a backup prior to making
big changes, that should be sufficient. Using ERUNT can be helpful also
(yes, I know it's not the same as SR, but at least it works).

I backup data every day. I create backups of the OS partitions monthly.
Works for me and has for years.


Terry R.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

On 10/20/2009 2:51 PM On a whim, Daddy pounded out on the keyboard


I say stick with what you already are doing. Keep it off and save the
disk space. A good backup is better than relying on SR.


Unquestionably, if it has to be one or the other, backing up is better
than System Restore. A thorough backup protects much more than System
Restore does.

However, it doesn't have to be one or the other, it can (and should)
be both. Backup protects your data, and System Restore provides a
quick and easy way to get out of trouble within the operating system.

Too many think
SR is the save-your-butt program, and too many of those don't even have
a single backup.

SR has failed more times when NEEDED for myself or client machines that
leads me to believe it's worthless.


I completely disagree that it's worthless. I have used System Restore
to get myself (and others) out of trouble several times. It always
worked perfectly, and, as I said above, was quick and easy to do. If I
had to get out of trouble some other way, It would have taken me much
longer.


Windows doesn't need to be
monitored daily for most users. If users make a backup prior to making
big changes, that should be sufficient. Using ERUNT can be helpful also
(yes, I know it's not the same as SR, but at least it works).



Yes, as you say, it's not the same as System Restore. And yes, as you
say, it can also be very helpful. It uses a small amount of disk space
and takes only a few seconds to run. I do it every day.

I personally am in favor of multiple layers of backups. I backup, run
System Restore, and run ERUNT every day. For critical data (for
example, my financial data) I also do a regular manual backup,
alternating between two thumb drives.
 
J

Jim

I make frequent, regular images of my system partition -- at least once a
day, and before I make any significant changes to my computer. For this
reason, I don't rely on System Restore. In fact, I turned it off long ago.
All it did was make my images bigger.

Now, years later, I'm reconsidering that decision because...well, it's a
healthy thing to do. I still don't see how System Restore benefits me, but
I'm open to other people's opinions. In my view:

For System Restore:
* It's faster than making an image (but it only takes me 9 minutes to image
my system partition.)
* My most recent restore point may be more recent than my most recent image.

Against System Restore:
* Why backup only a selection of system and user files -- if whatever is
causing trouble for my computer is not included in that selection, the
restore point doesn't help me.
* Restoring a restore point means I may end up with some system and user
files from a different date than the rest of my system and user files, which
might possibly lead to instability.
* Restore points are stored on the same disk from which they are taken!
* Even if a restore point succeeds in restoring my computer to a usable
state, there's no guarantee it will reverse all the damage caused by a bad
install, for example, the way an image can.

Anyone care to opine?

Daddy

I turned SR off many moons ago and just use ERUNT , as well as using
Acronis .
 
D

Daddy

Many thanks for everyone's ideas.

I should mention that by "user files" I was referring to local profiles, not
data files like Word documents.

System Restore's purpose is to return your system to a "workable state" (as
Microsoft puts it); but I would rather have my system in the best possible
state, which is more likely to be achieved by restoring a known-good image.

I think System Restore is best used if you know or believe that a particular
install (new software, update, driver) is causing a problem, and then only
if you restore your computer as soon as possible. System Restore changes
many different files and registry entries, and in some cases - like if
you're restoring an older restore point - might replace too much and
actually cause more problems than it solves.

Still, I am also a believer in the 'layers of protection' and can see using
System Restore in that context. Sometimes it's inconvenient to restore my
entire system partition.

Daddy
 
T

Terry R.

On 10/20/2009 4:28 PM On a whim, Ken Blake, MVP pounded out on the keyboard
Unquestionably, if it has to be one or the other, backing up is better
than System Restore. A thorough backup protects much more than System
Restore does.

However, it doesn't have to be one or the other, it can (and should)
be both. Backup protects your data, and System Restore provides a
quick and easy way to get out of trouble within the operating system.




I completely disagree that it's worthless. I have used System Restore
to get myself (and others) out of trouble several times. It always
worked perfectly, and, as I said above, was quick and easy to do. If I
had to get out of trouble some other way, It would have taken me much
longer.

Several times since 2001 isn't very many. I have had it fail dozens and
dozens and dozens of times. A lot of times it's the first thing I
attempt on a new client machine, given the description of their issue.
At that point (after SR fails), it doesn't do any good to refer them to
Bert K.'s site, nor to waste any time trying to fix a different issue
than what the client needs done.

After failing multiple times on this workstation, I can consider it
worthless. But I'm glad it worked for you a few times. It did for me
also, but not nearly as many times as it failed. Hence my opinion.

I personally am in favor of multiple layers of backups. I backup, run
System Restore, and run ERUNT every day. For critical data (for
example, my financial data) I also do a regular manual backup,
alternating between two thumb drives.

I don't backup anything critical to flash drives either. Again my
opinion. Seen too many times when plugging them in and Windows wanting
to format them...

We only come to our conclusions through our experiences. I'm glad
you've had success where I haven't.

Terry R.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

I don't backup anything critical to flash drives either. Again my
opinion. Seen too many times when plugging them in and Windows wanting
to format them...


I'll just mention that I've used thumb drives (of several different
brands) hundreds of times on my own computer and on others, and I have
never had a single problem with any of them. However, I do know that
they don't last forever and can only be written to a finite number of
times, so that's at least part of the reason that they are not the
only place the critical data is backed up; they are an additional
layer.


We only come to our conclusions through our experiences. I'm glad
you've had success where I haven't.


Exactly right, and sorry your experiences with System Restore and
thumb drives haven't been as good as mine.
 
T

Terry R.

On 10/21/2009 2:47 PM On a whim, Ken Blake, MVP pounded out on the keyboard
I'll just mention that I've used thumb drives (of several different
brands) hundreds of times on my own computer and on others, and I have
never had a single problem with any of them. However, I do know that
they don't last forever and can only be written to a finite number of
times, so that's at least part of the reason that they are not the
only place the critical data is backed up; they are an additional
layer.





Exactly right, and sorry your experiences with System Restore and
thumb drives haven't been as good as mine.

I'll use a flash drive as a quick way to get a group of files to a
machine, and for the most part that works fine.

I've learned to live without SR and don't miss it. The less I depend on
things, the less frustration I have when they let me down.


Terry R.
 
B

Bill Sharpe

Daddy said:
Many thanks for everyone's ideas.

I should mention that by "user files" I was referring to local profiles, not
data files like Word documents.

System Restore's purpose is to return your system to a "workable state" (as
Microsoft puts it); but I would rather have my system in the best possible
state, which is more likely to be achieved by restoring a known-good image.

I think System Restore is best used if you know or believe that a particular
install (new software, update, driver) is causing a problem, and then only
if you restore your computer as soon as possible. System Restore changes
many different files and registry entries, and in some cases - like if
you're restoring an older restore point - might replace too much and
actually cause more problems than it solves.

Still, I am also a believer in the 'layers of protection' and can see using
System Restore in that context. Sometimes it's inconvenient to restore my
entire system partition.

Daddy
I vote for both. System restore is semi-automatic, in that restore
points can be created automatically by Windows or manually by the user.
It's also considerably quicker than image disks. I'm a light XP user; I
make images about once a month and probably invoke a restore point about
as often. I create a restore point whenever I install a new program but
seldom need to restore to such points.
 

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