System Restore info

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eustace
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Eustace

My laptop came with Ghost trial version installed, but I do not think I
will buy it once the trial period is over in a week. Where can I find
some basic information about running System Restore?
 
Eustace said:
My laptop came with Ghost trial version installed, but I do not think
I will buy it once the trial period is over in a week. Where can I
find some basic information about running System Restore?
Click to expand...


There's very good info about System Restore here:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/description.html

But don't compare Ghost with System Restore. They do very different things.
 
There's very good info about System Restore here:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/description.html

But don't compare Ghost with System Restore. They do very different things.
Click to expand...

I am trying to understand the differences between the 2. Ghost restores
the computer to a previous condition, including programs and files
installed, while System Restore restores the system settings to the
previous condition. That means that before System Restore you have to
uninstall the application you installed; (I am not sure if you can do it
after restoring...). Regarding files, I don't mind backing up on a CD,
so there is not much advantage on this point for me. But I do think that
the 10 GB that Ghost demands (out of the 40 of my machine is a bit too much.

Please correct me if my current understanding of the differences is
incorrect.
 
Hi,
I am trying to understand the differences between the 2. Ghost
restores the computer to a previous condition, including programs and
files installed
Click to expand...

Imaging software such as Ghost creates an exact copy of the partition
being imaged. Restoring an image will but the system back to exactly the
way it was from when the image was created.
while System Restore restores the system settings to the
previous condition. That means that before System Restore you have to
uninstall the application you installed;
Click to expand...

This is essentially correct. When a system is restored, all monitored
files and registry settings of any program installed after that restore
point was created will be lost, and the non monitored files will be left
behind. This will cause the application not to function. And in some
cases, can also cause the uninstall and reinstall process of the
partially removed application to fail. This is why it is recommended to
uninstall any applications installed after the restore point you will be
restoring to.

System Restore is most effective when used immediately after a problem
occurs. More than a week or two can cause more problems than it solves.
(I am not sure if you can do it after restoring...). Regarding files,
I don't mind backing up on a CD, so there is not much advantage on
this point for me. But I do think
that the 10 GB that Ghost demands (out of the 40 of my machine is a
bit too much.
Click to expand...

Acronis True Image is another option.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage
 
Eustace said:
On 2006.06.28 21:33 Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

I am trying to understand the differences between the 2.
Click to expand...


Bert answered this and described the differences, and I don't really have
anything to add, except one point below.


Ghost
restores the computer to a previous condition, including programs and
files
installed, while System Restore restores the system settings to the
previous condition. That means that before System Restore you have to
uninstall the application you installed; (I am not sure if you can do
it after restoring...). Regarding files, I don't mind backing up on a
CD, so there is not much advantage on this point for me. But I do think
that the 10 GB that Ghost demands (out of the 40 of my machine is a
bit too much.
Click to expand...


What 10GB is that? Are you using Ghost to back up to a second partition on
your drive? Is so, I don't recommend backup to a second partition because
it leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to
many of the most common dangers: head crashes, severe power glitches, nearby
lightning strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

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.

My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup scheme uses two
identical removable hard drives,I alternate between the two, and use Acronis
True Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.
 
Bert answered this and described the differences, and I don't really have
anything to add, except one point below.





What 10GB is that? Are you using Ghost to back up to a second partition on
your drive? Is so, I don't recommend backup to a second partition because
it leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to
many of the most common dangers: head crashes, severe power glitches, nearby
lightning strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.
Click to expand...

Yes it is to a second partition in my laptop. I make backups of my files
to a CD-ROM though. I consider this plus the ability to restore the
system to its original condition if absolutely necessary at one point as
satisfactory. I haven't checked other removable media yet.
 
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