System Restore Point *before* last Windows Update

[Toni]

I have a situation on a Windows XP Pro SP3 computer where I need to go back to a System
Restore Point from about one month ago.

The only significant Windows system changes since then has been from Windows Update.

How does WinXP behave when restoring to a point before Windows updates were installed?
Am I simply asked to re-install the updates? Or does something break?

Thanks!!!

(repost - sorry, I originally posted this in the wrong group)

 

[Bennett Marco]

I have a situation on a Windows XP Pro SP3 computer where I need to go back to a System
Restore Point from about one month ago.

The only significant Windows system changes since then has been from Windows Update.

How does WinXP behave when restoring to a point before Windows updates were installed?
Am I simply asked to re-install the updates? Or does something break?

Yes, you will have to restore the updates. A month is a long time to
go back to, but it can be undone.

 

[Jose]

I have a situation on a Windows XP Pro SP3 computer where I need to go back to a System
Restore Point from about one month ago.

The only significant Windows system changes since then has been from Windows Update.

How does WinXP behave when restoring to a point before Windows updates were installed?
Am I simply asked to re-install the updates? Or does something break?

Thanks!!!

(repost - sorry, I originally posted this in the wrong group)

Maybe there is another way to resolve your unspecified situation.

If you think your situation has something to do with A Windows update,
won't reinstalling the updates after your System Restore just bring on
the same situation?

 

[Lem]

I have a situation on a Windows XP Pro SP3 computer where I need to go back to a System
Restore Point from about one month ago.

The only significant Windows system changes since then has been from Windows Update.

How does WinXP behave when restoring to a point before Windows updates were installed?
Am I simply asked to re-install the updates? Or does something break?

Thanks!!!

(repost - sorry, I originally posted this in the wrong group)

I'm surprised that you even *have* a SR point that's a month old.

The problem with restoring to an old restore point is that System
Restore does not monitor and restore everything. Thus, if an application
is installed and you restore to a point before the installation, the
probability is that some but not all of the application's files will be
deleted, leaving things in a confused and potentially unstable state.

I wouldn't expect that to happen with respect to security updates from
Windows Update.

System Restore does allow you to "undo" a restore, so it should be OK to
try.

For lots of details about System Restore, see MS-MVP Bert Kinney's site,
http://bertk.mvps.org/ In particular, see numbers 23 and 24 under "Tips
Fixes & FAQs"

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I would NOT use a Restore Point from a month ago without having first
uninstalled any/all Windows Updates that were installed after that Restore
Point was created.

A Restore Point is NOT an Image of your computer at a given date & time.

 

[Toni]

I'm surprised that you even *have* a SR point that's a month old.

(actually, it's s System Checkpoint I set with SystemSutite 7)

The problem with restoring to an old restore point is that System Restore does not
monitor and restore everything. Thus, if an application is installed and you restore
to a point before the installation, the probability is that some but not all of the
application's files will be deleted, leaving things in a confused and potentially
unstable state.

The problem has to do with a shareware program that did not uninstall properly. Yes, I
have later restore points, but I need the one I set just before installing the shareware
program.

This is not my daily laptop. It is a utility laptop that is used for image & video
processing, and browsing the web.

I also use it to test new software for stability before installing on my daily laptop (I
highly recommend this). I typically don't install any Windows or other softwae updates
when testing new software - this is the only case when I goofed!

:
:

For lots of details about System Restore, see MS-MVP Bert Kinney's site,
http://bertk.mvps.org/ In particular, see numbers 23 and 24 under "Tips Fixes & FAQs"

THANKS, that's a tremendous help!

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html

-Toni