System Restore

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chicagofan

Is there a log, or a way to review what System Restore points/dates your
pc has on file... without making any changes?

I want to be able to periodically check and make sure it has specific
dates or sufficient restore points, and that nothing has stopped the
process.

How often are they routinely made? I don't remember setting a
frequency. TIA...
bj
 
Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore and when the
screen appears click Next to see a calendar of your restore points.
Instructions are on the top of the calendar.
 
In
chicagofan said:
Is there a log, or a way to review what System Restore
points/dates
your pc has on file... without making any changes?
Click to expand...


Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore.
Choose "Restore my computer to an earlier time." You'll be shown
a calendar; the days in bold are those with restore points. If
you don't proceed past this point, no actual restore will be
done.

I want to be able to periodically check and make sure it has
specific
dates or sufficient restore points, and that nothing has
stopped the
process.

How often are they routinely made? I don't remember setting a
frequency. TIA...
Click to expand...


You don't choose a frequency. It's normally once a day, if
nothing interferes with it happening.
 
Go to Start|All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore. When
System Restore opens, with "Restore my computer to an earlier time"
selected, click next, you will then see a calendar with all the currently
available restore points in bold on the calendar. Go to any such date and
it will tell you what has been restored.

Usually, new restore points are created when you add applications or install
updates from Windows Update. The system creates it's own restore points
daily when and if the system is idle long enough for it to do so. You can
also create restore points manually. Older restore points are deleted as
necessary as new points are created and the space allotted for restore
points is consumed. It's done on a first in first out basis meant the
oldest points are deleted first.
 
| Go to Start|All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System
Restore. When
| System Restore opens, with "Restore my computer to an earlier
time"
| selected, click next, you will then see a calendar with all the
currently
| available restore points in bold on the calendar. Go to any
such date and
| it will tell you what has been restored.
|
| Usually, new restore points are created when you add
applications or install
| updates from Windows Update. The system creates it's own
restore points
| daily when and if the system is idle long enough for it to do
so. You can
| also create restore points manually. Older restore points are
deleted as
| necessary as new points are created and the space allotted for
restore
| points is consumed. It's done on a first in first out basis
meant the
| oldest points are deleted first.
|
| --
| Michael Solomon MS-MVP
| Windows Shell/User
| Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
| DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
|
| | > Is there a log, or a way to review what System Restore
points/dates your
| > pc has on file... without making any changes?
| >
| > I want to be able to periodically check and make sure it has
specific
| > dates or sufficient restore points, and that nothing has
stopped the
| > process.
| >
| > How often are they routinely made? I don't remember setting
a frequency.
| > TIA...
| > bj
|
|
And I cannot remember where now, but I am positive I've seen a
setting to control how big that restore file can get, meaning how
many restores it can hold. Seems like it was a % of disk space,
but I can't find it right now without taking too much time.
Help, Michael?

Pop
 
Start>Control Panel>Performance and Maintenance>System and on the System
Properties page choose System Restore and click Settings.

There are several other ways to access the System Properties page, but you
know that.
 
Thanks Colin, I was afraid to proceed with the regular process, when I
*didn't* want to make any changes. Thanks to you, Ken, and Michael, I
now know that IS what must do. I appreciate everyone being so helpful
to the timid.
bj
 
Michael said:
Go to Start|All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore. When
System Restore opens, with "Restore my computer to an earlier time"
selected, click next, you will then see a calendar with all the currently
available restore points in bold on the calendar. Go to any such date and
it will tell you what has been restored.

Usually, new restore points are created when you add applications or install updates from Windows Update. The system creates it's own restore points daily when and if the system is idle long enough for it to do so. You can also create restore points manually. Older restore points are deleted as necessary as new points are created and the space allotted for restore points is consumed. It's done on a first in first out basis meant the oldest points are deleted first.
Click to expand...
So I think this tells me, they are made so often, and without user
control... it is impossible to save specific restore points... right?
bj
 
You may, and should, set your own restore points as needed. Go to Start>All
Programs>Accessories>System Tools and run System Restore. You will notice
that you have two options. One is to restore to a previous point in time
and the other is to create a new restore point.
 
Colin said:
You may, and should, set your own restore points as needed. Go to Start>All
Programs>Accessories>System Tools and run System Restore. You will notice
that you have two options. One is to restore to a previous point in time
and the other is to create a new restore point.
Click to expand...

My question wasn't clear. I know how to create them and have... but I
have no way of *keeping* specific ones... right? All are going to be
automatically deleted by oldest date... right? :)
bj
 
Yes. What I suggest is that you use the Backup utility found at Start>All
Programs>Accessories>System Tools and make periodic backups of the System
State. If you are using Home you will need to install it from your XP Home
CD or download it from
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm#backup_home

Of course I think an even better idea is to make regular full backups from
time to time.
 
Colin said:
Yes. What I suggest is that you use the Backup utility found at Start>All
Programs>Accessories>System Tools and make periodic backups of the System
State. If you are using Home you will need to install it from your XP Home
CD or download it from
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm#backup_home

Of course I think an even better idea is to make regular full backups from
time to time.
Click to expand...

Thanks... I have installed NTBackup, and used it to backup my data once.
I had tried to back up my system and found out I couldn't, so I just
copied the data to go through the process once.

So are you saying I could backup the System State separately/only, and
it would work on NTBackup? Hate to be so dense, but I want to get it
right... until I can get an easy method for full backups. :)
bj
 
Yes. You can deselect all the check boxes except System State. You can
back it up anywhere you like.
 
Understand that you cannot selectively save restore points and restoring the
system state is not quite the same thing though it would restore a lot of
settings that were saved in that System State backup.

You could do it with an imaging program but that obviates the necessity of
System Restore, at least up to the point the image was created. However,
restoring an image would restore the entire drive exactly as it was and most
imaging software allows for selective restore of files.
 
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