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Thread ID: 79317	2007-05-16 05:32:00	Win XP system restore	FoxyMX (5)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
550192	2007-05-16 05:32:00	Just a random post . . . After being a tad unhappy at the mess a program update made I used system restore a few days later to, well, restore my system . I've done this many times in the past but was interested to note that a swag of files I had downloaded disappeared with the restore . Not only that but a bit of housekeeping I had done, shifting files to other folders, was also undone with the restore . I can't remember this happening in the past . Maybe I didn't take any notice previously but I always thought system restore didn't touch a user's data or files, especially those on a different partition and not in Documents and Settings . It's not a big issue and I'm not going to stop using system restore as it's rather handy but it's just interesting that this happened .	FoxyMX (5)
550193	2007-05-16 05:53:00	You know that there are several (read: most) people who DON'T use System Restore at all . . . why? Because it's a great place for beasties and craven thing-ys to hide and re-infect and re-infest, over and over . I imagine if you don't have a full-install of whatever OPSYS you are running, then System Restore is an only choice . . but it is still a 'way over there-----> second choice for me . I'd concentrate on getting a full-install disc ASAP . . they'll be hard to get on OE label pretty soon . . . and use Belarc to get your keys and licenses printed up and all saved in a nice secure place . . . just in case Mr . Bill really pulls some wicked plugs and punches . . . which I am sure he'll do! Back up any critical files and folders you want to keep and just laugh from that point on . . . Spring housecleaning is a good idea any day . . . I burn down my OPSYS which is on a separate HDD about 2 or 3 times a year . You could use a separate partition for the OPSYS anyway . It makes things go so much more smoothly and faster when it's a nice, clean install . :thumbs:	SurferJoe46 (51)
550194	2007-05-16 06:18:00	Thanks for your concern Joe but I don't think you know me very well. :)	FoxyMX (5)
550195	2007-05-16 06:29:00	The problem is that you know too much, FMX . You move things . :( More and more, MS cater for those who know nothing . I suspect that Windows system left alone would work for a very long time without any problems (as long as nasties didn't get access from the Internet) . I've seen some very old W3 . 1 systems with the case and floppy drive full of dust, but still working, running the accounts software put in when the box was new . Probably no backups done, but no "improvements" or "upgrades" done, either . As the OS gets more "clever" (or bloated) the more MS must hope to have the only changes (upgrades or improvements) done by them . ;) So a system restore will try to restore things to the way they "should" be, according to MS . Anything you have changed is a Bad Thing, and should be undone . :D	Graham L (2)
550196	2007-05-16 06:30:00	This may explain why some of your files went AWOL during the restore: quote: System Restore monitors a core set of system and application files, recording and sometimes copying states of these files before changes are made. Monitored files include those that are not in excluded directories (My Documents) and that do not have known data file extensions (such as .doc). System Restore automatically creates restore points; no user intervention is required. To create a restore point, System Restore takes a full snapshot of the registry and some dynamic system files. For a list of file extension types, which are included (monitored and restored), refer to the Monitored File Extensions list in the System Restore section of the Platform SDK. Ref: Microsoft Windows XP System Restore (msdn2.microsoft.com) Ref: Monitored File Extensions (msdn2.microsoft.com)	Jen (38)
550197	2007-05-16 06:41:00	I suspect that Windows system left alone would work for a very long time without any problems (as long as nasties didn't get access from the Internet). Now where would the fun be in that? :rolleyes: Jen: Thanks for dredging that info up, it certainly does explain a few things. :D	FoxyMX (5)
550198	2007-05-16 08:33:00	You know that there are several (read: most) people who DON'T use System Restore at all . . . why? Because it's a great place for beasties and craven thing-ys to hide and re-infect and re-infest, over and over . Well maybe . Certainly the last reason for me to not use it . I have no concerns about malware . I hate the thing because its a bloated clumsy pig of a way to do a half assed job of what Ghost or Acronis can do properly .	pctek (84)
550199	2007-05-16 16:30:00	I hate the thing because its a bloated clumsy pig of a way to do a half assed jobBut are you sure you don't like it? :lol: :lol:	Greg (193)
550200	2007-05-17 00:52:00	But the difference between an imaging product and system restore is that system restore is done a couple of times a day without intervention or reliance on memory, spare time etc . That is why SR can be handy at times to correct a cranky problem . You also ignore the fact that an image restore zaps ALL files which is very often NOT what you want if your problem is just a wrong unknown registry entry, for example . In my book, both schemes have their place which is why I do both!	linw (53)
550201	2007-05-17 02:26:00	Very well said linw. :thumbs:	FoxyMX (5)
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