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Old February 8th 11, 01:24 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
SC Tom[_3_]
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Default How effective is System Restore to bring XP Pro back to a newly installed state without reinstalling?

This is all very true, and I couldn't agree more. I was replying to Andy's
reply about using a second drive for his backups. But you are correct- if
the powers-that-be has a finger over the 'smite' button, you're hosed no
matter what method you use :-)
--
SC Tom
-There's no such thing as TMI when asking for tech support.


"Tim Meddick" wrote in message
...
Back-ups, ideally, should be made to an external hard-drive, however,
nothing with a capital N is perfect in this world, and nothing can prevent
the unlikeliest of co-incidental simultaneous hd & external hd failures
occurring at the same time either!

It's a case of do what you can with what you've got.

The main point being that one should definitely attempt to make backups
(on a regular basis).

To that end of including some sort of built-in restoration facility, I was
referring to in my earlier post, PC manufacturers nowadays prefer to
include a second *partition* (not a second internal hd - which would be
better; and not an external one - which would be better still!) that
contains a disk-image of the Operating System as it was the day it left
the factory...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"SC Tom" wrote in message
...
Mint wrote:
On Feb 7, 8:45 am, "Tim Meddick" wrote:
What does not seem to have been mentioned [in this thread] as yet,
is the fact that many of the more modern PCs, instead of issuing a
CD-ROM, XP [oem] installation disk (or sometimes, as well as
already include a complete "disk-image" of the hard-drive as it left
the factory.

This disk-image, on restoring it, will take the computer back to a
state exactly how Windows XP was on the day it left the factory.
this also means ANY and ALL programs you have installed will not be
present on the drive.

You will know if your PC has such a pre-installed disk-image
"restore" utility, if when you are initially starting up your PC,
and before you are seeing the "Loading Windows XP..." splash-screen,
you would see a screen, quite possibly with the manufacturer's logo
on it, but also somewhere on the screen, the message Press F1 to
begin emagency RESTORE options or something quite similar (maybe
ordering a different key other than F1 to be pressed instead).

On pressing the key to which the message alludes, you will be given
options to be able to restore he PC to it's original state.

The process is built-in but is essentially the same as what 3rd-party
disk-imaging "backup & restore" software does. However, it's
interface will be quite different and it will have no other function
other than to restore it's single disk-image.

This single disk-image will be a hidden file on a seperate partition,
sometimes hidden but, sometimes this extra partiton will be seen but
look apparently "empty".

So, if re-installing XP is something you are reluctant to do, the
"horror" of finding that you cannot locate all the right drivers or
that Window's installations sometimes just "fail" for no apparent
reason. Choosing the built-in partition "RESTORE" option from the
PC's start screen (if your PC turns out to have it) will by-pass the
normal XP's installation-from-scratch proccess and restore the PC to
a sate as and when it left the factory.

With 3rd-party disk-imaging software, you will have far more control
and "configure-ability" over it, but it's simply a case of the "barn
door after the horse has bolted" sort-of-thing. But it is something
to consider for the future. After getting your PC back to the way
you want it, install 3rd-party disk-imaging software and immidiately
create a "snapshot" of the main [system] partition [usually C:] for
a day when the PC experiences any more un-resolveable problems.

On buying a new PC, this is what I would advise doing straight away,
to augment the functionality that is seriously lacking with XPs
built-in "System Restore" utility.

Where it is my opinion that "System Restore" is of some value, I
also most sinsearely belive one sould never rely on it to any great
extent - ergo - some other configuration backup is, likewise,
seriously needed.

This alternative can be provided by a combination of some type of
registry backup / restore facillity and 3rd-party disk-imaging /
restore software.

An example of the first is ERUNT (free - google "ERUNT download")
and an example of the second is "Paragon Backup and Recovery"
(google the same).

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)

"Doc" wrote in message

...







Want to get as close as possible to starting from scratch with my XP
Pro installation without actually reinstalling. Would I gain
anything by first uninstalling all apps and then doing a system
restore? Or will I be wasting my time?

I used to use ERUNT.

ERUNT only backs up the registry.

If anything else gets corrupted, you are back to re-install the O.S.
or a disk image.

I use a batch file to copy backups of zipped programs, documents,
settings to a second drive
which I would use if my primary drive "bit the dust". :-)

Andy


The drawback to using a second internal drive (if that's what it is) or
an external always connected is that in case of a power surge/lightning
strike or other catastrophic event, you're liable to lose it all. That's
why I prefer doing images and incrementals on a regular basis to an
external drive that's connected only as I need it.

I still use ERUNT on both my XP and Win7 machines. KOW, I haven't had a
need for it, but it takes up little room and runs on its own.
--
SC Tom
-There's no such thing as TMI when asking for tech support.



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