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Old February 8th 11, 01:40 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mint
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Default How effective is System Restore to bring XP Pro back to a newlyinstalled state without reinstalling?

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





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