system state backup vs. system restore point

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeff W
  • Start date Start date
J

Jeff W

(XP Home SP2)

Hi - I know that the 'system state' option in NTbackup is limited to
system files, and system restore tries to cover files all over the
computer. But I find that using system restore can have some
non-intuitive behavior (nothing serious, but sometimes it doesn't quite
get everything the way I would expect in outlying folders), and I'm
wondering. If all I'm going to do is install a piece of software, and
I'm concerned that I won't like it and immediately do an uninstall, is
it safer to use system state backup and restore (knowing that this won't
effect anything out of the system areas, which is an advantage in this
case), rather than to risk the possibly more substantial behavior of a
system restore operation for something this minor. System restore
strikes me as something to use when you have to go back days, rather
than minutes, and you're willing to have to do some cleanup to get
everything right again.

thanks!
/j
 
System Restore is what I would use, but it seems you do not want to,
Jeff. ASR is a much larger operation

How to Set up and Use Automated System Recovery in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/asr.mspx

" The wizard backs up the system state, system services, and all
disks associated with the operating system components. It also
creates a file containing information about the backup, the disk
configurations (including basic and dynamic volumes) and how to
accomplish a restore. "


Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/faqsrwxp.mspx

" How is System Restore different from Backup?

Answer: Unlike System Restore which monitors only a core set of
specified system and application file types (e.g. .exe, .dll etc),
the Backup Utility usually backs up all files including users
personal data files, ensuring a safe copy stored either on the local
disk or to another medium. System Restore does not monitor changes
to or recover users' personal data files such as documents,
drawings, e-mail, and so forth. While system data contained in
System Restore's restore points are available to restore to for only
a limited period of time (by default restore points older than 90
days are deleted), backups taken by the Backup Utility can be
recovered anytime.

What files are monitored by System Restore?

Answer: System Restore monitors only a core set of specified system
and application file types (e.g. .exe, .dll etc), archiving the
states of these files before system changes are made. System Restore
does not monitor any user/personal data files. To view the included
files specified in System Restore, see Monitored File Extensions in
the System Restore section of the Platform SDK available from
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/sr/sr/monitored_file_extensions.asp
"

MowGreen [MVP]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============
 
not a question of want - i think the hierarchy of severeness is

least:
NTBackup of system state
system restore
ASR
most

I have XP home so i'm notsure I can use ASR. I'm just wondering if
NTbackup with system state is a LESS disruptive, yet effective approach
for a small rollback
/j
 
An Error Message Is Displayed When You Attempt to Use the Automated
System Recovery Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302700/EN-US/

" This behavior can occur because ASR is not supported in Windows XP
Home Edition. However, Windows XP Home Edition users can access the
ASR Wizard if they install the Ntbackup program from the Valueadd
folder on the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM. "

As to why one would choose Restore over Backup :

Files That Are Automatically Skipped by the Backup Program
(NTBackup.exe) During the Backup and Restore Processes
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=104169

The choice is yours, Jeff.


MowGreen [MVP]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============
 
Did you read the article you gave a link to? It says

"The information in this article applies only if Backup cannot do a
volume shadow copy backup or if you select the *Disable volume shadow
copy* option in the *Advanced* dialog box for an individual backup job."

So if I don't set the "skip files" option, it doesn't.

Which means my question remains - hopefully someone has a good answer
/j
 
Jeff said:
(XP Home SP2)

Hi - I know that the 'system state' option in NTbackup is limited to
system files, and system restore tries to cover files all over the
computer. But I find that using system restore can have some
non-intuitive behavior (nothing serious, but sometimes it doesn't
quite get everything the way I would expect in outlying folders), and
I'm wondering. If all I'm going to do is install a piece of
software, and I'm concerned that I won't like it and immediately do
an uninstall, is it safer to use system state backup and restore
(knowing that this won't effect anything out of the system areas,
which is an advantage in this case), rather than to risk the possibly
more substantial behavior of a system restore operation for something
this minor. System restore strikes me as something to use when you
have to go back days, rather than minutes, and you're willing to have
to do some cleanup to get everything right again.

thanks!
/j
Click to expand...

It seems to me that what you need is Total Uninstall
http://www.geocities.com/ggmartau/tu.html
HTH,
OldKenGoat


To reply JUNK the NOJUNK!
 
Back
Top