Trying to schedule System Restore

  • Thread starter Thread starter jack
  • Start date Start date
J

jack

I recently decided I wanted a more scheduled plan of System Restore Points.
I'm not exactly sure why but I have 2 Toshiba laptops and they seem to make
Restore Points randomly.

I went to Control Panel in XP 2003 and selected Schedule a Task and went
through the easy process. I have never used a password on my machine becuase
it is usually at home or with me. Therefore I'm not bothered with a
password. The task asks for a password so I just pressed <Enter> and <Ok>
So when the task started is reported not perforemed becuase of password or
account probs. I am the pc administrator.

So I did a little web dectective and found there might be and issue with
this scheduling and MS had a hotfix. Installed that and still the same
thing. Finally I relented and added a real password to my profile and the
Restore program comes up at the automatic time scheduled but is static at the
opening page where you select "old point" "create a point" , etc. So I
thought this would run a System Restore Point without my input?? Any helps
my friends? Thanks in advance.

jack
 
Backing up with backup software is a far better idea. Almost any backup
software can be be scheduled - even Microsoft's own backup utility. A
restore point is not a backup and should not be confused with a backup.

Restore points contain only the essential system and user files needed
to make the GUI functional. The original idea was to be able to
(hopefully) restore the GUI so you can use Windows built-in tools or
access the internet to troubleshoot a problem.
 
I accept your point. While I have been playing with PC's since 1987 there is
still a lot I don't know. However, I do understand the difference between
Restore and Backup. Since I seem to play a lot with adding and deleting
progams, using tips to change registry settings, which I have not blown up
yet, I like to go back to a recent restore point. Today, I wanted a recent
restore point and there was none for 5 days. Yet before that there was one
everyday for about a week? I don't understand this. Anyway, thanks greatly.
 
Windows XP automatically creates a restore point every 24 hours, and
before certain system events (e.g., installing a driver.) Bert Kinney
has a utility that changes the frequency that Windows XP System Restore
creates automatic restore points.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srscripts.html

The reason it's not easy to schedule restore points is because that's
not how System Restore was designed to be used.

If like to test out software or edit your registry what you really need
is disk imaging software. A restore point may not be sufficient to
recover your system from a failed install or uninstall.

A disk image is an exact duplicate of your hard disk. It allows you to
go back in time. If you have your system (Windows and programs) and data
(documents, pictures, etc.) in two separate partitions, it takes a disk
imaging program just minutes to image (or restore) your system
partition. And disk imaging can be easily scheduled.
 
Hi jack,

You can automate restore point creation using a script easily. See:

How To Use the System Restore Utility with Windows Management Instrumentation in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295299

And you'd like to read this as well:

How to automatically create a System Restore point upon the first boot up of the day?:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/createrp.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
Winhelponline.com blog http://www.winhelponline.com/blog


I recently decided I wanted a more scheduled plan of System Restore Points.
I'm not exactly sure why but I have 2 Toshiba laptops and they seem to make
Restore Points randomly.

I went to Control Panel in XP 2003 and selected Schedule a Task and went
through the easy process. I have never used a password on my machine becuase
it is usually at home or with me. Therefore I'm not bothered with a
password. The task asks for a password so I just pressed <Enter> and <Ok>
So when the task started is reported not perforemed becuase of password or
account probs. I am the pc administrator.

So I did a little web dectective and found there might be and issue with
this scheduling and MS had a hotfix. Installed that and still the same
thing. Finally I relented and added a real password to my profile and the
Restore program comes up at the automatic time scheduled but is static at the
opening page where you select "old point" "create a point" , etc. So I
thought this would run a System Restore Point without my input?? Any helps
my friends? Thanks in advance.

jack
 
Jack

Were you using your computer on each of the 5 days? If you didn't on any
day there will not be a restore point and there will not be a need for
one becaused no system changes will have taken place.

It could be that something is interfering with the creation of restore
points or deleting them after creation. Norton and Zone Alarm are
renowned amongst other similar software that can do this. For more
information read here:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srauto.html

If you visit Windows Update to download and install an update this
should trigger the creation of a restore point. Does it? You could bring
forward the opportunity to check by downloading and installing Windows
Defender. Every 2 or 3 days there is a definitions update which triggers
the creation of a restore point. Otherwise the next Windows XP updates
are likely to be on the 13 or 14 May. Of course the SP3 Update appears
on 29 April 2008 -I may manually create a restore point on 28 April as
precaution.although I shall be opting out of the update for a month or
so.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
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