System Restore NOT working properly

My system makes regular SR points at daily intervals and, most of the time, before I make any big changes, hard or software. But, I know of 3 separate XP systems that SR does NOT work properly, and for no reason I can find. I advised the owners that with today's huge harddrives available, they would do well to invest in a software program like Ghost or GoBack because they are desperate to save their data. They seem confused about the function of SR, too: SR does nothing to data files, only works within XP itself, and therefore cannot be relied on to "restore" the computer after a software glitch or hardware conflict. I always make a small partition (6 or 8 Gig) for the OS alone, and only put on it what absolutely must latch onto XP. Usually, my data is safe on the second drive, even if I have to reinstall XP. But I am now telling people to buy additional software if they want a foolproof way to get their systems back after a crash or a problem. Is my thinking right? What has been your experience with SR? Does it work like it is supposed to for you? How do you safeguard your data files? How do you restore your system files? SR or the XP Disk? Just curious to hear other opinions and experiences.

 

Don't get me started on System Restore. Nuff said ??

But, I know of 3 separate XP systems

You can now make that 4.

I also have a 6gig C: drive for the OS and what needs to be there. Everything else possible is on other partitions.

I DO NOT have System Restore active on any partition other than C:

I had tried a 2nd HD but it was an older ( 4500 RPM ) drive and severly hampered XP preformance so I took it out.

Does it work like it is supposed to for you? How do you safeguard your data files? How do you restore your system files? SR or the XP Disk?

No way does it works as it is supposed to.

I make my own Restore Points when needed. I can't do any worse.

All possible data files are on other partitions.

Have not had the need to replace system files yet. I have used System Restore to get out of a bad install or to test it but nothing else. YET

Everything that I download such as AV, Firewall and other stuff is download to a TmpFldr on the H: drive and then transfered to a CD/R.

BillyBob

 

IMO the money spent on a copy of GoBack is about the best investment you can have.

 

Hi Johanna,

I have two OS's running on two HD's, WinME and XP, so do rely on SR on both to restore Windows after any problem with software or MS updates or a change of mind about software.

For data, do reciprical backups between the two drives and then burn them to CD.

Regards - Charles

 

Does Goback help you if you have a total hard disk failure?

I assume not, and therefore I've got to have an off-PC backup system. I have Stomp's Backup My PC, but it doesn't seem to work well with XP. So does anyone have any ideas for a software backup program that works well in saving everything to CDs, DVDs, or tape?

Speaking of which, is there a great cheap tape system, or am I stuck with either buying a DVD burner or using CDs?

Btw, my System Restore will not automatically create restore points on its own, like it's supposed to. I have to do it myself.

 

Hi dkline,

XP has backup software - NTbackup.exe. Not installed by default on Home. Its located in the Valueadd/Msft/Ntbackup folder on the Windows cd.

It allows backing up into a folder which in turn can be copied off by removable media.

I don't use it, I do the "collecting" of my files myself.


"Speaking of which, is there a great cheap tape system, or am I stuck with either buying a DVD burner or using CDs? "

Unless this is a Laptop, how about another HD?

Regards - Charles

 

Having experienced a total system crash nine months ago, which required rebuilding my entire system, this is a subject of some interest to me, and I have approached it in two different ways.

On my desktop computer (XP Pro), my primary hard drive (actually two drives, mounted in a RAID 1 array) is partitioned C:, D:, E:, and F:, with only Windows and Docs & Settings on C:, as Johanna does. D: has my installed programs, and E: and F: my data files. My second hard drive has three partitions, X:, Y:, and Z:. I use Drive Image 2002 to back up the primary hard drive to X: and Y:, alternately, on a nightly basis.

To see if Drive Image worked as advertised, I first backed up everything on D: and E: to my laptop, and then formatted the primary hard drive. After restoring the backup, using Drive Image's floppies, I was back in business as though nothing had happened.

On my XP Pro laptop, I have a single hard drive partitioned similarly, but use GoBack to protect it. So far, I haven't had to use it, but it's there if I need it.

 

Does Goback help you if you have a total hard disk failure?

Nope. No good in that situation. So a ghost load, kept current, is a great idea. Removable media backup of data files is a great idea. I do both.

But if you like to tweak stuff or add apps you aren't sure about, it's a dead easy way to insure they won't mess you up.

I often do that when checking out an app before recommending it. And usually things I don't want or need. Or to check out a utility that sounds interesting. So, install it, play with it to make sure it works as advertised and doesn't break the PC, then boot and GoBack so it's gone cleanly. I DO NOT trust the uninstall piece of apps for the most part.

 

Newt, that is what I do, although since I am not using GoBack, I usually do a reinstall after I break it all the way! So, I like your idea better, and think I will invest in GoBack.

But, my original question was "Does System Restore work on your comp?" and so far, two people have said "No." My comp makes restore points just like it is supposed to, but why do these other ones fail to? I have reinstalled XP so many times on my own comp that I've lost count, and never had trouble with SR. I've reinstalled XP on these other systems, and SR STILL doesn't work. I wanna know "WHY? "

I'm like a dog with a bone when I run into something that puzzles me. I'll either gnaw it until it's broken, or bury it in the garden. I'm still chewing.
Johanna

A friend always tells me "Ya better quit your freaking tweaking! "

 

If you find out about the SR problem, be sure to let us in on it.

I have to confess I have no idea if it works on my PCs or not. Or rather, if it would work after I turned it back on.

 

Well, I have SR turned on, and just took a look at it. SR has created what it calls "system checkpoints" on only 20 days since the first of the month, and the computer has been booted at least once each day. I try to remember to set a restore point before doing something that might have a negative impact on my system, but (sigh ...) my brain cells aren't what they used to be, and my rememberer doesn't work like it once did.

Two things to remember about Goback: 1) if you disable it, as you must if you're going to repartition your hard drive, you lose its history; 2) if you intend to format your hard drive, uninstall GoBack before doing so ... GoBack writes to the master boot record, and you'll end up having to use the recovery console to fix it. I just went through this with my laptop, learning things the hard way.

Hey, Johanna ... where in Ohio?

 

I'm starting to think that SR only makes points if the computer is left on for a (as yet undetermined) period of time. I tend to leave my computer on while I'm awake, and since it is set to do maintenance at night, sometimes it stays on for days. One of the troubled SR XP systems I am checking is only turned on for a few hours each day, and I'm wondering if XP needs to be running for XX hours before it creates a restore point? I'm still investigating.

Jim- I'm about 50 miles north of Dayton, near Grand Lake St Marys.

 

If you live in Celina, it's Grand Lake ... if in St Marys, it's Lake St. Marys. At least that's the way I learned it growing up in Tiffin.

 

Johanna

I am also thinking along the same lines of when and how long the computer is on.

But mine is usally on from app 7:00 Am to 11:00 PM.

BB

 

"I am also thinking along the same lines of when and how long the computer is on. "

Thats the case in WinME - 10/12 hrs of operation.

Not in XP: Its supposed to be every 24 hrs - default - or in my case, every 72 hrs because I changed the interval in the registry.

There is an XP system in an office I visit once in awhile. There was a change in personal. The new person found an XP box w/o Monitor - KB - mouse. I hooked the box up to see what was on it. This system, XP Pro, had been making auto SR points right along. It was unplugged, so it was running on the battery.

Regards - Charles

 

My conclusions arrived at from not only this thread but from actuall hands on experience.

1--System Restore is something that can not be 100% depended on to do what it is supposed at all times..

2-- We should do ourselves a big favor and check on it before making any changes.

I just looked and a new RP was made this AM. And more

I have done nothing. ( intentional anyway )

BillyBob

 

Hi I guess i,m the new kid on the block,I was about to post my problem when I read yours.System restore in xp is designed to create a checkpoint every other day on average not as is commonly believed at each boot of the computer.I personally have had no problems with system restore other than I think it makes too many restore points (checkpoints) so I have rduced the amount it can make by reducing the amount of disk space allocated to it.This can be done by hard disk(local disk or indeed disks if you are running xp pro as well)select the system restore tab ,settings for the relevant disk and you will see a sliding scale which can be reduced from the default 12% to at least 6% which has the added bonus of more disk space.Is it possible that the pc,s with it not operating have somehow had it disabled?regards pcfanatic2.

 

PCFANATIC2, hello and welcome,

The points you make which in my experience and reading is inaccurate:

"System restore in xp is designed to create a checkpoint every other day on average not as is commonly believed at each boot of the computer. "

No, every 24 hrs, unless changed in the Registry. As you pointed out, booting up or not is not the issue.

If that is the way your's is working - variable "calendar" time - which is a description of the way SR works in WinME, than I'm really stumped.

See my post above BillyBob's.

I've lowered the amount of disk space for Sytem Volume Information as well - and like your case, no effect.

Regards - Charles

 

not as is commonly believed at each boot of the computer.

Now that is a new one that I have not heard of about SR in XP.

I know that mis-conception was in 98SE and Scanregistry but not in XP.

BTW. I do have SR turned on and it still only make restore points when it feels like it. ( if it makes any that is )

In my case it may well be that I used BlackViper and turned off something the SR needs.

I do not. Never have. And never will put my full trust in MS automatic stuff. It has failed me too many times. Sometimes it was something I did. And still other times it just plain failed on its own.

But my main point is that it may not be as reliable as it is supposed to be and should not be fully depended on. As to why. The search is ongoing.

BillyBob