Windows Restore
Thread Starter
Plastic PPRuNer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 0
From: Rochechouart, France
Windows Restore
Just of of curiosity, has anyone ever actually managed to get back to a Restore Point with this excuse for an application?
The only times it ever worked for me was back in the old XP days - since then it has never succeeded (usually halting with an error) and occasionally made things worse.
For a good while now I have been using Macrium Reflect and found it very reliable - I tend to be lazy and just reimage the disk (because it is usually due to my poking around where MS doesn't want me to go!). My MirrorFolder takes care of important documents, so why am I wasting disk space on this dumb bit application that is unreliable and give folk a false sense of security.
I have an enormously complex (too complex) tier of backup systems that finally ends up in a Quantum LTO-6 tape drive and a couple of tapes. Am I insane? I grew up in the days when hard-drives were as reliable as a junkyard dog and and I am totally paranoid about a) Data loss and, b) Having to reinstall that abortion that Windows 10 has become. And yes, I have Linux and BSD and Mac systems too.
Should I forget it all and move to the Cloud, despite the South Africa's slow connections?
Any ideas welcome.
Mac
The only times it ever worked for me was back in the old XP days - since then it has never succeeded (usually halting with an error) and occasionally made things worse.
For a good while now I have been using Macrium Reflect and found it very reliable - I tend to be lazy and just reimage the disk (because it is usually due to my poking around where MS doesn't want me to go!). My MirrorFolder takes care of important documents, so why am I wasting disk space on this dumb bit application that is unreliable and give folk a false sense of security.
I have an enormously complex (too complex) tier of backup systems that finally ends up in a Quantum LTO-6 tape drive and a couple of tapes. Am I insane? I grew up in the days when hard-drives were as reliable as a junkyard dog and and I am totally paranoid about a) Data loss and, b) Having to reinstall that abortion that Windows 10 has become. And yes, I have Linux and BSD and Mac systems too.
Should I forget it all and move to the Cloud, despite the South Africa's slow connections?
Any ideas welcome.
Mac
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
Reply to Mac the Knife
I still see Win 7 creating a restore point when updating those hefty Updates - My Win 7 Pro Dell did this yesterday - As a note I do not see much reference to restore points these days. I'm not sure about Win 8.1 and I do not use Windows 10. (PS Timeshift is highly effective in Ubuntu 16.04 & Mint 18.3)
CAT III
CAT III
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: E.Wash State
I've restored to a saved Restore Point several times -- usually after encountering a bit of malware or virus through some nefarious websurfing. It always worked just fine.
But then, being a Luddite, I'm using 7 on my desktops, with no plans to update. (Though I am considering a complete shift to an iMac.) I only back up my data, not the programs, so going to a cloud based system is not for me.
But then, being a Luddite, I'm using 7 on my desktops, with no plans to update. (Though I am considering a complete shift to an iMac.) I only back up my data, not the programs, so going to a cloud based system is not for me.
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 164
Likes: 13
From: UK
I'd say about 100% success rate with fully uninstalling unintentional /unwanted downloaded apps etc,
More like 30- 50% with seriously messed up systems. Not unusual it either fails or makes things worse
Always worth trying it but most of my faith is in a combination of full system disc images of the 'clean new system' (just install windows, maybe office, licence regirtration if required etc and do all updates) and recent backups of email and other user files, photos music data etc.
More like 30- 50% with seriously messed up systems. Not unusual it either fails or makes things worse
Always worth trying it but most of my faith is in a combination of full system disc images of the 'clean new system' (just install windows, maybe office, licence regirtration if required etc and do all updates) and recent backups of email and other user files, photos music data etc.
Thread Starter
Plastic PPRuNer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 0
From: Rochechouart, France
(PS Timeshift is highly effective in Ubuntu 16.04 & Mint 18.3)
Agree wholeheartedly. I think you've just been very lucky OBG.
Why can't MS get it right for once? Not as though its THAT difficult. Justa sort of mix of cp and diff
Mac
Agree wholeheartedly. I think you've just been very lucky OBG.
Why can't MS get it right for once? Not as though its THAT difficult. Justa sort of mix of cp and diff
Mac
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 18
From: South Oxfordshire
I have used system restore successfully on plenty of occasions over the years, (Millenium I think, XP, Vista, 7 - haven't had to do it on Win 8.x as far as I can remember, and I only use 10 at work).
Most of the time system restore was used to sort out weird performance issues or settings changes which I don't think I had any involvement with...
Never had any problems with it, but the PCs are just home machines with nothing too complex on them, and they've never been in a particularly frightening mess before I've run it.
Most of the time system restore was used to sort out weird performance issues or settings changes which I don't think I had any involvement with...
Never had any problems with it, but the PCs are just home machines with nothing too complex on them, and they've never been in a particularly frightening mess before I've run it.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,103
Likes: 5
From: Chabanais, France
Only two major cock-ups I have had were when I tried to use System Restore with Windows10. Now happily back with Windows 7.
Still looking for a reliable and recommended back-up programme that works after a hard drive has been formatted.
Still looking for a reliable and recommended back-up programme that works after a hard drive has been formatted.
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: Here
I've restored to a saved Restore Point several times -- usually after encountering a bit of malware or virus through some nefarious websurfing. It always worked just fine.
But then, being a Luddite, I'm using 7 on my desktops, with no plans to update. (Though I am considering a complete shift to an iMac.) I only back up my data, not the programs, so going to a cloud based system is not for me.
But then, being a Luddite, I'm using 7 on my desktops, with no plans to update. (Though I am considering a complete shift to an iMac.) I only back up my data, not the programs, so going to a cloud based system is not for me.
PS. We disconnect and hide the external 1TB drive if we are away from the house for any period of time.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 516
Likes: 1
From: Cambridge UK
Used System Restore a number of times over the years (XP, Vista, W8.1) when a computer is misbehaving for no reason that is immediately apparent to me. Most recently my W10 laptop had started disconnecting from the internet unprompted so before delving more deeply into things I thought I would try System Restore and... it worked! I only had a choice of two restore points so chose the earliest and have had no further problems.
