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DIY System Restore With Saved History

Discussion in 'Windows Vista' started by johny why, Jul 1, 2009.

  1. johny why

    johny why Guest

    As many have complained about, Vista System Restore deletes old
    restore points to make way for new ones.

    We'd like a way to preserve restore points indefinitely, save them to
    removeable storage, and rollback anytime to any prior restore point.

    So, i'm exploring this. It cannot be done with Vista System Restore.
    How can it be done?

    Results of my research below.
     
  2. johny why

    johny why Guest

    Cannot Use Ghosting, Backup, or Reinstall Windows

    * Please don't suggest ghosting, normal file-backups, or reinstalling
    Windows.

    -Backups- Normal file backups have nothing to do with System State.

    -Ghosting- the problem with ghosting is that the rollback of a ghost
    rolls back user files as well, which we don't want. the advantage of
    System State restore is that it preserves new user files. Ghosting
    could only restore a prior System State, while preserving user files,
    if the user files are stored on a hard disk separate from the
    operating system. I don't have that luxury.

    -Reinstalling- Reinstalling Windows is not an option, because it would
    not include all my favorite software, user accounts, and preferred
    config settings. Reinstalling Windows is time-consuming. If
    reinstalling Windows was a smart solution to a minor corruption in the
    OS caused by bad software or a virus, then Microsoft would not have
    created System Restore.
     
  3. johny why

    johny why Guest

    What's In A Restore Point?

    I found this:

    a restore point contains

    * boot files (i need to find out exactly which ones)
    * COM+ class registration database
    * The registry
    * Event logs
    * System files (i need to find out exactly which ones)
    * Windows File Protection files that are stored in \dllcache (all
    of them?)
    * IIS configuration files (i need to find out exactly which ones)
    * Windows Management Instrumentation Database
    * some weird system files with filename extensions from a long
    list of "monitored extensions" (i need to find out exactly which ones)
    * local user profiles.

    i don't know if this list is correct or complete.
     
  4. johny why

    johny why Guest

    NTBackup?

    I read about ntbackup, which is included on the Windows XP CD. It does
    include a System State backup option. It is not officially supported
    on Vista. It might work-- I have to experiment. Some caveats:

    ntbackup requires the Removable Storage Management/ Removable Storage
    Service feature to be enabled in Vista. This feature is not turned on
    by default. To do this, go to Control Panel | Programs and Features |
    Turn Windows features on or off, and select Removable Storage
    Management.

    ==========

    Must turn off "use Shadow Copy" in backup advanced options

    ==========

    Differential restore points wont work on vista system files because
    Vista seems to block ntbackup.exe and even administrators from
    changing the archive attribute flag in the system32, Windows and other
    security protected folders.

    ==========
     
  5. johny why

    johny why Guest

    Where Are Restore Points Stored?

    Where does Vista System Restore save its restore points? Perhaps it
    would be possible to save them to removeable storage before Vista
    deletes them.
     
  6. johny why

    johny why Guest

    Backing Up COM+ Registration Database?

    if i have to accomplish this manually, then i need to figure out how
    to backup and restore all of the individual items normally included in
    System State (list above).

    For example, the COM+ class registration database. The Component
    Services console (comexp.msc) does not have import/export function.
    How then could one backup and restore the COM+ registration database?
     
  7. johny why

    johny why Guest

    Backing up Registry

    Backing up and restoring the Registry seems like it will be easy.

    There is a tool called erunt which does this.

    But why bother? Wouldn't regedit's export/import function accomplish
    the same thing?
     
  8. johny why

    johny why Guest

    Ghost the System & Programs Folders?

    Could one achieve this entire goal simply by ghosting just the Windows
    System folder and Program Files folder?

    One drawback of this method is that my Windows folder is 16 gigs and
    my Programs folder is another gig, so that's a lot of storage space (4
    DVD's). Still, if it works, it would probably be the easiest, simplest
    solution.
     

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