Timing is everything, you know? While I was working on last week's newsletter, I got an e-mail asking about System Restore. I stuck something into that newsletter and decided to expand on it this week.
Here's the message (from my editor, even): "I'm having grief with some software I'm testing, so I recently had to call tech support
Windows' Restore Point feature backs up and restores the Registry. To get to it in XP, open the Start menu, head for 'Help and Support', and choose
If you're stuck with Vista, read the tutorial at bleepingcomputer.com.
I have lots of smart readers, and they often chime in when I write about something technical. Here some comments from my blog.
"Two out of three times I have used System Restore, every restore point is corrupt. The third time, I restored successfully, but my problem wasn't fixed, so I undid the restore. Well, that turned out to be a huge mistake. It screwed up Windows so bad, I had to use my recovery CD!"
"Sometimes the System Restore points get corrupted. I get a [Windows] error message that says 'System Restore was not successful, Please try a different restore point. Nothing was changed on your system.' I get this message until I turn off System Restore, and then turn it back on again. You would think Microsoft would fix it in Vista, but the problem still is here."
"My experience tells me that ... if you have installed third-party backup software, Microsoft's System Restore will fail. Or, if you have downloaded a virus that embeds itself into the restore point, your antivirus software may be preventing the restore from working."
"I recommend using a drive image of a clean install of the OS and all the primary programs... I also use Carbonite[http://carbonite.com/] online [a fee-based service] in addition to backups to another drive. That way if the entire system is wiped out by a fire or theft, I can at least get my images and documents back."
If you ever have trouble with Restore Points, read Tweak System Restore to Perfect Your PC Protection. (You might want to print it out and put it somewhere safe, just in case.) Also, Bert Kinney has an immensely valuable System Restore FAQ
Some of you may be in a geeky frame of mind, so try Scott Dunn's Create Instant Restore Points trick, which uses a small script, or download Doug Knox's Single Click Creation of a System Restore Point/Runs as a Scheduled Task.
Finally, blog reader bobwool recommended ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT) as "a great freeware tool that backs up your registry and allows you to restore it." He's absolutely on target; Lars Hederer's ERUNT is a handy, donation-supported utility to have in your toolbox.
Take a Break: Have you ever inadvertently deleted a file and then emptied the Recycle folder? You might want to read, and then print and save, How to Recover (Almost) Anything.
There are a couple ways to get rid of Restore Points.
The first uses the Disk Cleanup utility to remove all but the last Restore Point. From My Computer, right-click the C: drive, choose
The second method temporarily removes all Restore Points. This one is risky because if something goes kaflooey, you won't be able to undo system changes. It's worth doing if you strongly suspect you're infected with spyware and want to remove every Restore Point before scanning with an antivirus or antispyware program. I've done it, but I'm fully backed up (just like you are, right?).
From the Control Panel, double-click
I can imagine how exhausted you must be after reading through my Restore Point tutorial. (Okay, maybe it's just my editor who needs a nap.) Either way, here are a bunch of time wasters to ease your mind.
You've been dying to know how an Etch-a-Sketch works, right? (Okay, I was.) Here's the scoop.
Click on the square and dive into a series of artsy pictures.
Remember the Sunday cartoon that challenged you to spot the difference between two pictures? Here's the online version, and I'll tell you, it's a killer. Watch the picture and wait for the change. One thing changes in each photo--and the change fades in, sometimes subtly. If you miss it the first time, you get another chance with an obscure hint. BTW, you're racing against the clock.
Take a minute and try the trippy Kaleidoscope Painter. Just drag your mouse around the screen.
It's silly, I know, but sometimes when I'm on a conference call and an editor's endlessly talking about who knows what, I want to take a cursor and, well, see for yourself.
Steve Bass
