Windows System Restore (Win 8.1)

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by Rasheed187, Mar 19, 2015.

  1. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I'm planning to do a system restore because of a problem I can not solve, which will take my system back to 15 January 2015. But can you guys give some more info about what type of data will be lost? Basically, all my important data (software, videos, pictures, documents) are stored in folders on the desktop, so will it mess with that? I did read about it, but it's still not clear to me, and I want to double check.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Restore
     
  2. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Is your desktop C: or D: drive?
     
  3. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    It's the C drive. If I'm correct, WSR will remove apps inside Program Files, right? And do you perhaps know what will happen with apps (and files) inside C:\Sandbox? Will I also lose that?
     
  4. bo elam

    bo elam Registered Member

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    Rasheed, C:\Sandbox reverts to how it was at the SR point that you go back to. But you can save programs that you installed in sandboxes by copying the sandboxes from inside C:\Sandbox \User and then putting them back after doing the restore.

    Bo
     
  5. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Thanks for letting me know, so basically I should also back up important apps that are installed inside the sandbox. I'm planning to make a back up on my second HDD (E: drive), it's quite handy to have a SSD + HDD combo. I suppose WSR will not mess with the E drive because Windows is not installed on it.
     
  6. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Care to share the problem with us? Someone might have a better solution than a half baked System Restore.
     
  7. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I can't get spoolsv.exe to load anymore, I've tried everything, but seems like it has been damaged/corrupted, I also can't start the Task Scheduler anymore. I do know that it did work back in January 2015, so I think some tweak or some app broke it.

    But can you perhaps tell me if WSR will not mess with my data on both the C and E drive? Before restoring it does warn that some apps will be removed, and some may not function correctly anymore. BTW, I've already made a back up from my SSD to the (internal) HDD, it was faster than I thought.
     
  8. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Sorry, I haven't used System Restore for 10 years but I gather it doesn't affect non C: drive partitions.
     
  9. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    @Rasheed187 You won't lose any data, and the only apps that will be removed are ones which were installed after the restore point you are restoring to was created.
     
  10. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    OK thanks, that's good to know. I don't mind reinstalling a couple of apps.
     
  11. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    BTW, I was about to reset my system, but I got a warning that "restore points" older than 60 days are less reliable. What does this exactly mean, why should this matter?

    So now I'm planning to first make a recovery drive in case my system won't boot up. Do y'all have any experience with this? What type of drive should I buy, and how to boot from this drive? Can it be a standard USB powered drive, or is that not recommended?

    http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/create-a-recovery-drive-in-windows-8/
     
  12. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Latest update:

    System Restore didn't fix the problem (Task Scheduler and Print Spooler were refusing to run), but luckily System Refresh did fix it. It basically reinstalls Windows (to factory settings) but it doesn't reformat the drive, so it will save all data in the Documents and Desktop folder, and it will also not touch your data drive (second HDD), so it's pretty cool. It will also try to remember some of your Windows settings.
     
  13. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I have a question about Windows System Restore: it makes "Automatic Restore Points", but it seems like it will delete a whole lot of drivers that were already installed when I bought the system. Months ago it only removed apps and drivers that I installed myself. So are these restore point corrupted? To clarify, I don't need to restore my system, but I found this be very odd.
     
  14. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    System restore shouldn't remove anything that came installed on your system.
     
  15. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    OK thanks, then something is seriously wrong, I wonder what caused this.
     
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