Solved System Restore is "Legacy"

CalBear

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According to Windows Secrets, Chpapter 11, System Restore is "Legacy" meaning somewhat obsolete. It would appear that the default is to have it turned off.

Since Refresh and Reset either delete all your programs (desktop not Metro apps) or at least require they all be reinstalled it would seem that the "Legacy" System Restore is a much better way to get things working again if something goes wrong.

Am I missing something here?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Dual Win 7-8 64-bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS8100
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    Intel Core i5 3.2 GHz
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    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 260
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    2 x Dell 24" LCD
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    I worked my up from a virtual machine, to a slow 32-bit celeron and now two monitors on my XPS8100. Works great!
Hello Dave,

System Restore is still turned on for the Windows 8 drive/partition by default. System Restore is for a completely different purpose than Refresh and Reset though.

It really just depends on your needs, but I would say that System Restore can still be very help if you just needed to quickly undo what you just did by going back to a created restore point. Of course, you must create restore points before doing actions that may mess up your system to have them available. System Restore is a much less drastic restore option for it's purpose than using Refresh or Reset.


System Restore takes your user account, system files, programs, registry back to how it was at the time the restore point was created. It doesn't affect the files in your user folders though.

Refresh is sort of like doing a repair install in Windows 7 and Vista, but you will lose any installed 3rd party programs. You can also create a custom recovery image to refresh with instead. This more useful when there's not a fast fix available.

Reset is basically just doing a clean install, but a little faster. This is more useful when nothing else is able to fix an issue.


Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    Sound Card
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    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    Internet Explorer 11
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    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Shawn,

Yes, that's how I understand it. It looks like Windows 7 creates a restore point every time it does an update which seems like a nice safety net in case you don't create a restore point every time you install a program.

Regards,

Dave
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Dual Win 7-8 64-bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS8100
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 3.2 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 260
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Dell 24" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    900GB and 1.5TB
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s down 1.5 Mb/s up
    Other Info
    I worked my up from a virtual machine, to a slow 32-bit celeron and now two monitors on my XPS8100. Works great!
Refresh and Reset are both sub-par compared to System Restore and system images.

I consider them to be essentially useless to me personally.

IMO, MS shouldn't have bothered with them, but beefed Sys-Restore and Sys-imaging up.

The last thing I want is to have to reinstall all my programs simply to refresh the machine.

I create a restore point whenever I make changes, and I sys-image at least monthly (usually
more frequently).

My Win 7 Ultimate setup was installed in early 2010, and has never been reinstalled, although
It has been restored from an image many times. It's still absolutely rock-solid, and has carried
the W8 CP as an upgrade install since March, without a problem.

When I wanted to return to Win 7 last week, ALL I had to do was restore from an image, grab
the latest updates, and I was good to go. AGAIN... :)

Trying to downplay and (no doubt eventually remove) System Restore and system imaging
in Win 8 is, IMO, a far bigger faux pas than Metro ever was.


EDITED: - Additional information supplied.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
Refresh and Reset are both sub-par compared to System Restore and system images.

I consider them to be essentially useless to me personally.

IMO, MS shouldn't have bothered with them, but beefed Sys-Restore and Sys-imaging up.

The last thing I want is to have to reinstall all my programs simply to refresh the machine.

Trying to downplay and (no doubt eventually remove) System Restore and system imaging
in Win 8 is, IMO, a far bigger faux pas than Metro ever was.

Refresh and Reset are good features when needed for what their purpose is for.

You can't really compare Refresh and Reset to System Restore and system images since they all have their own different uses and purposes that they are helpful for.

It's just a matter of what works best for you though, but it's great to have choices. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Choice is good, Brink, no argument there.

Was just saying what works for me.

But it won't necessarily suit others, you are correct. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Refresh and restore are there because a lot of people won't have made an image.

MS aren't making it any easier by hiding the win sys img away - and it looks like they are planning on giving it the heave ho.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
The thing that got me started on all this is an "important update" for windows 8 KB2769165 that simply refuses to install. It "installs" but when you reboot it says installing update then at 15% it gives up. It tries again and fails then says its reverting to the previous configuration and completes the reboot. Very strange....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Dual Win 7-8 64-bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS8100
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 3.2 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 260
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Dell 24" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    900GB and 1.5TB
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s down 1.5 Mb/s up
    Other Info
    I worked my up from a virtual machine, to a slow 32-bit celeron and now two monitors on my XPS8100. Works great!
System Restore should never have been turned off by default. It is one of the most useful features ever provided in Windows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Phone 6, Windows CE 5, Windows Vista x32, Windows 7 x32/x64, Windows 8 x64
System Restore should never have been turned off by default. It is one of the most useful features ever provided in Windows.

And ironically, System Restore was first implemented in Windows Me, the worst Windows EVER.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Y520
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 7300HQ
    Motherboard
    OEM Lenovo
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    4GB DDR4-2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
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    1 (2)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 5400 RPM
    Keyboard
    OEM Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 Proteus Core
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Other Info
    PC:

    AMD Athlon X4 760K
    8GB DDR3-1866
    AMD Radeon RX 460
    Seagate 500 GB 7200 RPM
I used Windows ME in a laptop for a couple of years. Never had a problem with it. Upgraded to XP when it was available.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Dual Win 7-8 64-bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS8100
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 3.2 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 260
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Dell 24" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    900GB and 1.5TB
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s down 1.5 Mb/s up
    Other Info
    I worked my up from a virtual machine, to a slow 32-bit celeron and now two monitors on my XPS8100. Works great!
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