On 1 Apr, 16:54, "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<lanwe...@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatya hoo.com> wrote:
> Broonie <brooni...********.com> wrote:
> > Hi There,
>
> > I might be being a bit stupid here but what is the point in having the
> > ability to restore sytemstateusing the Backup Utility in XP when
> > there is already theSystemRestore functionality. As far as I am
> > awaresystemstatebacks up the registry,systemfiles, boots files
> > and *+Com stuff but no program files where asSystemRestore will
> > include all program files.
>
> > If I can't boot into Windows for whatever reason I can't get to the
> > Backup Utility but I can get into theSystemrestore from Safe Mode
> > with command prompt. Can someone please explain a scenario where I
> > would restore aSystemStateusing the Backup Utility instead of using
> >SystemRestore?
>
> Systemrestore isn't for backup purposes. It's for recovery (sometimes there
> are air quotes around that) from Something Bad, such as a malware
> infestation or software blowout.
>
> Now, if your hard drive blows up and you have asystemstatebackup, you can
> restore your user accounts & groups, I guess. I don't use it on
> workstations. If I back up workstations at all, I use cloning/imaging
> software (I like Acronis TrueImage).

Thanks for that, makes sense.

Using your example above of the blown HDD I would first have to do a
new, clean install of XP and then use the Backup utility to restore my
system state. In doing this surely I have restored a registry bloated
with entires from the programs previously installed on the old blown
disk. Which leads to 2 questions.

1. What happens when I re-install the same programs - will it screw
the registry, resulting in strange behaviour when running them or will
the old registry entries be over-written when the programs are re-
installed?
2. What would happen if i backed up my program files folder as well as
my system sate and then, after I have restored my system state on a
new install of XP, simply copy the contents of my program files backup
into the new program files folder - will they work?

Cheers

Craig