Windows Vista provides Backup And Restore Center as a central console for backing up and recovering a computer. You can access this console by clicking Start, clicking Control Panel, and then clicking the Backup Your Computer link under the System And Maintenance heading. Other tools for backing up and recovering a computer's data include Previous Versions, Startup Repair Tool, Windows Resume Loader, System Restore, and Backup. These tools are discussed in the sections that follow.
Although Previous Versions is not a replacement for full system backups, it can be used to create automatic backups of changed files and folders on monitored drives. If a monitored file or folder was accidentally deleted or modified, you can recover the file or folder to the previous version .
When a computer running Windows Vista enters sleep mode or hibernates, a snapshot of the current state of the computer is created. For sleep mode, this snapshot is created in memory and then read from memory when a user wakes the computer. For hibernate mode, this snapshot is written to disk and then read from disk when a user wakes the computer. Both operations are handled by the Windows Resume Loader.
Problems with resume can occur for a variety of reasons, including errors in the snapshot, physical errors in memory, and physical disk errors. If there is a problem resuming after waking the computer, Windows Resume Loader will prompt you with a warning message similar to the following:
Windows Resume LoaderThe last attempt to restart the system from its previous location failed.Attempt to restart again?Continue with system restartDelete restoration data and proceed to system boot.Enter=choose
To have Windows Resume Loader attempt to reload the system state again, select Continue With System Restart. To have Windows Resume Loader delete the saved state of the computer and restart the computer, select Delete Restoration Data And Proceed To System Boot. Although the latter option, a full restart, will typically resolve the problem, it could mean losing data if work wasn't saved before the computer entered sleep or hibernate mode.
To start properly, computers running Windows Vista need access to specific system files. If a computer won't start due to a corrupted or missing system file, you can use the Startup Repair Tool to recover it . Sometimes repairing a damaged or missing file won't fix all the computer's problems, and you might need to continue troubleshooting to diagnose and resolve the deeper problem.
Most other types of startup problems occur because something on the system has changed; for example, a device might have been incorrectly installed. The system configuration or registry might have been updated improperly, causing a conflict. Often you can resolve startup issues using safe mode to recover or troubleshoot system problems. When you are finished using safe mode, be sure to restart the computer using a normal startup. You will then be able to use the computer as you normally would.
In safe mode, Windows Vista loads only basic files, services, and drivers. The drivers loaded include the mouse, monitor, keyboard, mass storage, and base video. The monitor driver sets the basic settings and modes for the computer's monitor; the base video driver sets the basic options for the computer's graphics card. No networking services or drivers are started unless you choose safe mode With Networking option. Because safe mode loads a limited set of configuration information, it can help you troubleshoot problems.
Restart a system, in safe mode, by completing the following steps:
If the computer is running but has started with errors, click Start. Then click the Options button to the right of the power and lock buttons and click Shut Down.
During startup, press F8 to access the Advanced Options screen. If the computer has multiple operating systems or you've installed the Recovery Console, you'll see the Windows Boot Manager screen and can press F8 at that time.
Use the arrow keys to select the safe mode you want to use and then press Enter. The safe mode option you use depends on the type of problem you're experiencing. The key options are as follows:
q Safe Mode Loads only basic files, services, and drivers during the initialization sequence. The drivers loaded include the mouse, monitor, keyboard, mass storage, and base video. No networking services or drivers are started.
q Safe Mode With Networking Loads basic files, services, and drivers, as well as services and drivers needed to start networking.
q Safe Mode With Command Prompt Loads basic files, services, and drivers, and then starts a command prompt instead of the Windows Vista graphical interface. No networking services or drivers are started.
In Safe Mode With Command Prompt, you can start the Explorer shell from the command-line interface by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc and typing explorer.exe in the New Process window in the File menu of the Task Manager.
q Enable Boot Logging Allows you to create a record of all startup events in a boot log.
q Enable Low Resolution Video Allows you to start the system in low-resolution 640 � 480 display mode, which is useful if the system display is set to a mode that can't be used with the current monitor.
q Last Known Good Configuration Starts the computer in safe mode using registry information that Windows Vista saved at the last shutdown. Only the HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC) hive is loaded. This registry hive stores information about the hardware configuration with which you previously and successfully started the computer.
q Disable Driver Signature Enforcement Starts the computer in safe mode without enforcing digital signature policy settings for drivers. If a driver with an invalid or missing digital signature is causing startup failure, this will resolve the problem temporarily so you can start the computer and resolve the problem by either getting a new driver or changing the driver signature enforcement settings.
If a problem doesn't reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers as possible causes. If a newly added device or updated driver is causing problems, you can use safe mode to remove the device or reverse the update.
If you are still having a problem starting the system normally and suspect that problems with hardware, software, or settings are to blame, remain in safe mode and then try using System Restore to undo previous changes. .
If System Restore doesn't work, try modifying startup options.
Restore points can be used to recover systems that are experiencing problems after a system update, software installation, hardware installation, or other change. The following sections discuss how restore points can be created manually and how systems can be recovered using restore points. Restore operations are reversible in most cases.
System Restore monitors the operating system for changes and creates restore points before changes are introduced at regular daily intervals. The feature works by saving a snapshot of a computer's system configuration and writing this to disk so that it can be used to recover the system to a point in time if necessary. It is important to note that System Restore does not affect personal data. You can recover a system to a restore point without affecting a user's application data, cached files, or documents. System Restore doesn't write any information to the Documents folder either.
System Restore tracks and saves configuration information separately for each drive on a computer. This means that each drive has disk space made available to System Restore, and you can turn off monitoring of individual drives as needed. If a drive is configured for System Restore monitoring, you can recover from changes if a problem occurs. If a drive isn't configured for System Restore monitoring, configuration changes are not tracked, and changes cannot be recovered if a problem occurs. On most systems, you should configure System Restore for the system drive, which stores the operating system files, and for all drives containing critical applications.
Restore points can be restored in one of three ways: by checkpoint, by date, or by event. Individual snapshots scheduled by the operating system are called system checkpoints. When you installed Windows Vista, the first snapshot—the initial system checkpoint—was created automatically. Other system checkpoints are made approximately every 24 hours. If a computer is turned off when a daily checkpoint is scheduled, System Restore creates the checkpoint the next time the computer is started.
Some snapshots are created automatically based on events that the operating system triggers when you make changes or install applications. For simplicity, I call these snapshots "installation restore points," and there's actually a group of them, each with a different purpose. The event-based snapshots are as follows:
Program name installation restore points Created prior to installing a program that uses a compatible installer. You can use installation restore points to track application installation and to restore a computer to the state it was in before the application was installed. Restoring the computer state means that all file and registry settings for the installed program are removed. It also means that programs and system files altered by the installation are restored to their previous state. Once completed, the program won't work and you'll need to reinstall it if the user wants to use it again.
These are called program name installation restore points instead of program uninstall restore points for a very good reason. The restore process doesn't uninstall all the application files. It removes file and registry settings that might affect the operation of the computer. To completely uninstall a program, you'll need to use the Programs tool in Control Panel.
Automatic update restore points Created prior to applying an automatic update. If a computer has problems after applying an automatic update, you can use the restore point to recover the computer to its previous state. (You can also use the Programs tool to remove automatic updates.)
Restore operation restore points Created prior to restoring a computer. If you find that you went back to the wrong restore point or that the restore point doesn't work, you can use these restore points to undo the restore operation and recover the computer to its state before you reversed the previous settings.
Unsigned device driver restore points Created prior to installation of an unsigned or uncertified driver on a computer. If a computer has problems after installing an unsigned or uncertified driver, you can use these restore points to restore the computer to its state before you installed the driver. For signed and certified drivers, the normal rollback procedure should allow you to go back to the previous driver being used.
Microsoft Backup tool recovery restore points Created prior to recovering files or system data using the Backup tool. If the recovery fails or if the computer doesn't work properly after the recovery, you can undo the changes and restore the computer to its previous state.
Users can also create snapshots manually. These snapshots are called manual restore points. You should recommend that users create snapshots prior to performing any operation that could cause problems on the system.
You can restore computers when they are running in normal mode or safe mode. In normal mode, a restore operation restore point is created prior to restoration of the computer. But in safe mode, the restore operation restore point is not created because changes you make in safe mode aren't tracked and you can't undo them using restore points. However, you can use safe mode to restore any previously created restore point.
You can create a manual restore point by following these steps:
Open Backup And Recovery Center. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click the Backup Your Computer link under the System And Maintenance heading.
In the Backup And Restore Center, click Create A Restore Point Or Change Settings under Tasks.
Select the disk for which you want to create the restore point and then click Create.
Enter a description for the restore point, such as Prior To Display—Monitor Driver Update And Changes. Click Create.
When the create operation completes, click OK.
To recover a computer from a restore point, follow these steps:
Select Repair Windows Using System Restore under Tasks.
The Restore System Files And Settings page has two options:
q Recommended Restore The Recommended Restore option is selected by default. If you want to undo the most recent update, driver, or software installation, choose this option and then click Next.
q Choose A Different Restore Point If you want to recover the computer to a specific point in time, choose this option and then click Next. On the Choose A Restore Point page, restore points are listed by date, time, and description. Click the restore point that you want to use and then click Next.
Click Finish. When prompted, click Yes to confirm that you want to restore the computer's system files and settings using the selected restore point.
During the restoration, System Restore shuts down Windows Vista. After the restore is complete, Windows Vista is restarted using the settings from the date and time of the snapshot. After the system restarts, the System Restore dialog box is displayed again. Read the message provided and then click Close. If Windows Vista isn't working properly, you can apply a different restore point or reverse the restore operation by repeating this procedure and selecting the restore operation that was created prior to applying the current system state.
Windows Vista includes Backup Recovery And Restore Center and the Backup Status And Configuration utility. You can use either tool to automate backups and to create a complete backup of a computer. You must have appropriate permissions to back up and restore files on a computer.
Automated backups are used to periodically back up pictures, music, videos, e-mail, documents, and other types of important files. The computer must be turned on at the scheduled run time for automated backups to work. You can configure automated backups by following these steps:
Select Change Settings under Backup Files Or Your Entire Computer.
If you haven't previously configured automated backups, click Set Up Automatic File Backup. Otherwise, click Change Backup Settings.
On the Where Do You Want To Save Your Backup page, use the options provided to specify a backup location on a local disk, a CD/DVD drive, or on the network and then click Next.
On the Which File Types Do You Want To Back Up page, select the types of files to back up. You can configure backing up pictures, music, videos, e-mail, documents, TV shows, or compressed files by selecting or clearing the related check boxes. Select Additional Files to back up any additional files that do not fit in the defined categories. System files, program files, and temporary files are never backed up regardless of your selections.
On the How Often Do You Want To Create A Backup page, use the options provided to set the desired backup schedule. The How Often selection list lets you choose Daily, Weekly, or Monthly as the run schedule. If you choose a weekly or monthly run schedule, you'll need to set the day of the week or month to run using the What Day selection list. Finally, the What Time selection list lets you set the time of the day when automated backup should occur.
To create the initial backup and save the backup schedule, click Save Settings And Start Backup. When prompted to confirm, click Yes.
Once you've configured automated backups, you can run a backup manually using the settings. Simply open Backup And Recovery Center and click Backup Files. To modify the run schedule or to disable automated backups, follow these steps:
If you want to change the backup settings, select Change Backup Settings and then complete steps 4–7 of the previous procedure.
If you want to disable automated backups, click Turn Off.
You can recover files you've backed up by following these steps:
In Backup And Recovery Center, click Restore Files.
On the What Do You Want To Restore page, select Files From The Latest Backup or Files From An Older Backup as appropriate and then click Next.
Follow the prompts to complete the restore.
Complete PC Backup creates a backup image of the entire computer and everything needed to completely restore it. You can start a Complete PC Backup by following these steps:
In Backup And Recovery Center, click Back Up Computer.
On the Where Do You Want To Save The Backup page, use the options provided to specify a backup location, preferably on removable media, and then click Next. Compressed hard disks cannot be used for Complete PC backups.
On the Which Disks Do You Want To Include In The Backup page, the computer's system drive is selected by default. You cannot change this selection, but you can add other drives to the backup image by selecting the related check boxes. Click Next to continue.
Click Start Backup to start the backup.
Once you've created a Complete PC Backup, you can use it to recover the computer completely by following these steps:
Shut down the computer.
Turn on the computer and hold F8 during startup.
Windows Complete PC Restore should be available as a recovery option. Click this option and then follow the prompts.
If the recovery option is not available, you can begin recovery using the following procedure:
Insert the Windows Vista installation disk and then restart the computer.
On the initial screen, click Recovery Options.
Click Windows Complete PC Restore and then follow the prompts.
