Easy link to Restore Point

I've seen several threads and had my own experiences where we wish we had done a restore point before installing some software or hardware and got caught off guard. Looking thru threads here and on WIN7FOURMS I saw a way to make this simple. Using <start-search> search for "systempropertiesprotection". In the results, right click on the file that is in your system 32 or other windows path and choose <sendto desktop(create shortcut)>. Then before you install that program or add a new piece of hardware minumize any sceen, click on your new shortcut and make that restore point. If anything goes wrong, click on the new short cut again and look for the restore point you just made. From then on just remember you have this easy way to protect yourself AND use it!

 

I like this idea but on my Win 7 x64 all that does is open the System Protection tab of System Properties which is how you would normally create or restore a restore point. I don't see any list of files.

 

OK, I've found the tutorial you were referring to HERE and it does exactly what I see. You must be seeing something different.

 

Yes - same article. Probably several ways to get there. They also list a zip file to do it for you. I needed to restore a couple days ago after trying 2 different programs, one hosed my network connections. So I was thinking of a way to be more ready next time. With the shortcut on the desktop I'm more aware to use it.

 

Method I've been using is Teaking.com Registry Backup. If you want to uninstall something you've been trying out then following the usual Add/Remove route followed by restoring the registry guarantees that all files and reg entries are removed. I'm never sure Sys Restore removes all of the files.

 

I don't think the shortcut is meant to do anything more than what you found it to do (open the System Properties window).

 

I agree, but it was this that stopped me in my tracks -

Anyway, the Win 7 tutorial cleared it up.

 

Yeah- I meant whereever your sys files are located. I haven't used all flavors of windows so I don't know if sys32 is good for all. I also found to do the same thing with "rstrui.exe" takes you straight to the restore point display. There the choice is -use recomended restore point. -use a different restore point or -create a restore point. That last option then takes you back to the system properties page. I find on my computer rstrui acts faster. For me it's just a 1-click way to get there. As for add/remove programs - some programs install to just a local folder not ProgramFiles and do not show in that cpl section. I'm still using an old version of CCleaner to get rid of leftover junk. 2.09.600. Don't care for the newer stuff. Been hearing the talk about Wise cleaner and may go there.

 

I think that most Windows 7 users get used to using the start menu's search box to input a few letters of their favorite OS related apps, snap-ins, and control panel applets. Just type "systemp" in the search box and hit Enter and it will bring up the System Properties page, from where you can get to System Protection tab and System Restore window.

Using shortcuts may be quicker... but the above method is geekier

BTW, I think that the recent talk about Wise Cleaner is due to the fact that it has a feature it calls "Slimming System" where the user is given the opportunity to get rid of things like obsolete Windows installers, Windows help files, sample wallpaper/pics, etc. However, once you've deleted those things, the feature itself becomes obsolete as you'll never again need to use it (nothing more to delete).

Wise's "Advanced" cleaning mode is simply the deletion of files that match a predefined set of wildcard patterns like ~*.* and *.~??. CCleaner has this feature as well but doesn't give it a trumped up label. CCleaner furthermore allows the user to configure additional custom wildcards. Can't do that with Wise. The former also allows for the deletion of privacy data for several dozen popular Windows apps. Overall, I think CCleaner is more configurable and allows more control over what is and is not deleted during a cleaning operation.

That said, users can get themselves in trouble with either app. What's most important is not which app you choose to do your cleaning, but rather that you know what you're deleting and know the ramifications of those deletions.

 

This is interesting - systemp doesn't get any response at all on my Win 7 x64. system p gets a lot of hits but none of them for creating a system restore point. However create, or even cre does though. I'm with you on this rusty, the Start > Search box in 7 or the Start screen in 8 both respond superbly to just a few typed characters.

 

Thanks both for the input. My better half has the Win7 64. I keep it loaded with games and music and vids from this Vista machine. Other than that all I do is keep it clean. Once we upgrade - might skip 8 - I'll get the '7 for a handmedown. I've saved this so as to try it later. Can still learn something even if it's old news.