system restore issue

Hello
I am getting "software distribution service 3.0" in all of my systm restore boxes in both pcs whenever I try to look at a system restore box - in case I wanted to perform that task.
I have system restore 'on' but have to create the points manually.
I was told to call M.S. regarding this issue.
Could I please get some advice prior to calling and perhaps I can avoid the call and fix the issue with your help?
Thank you

 

>>Windows xp, sp3. I have only been downloading critical updates so I don't know where this all came from.

 

Who by? I ask because I have it too on my XPVM and as far as I can see it's a normal system restore point created by the MS update system before installing updates.

If you have system restore turned on it will create restore points automatically. What makes you think you have to do it manually?

 

I am on the phone with M.S. as we speak and they report that
"software distribution point" + "system checkpoint" are the same + if you click on either you can restore to the date you want.
However, my laptop had the download installed twice + they are correcting that.
Do you agree with what they tell me, "Software distribution point, will accurately restore, in as much as system checkpoint?"
I was confused because the terms were being displayed in an intermingled fashion. The desktop now displays only "system checkpoint" no longer displaying software distribution point.
I guess any download will appear in the restore box and if you click upon it you can restore to that date.
Sorry for the confusion but I was ill advised by a friend that there was an issue and to call M.S.
I should have come here first.

 

I remember when I had Microsoft Security Essentials installed for a while, it also gave me another daily name to the system restore box instead of "system checkpoint". Don't remember the exact words, similar to yours or not, but am certain that MSE (updates???) caused the change in the wording.

Anyway since I installed Avast AV and flushed the restore points, the "normal" wording of "system checkpoint" has been showing again.

 

There are two registry scripts that pertain to the registry and its backup program, "System Restore".
One sets the interval at which restore points are made and the second one actually forces a new restore point to be created.

I've seen PC's that wouldn't make a new restore point from one week to the next. Not trusting the automatic process, I put the "Set Restore Point" script in my own Startup folder, so I get a new restore point every time I reboot my PC. That could be several times a day, but that's OK, because at least I have a fresh Restore Point when I need one.
I usually use System Restore at least once a week to fix some little glitch or another, caused by some piece of junk software that I'm testing.

If anyone wants that "Set Restore Point" script, they can download it here:
http://www.box.net/shared/bbpmybosmb

Cheers Mates!
Shadow :cool

 

Now that I have understood the process more thoroughly, I am comfortable with my imaging and checking those restore points occasionally.
The concept,especially the commingling of terms new to me, is what I was concerned about. Had I come here first, I could have saved much time.
Your idea is sound and contributes to the thread.
Thank you for the suggestion

 

Unfortunately, unlike computers of thirty years ago, when you buy a new computer today, it does NOT come with an instruction book or set of disks. I really loved the package that came with the IBM AT. Most PC makers nowadays, don't even give you a restore DVD with the PC. It you get any at all, you have to make them yourself.

It's a daily struggle, just keeping my own HD clean enough so I can get the C: partition backed up to a single DVD, using Ghost with HIGH compression. It IS possible, with just a little work, and a lot of Housekeeping.

Cheers Mates!
Shadow

 

My Dells came with discs to format + reinstall. There was a disc for drivers too.
They are 8 years old running xp, sp3 and hard to kill. SP3 is still supported but new machines are coming into my life before expiration of support.
I will have to handle the disc issue at the time. I certainly will request them.
I have helped friends create their own DVD restore discs as they did not get any from the manufacturer. It is a one shot process.
Thanx to this forum, I was tutored and encouraged to "image" and have Acronis for the desktop and Macrium for the laptop. I broke down and got an external hard drive and have never been sorry. Usb,firewire and esata -fast.
I had trouble with Ghost and don't use it.
I usually backup sensitive data to two flash drives and never keep that information in the pcs.
A couple of times a week I image to my external hard drives for disaster recovery. I have used it three times and it was very smooth.
I do not employ upgrades as they can be a problem regarding your images and rescue disc.
Sounds like you are my vintage but I never saw a pc until a few years ago - took 7 decades to get somewhat of a handle on them.
It is my favorite thing to do after the grandchildren.
I think you would like Macrium free;when you are familiarizing yourself with it, remember to click advaced so you can select 'intelligent copy'.
Other than that it is straight forward.
Regards

 

The problem that most people have with Ghost is that they try to use a version that is too old to backup the current OS's.
I've been using Ghost, from a boot disk since 1997 and although I've upgraded it several times, I still like Ghost 2003 run from a boot floppy, best for my weekly backup of my XP drive. If I do my backup to a DVD, Ghost will offer to put itself on the DVD, thus making it boot up just like my Ghost boot floppy.
As long as there are NO errors on the HD, Ghost has never failed me.

For backing up Vista or Windows 7, a minimum of Ghost 11.5 is required.
It's the last version of Ghost that will run in DOS, from a dos boot disk, either Flash Drive or CD. 11.5 is too big to fit on a floppy disk.

I guess it doesn't matter too much which program you use as long as you can boot up your computer to do a restore, in the event of a total HD crash.
Any back up program that runs totally from within Windows, is useless.
And any backup image file that's on your main hard drive is equally useless, in the event of a total hard drive crash.

To be of any use at all, a backup file must be on either a second internal HD, an external HD or DVD's. You still need a boot disk of some type, to boot up your PC to do a restore.

Good Luck,
Shadow :cool

 

I agree with what you have said, except I do not understand, "Any back up program that runs totally from within Windows, is useless." Do you change your rescue disc and backups with each upgrade or update to the imaging program?
I have backed up and successfully recovered both Acronis and Macrium smoothly using the desktop program with Windows.
I did try backing up my system to my external hard drive but found it had limitations. I could not verify the backup for example, and many other options were limited.
So, I continue to use the program from my desktop and do not upgrade or update for fear of disturbing functionality with my rescue disc and backups. The security risk is minimal especially if you have a good a/v + firewall and are behind a secure router.
In a few years, we will be antiquated with what we are doing. Think back a few years. Our grand children will scratch their heads in amazement,"Can you imagine what Grandpa had to do to secure his machine from dropping a file or disaster recovery."
Luck to you also.

 

The lack of verification is one thing I DON'T like about some of the backup programs I've tested, that's why for my important backups, I still use Ghost, run from a DOS boot disk. It gives me the ability to "Check" the backup image for validity and it also gives me the ability to select NO compression, FAST Compression or HIGH Compression (which I use when backing up to DVD's).

Although many have tried, no-one has come up with a better hard drive backup program than the original Ghost. It can back up a HD that's not even bootable. Bells and whistles don't impress me.....ease of use and reliability does.

Also, the Ghost Explorer program that does run from within windows can open up a Ghost backup file so you can restore a single file or an entire folder. I don't have to use that feature very often, but it's sure handy when you need it.

I'm not closed minded....I test every new backup program that comes along, but when I compare them to Ghost, they all fall short in one way or another.
"When you've got the best, you can forget the rest". (author unknown)

Cheers Mate!:wave
The Shadow :cool

 

So where exactly does Acronis fall short? It does absolutely everything you've mentioned, and somewhat faster than creaky old Ghost I may add.

 

>>Oma
Thank you for the MSE explanation, however, those terms appeard on my desktop also which has Norton and not MSE.
It has to be the M.S. downloads as explained by M.S.

 

If you don't make the recovery CD with Acronis, you have NO way to boot up your PC in case of a total hard drive crash.

Using the ATI CD, I found NO option to examine its backup image file for validity and NO option to choose the amount of compression for the backup image. As for speed, I backup my entire C: drive in under 8 minutes with Ghost 2003. Acronis doesn't even come close. Creaky old Ghost?.....you have to be kidding me! Where ever do you get your information???

If you're an Acronis lover, fine, then use it. You won't get any argument from me. But for me and thousands of other users worldwide, Ghost is the only program we'll rely on for our backups.

Different strokes, for different folks, (they say).

:cool

 

I am sorry to interfere but the dialogue wandered away from my original question which is below;

I agree with what you have said, except I do not understand, "Any back up program that runs totally from within Windows, is useless." Do you change your rescue disc and backups with each upgrade or update to the imaging program?
I ask as my Acronis rescue disc cannot verify and has limitations the program doesn't, so I use the Windows desktop Acronis program to backup. I also do not employ upgrades or updates for fear of disturbing my rescue disc and backups.

 

Sorry,...... A backup made at the time of install will be obsolete as soon as you boot up and install a new program or save some new pictures.
For a "Rescue Disk" to truly be of any use, it should be somewhat current.
The more current, the better.

Almost every business or Govt office that accumulates data, will do a backup to their system every day. I back up my entire C: drive at least once a week and I backup my new data files to a second HD every day. A simple little batch file takes care of that very nicely.

I always ask one of my customers "How many days of activity, on your computer, are you willing to totally loose, in case of a hard drive crash?"
That varies from one day to months, depending on the person and what they do with their computer. For me, even two days loss of data could be bad, and that's why I make such an effort to secure my data.

But, each person has to make their own decision as to what program they will use and how often they will use it. Some folks just never make backups at all. Those same type of people don't use anti-virus software either. I guess they like living on the edge.

 

Agreed, and if your Ghost CD gets a scratch you won't have either. Everyone makes the recovery CD, more than once usually, so what's the problem?

You validate an image when you are making it, not when you are about to restore it. Acronis provides this facility, in both in its Windows and boot CD modes.

Both the Acronis boot CD and the Windows versions enable None, Normal, High and Maximum compression. Either you are using a very old version or you just aren't seeing what's there.

I have Ghost 9 which incorporates 2003. I'll do some tests, but the main reason I dropped Ghost was it's dreadful speed, though it is reliable.

From the program interface. You should try it sometime

There's one thing I do agree with you wholeheartedly though - BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP

 

I am content with disaster recovery on a weekly basis, therefore I backup the system weekly. I keep sensitive data on 2 seperate flashdrives which I feel comfortable with weekly also; that material is not in the pc.
Very ocassionally, I find the need to backup something new of significance.
Earthling's advice has kept me secure and I default to his advice.
If you read various threads you will see what I mean . He is current and astute.
I appreciate your comments but I think you shoud reexamine your position based upon Earthing's previous contribiutions to this forum, in a proficient + expert capacity so others are not mislead.

I ask:
." Do you change your rescue disc and backups with each upgrade or update to the imaging program?
The question is rhetorical as I am sticking with the disc and program I have.
I am not saying Acronis rescue disc cannot verify but I do not have the ability to know how to do it that is why I use the desktop program.

 

It is odd but I have tried several times to find out where, on the recue cd I verify. Unless you are saying you backup with the rescue disc, then, use the desktop to verify. I tried that with no luck.
I guess I am missing somethingI have true Image Home 2001; either we have different builds/versions or i am not getting it -probably the latter.
I just recreated rescue discs with both Marium and Acronis to be sure they could recover.
I booted from cd and they both found the backups easily so I guess that is good. I then created a new backup to be sure.
I verified both with the desktop programs which created them.
I would do ti your way but have not found any verify in the cd or on desktop after a backuop with the cd.
I am hopeful my system is functional.

 

peterr - Run through setting up your backup until you are ready to proceed, but before doing so click on Backup Options at the bottom. On the right, at the bottom, is Archive Validation. (ATI 2010)

 

I see. I will give it a serious attempt in the a.m.
Thank you so much for going out of your way.
Great advice and great pik!

 

peterr - unfortunately ATI 2010 is rather different from plodr's pic and the validate option within the Windows version is rather well hidden. However you can simply browse in Windows Explorer to your backup file and right click it. Under Archive you will find Validate. That's the easy way.

There are other settings for validation too, which you can study by opening Help and searching for Validate.

 

I have studied the help section and performed a backup with the rescue disc. Options become available when you are underway as you all indicated.
I generated a date + time and located my backup folder(which has again changed the letter to F: from G:-I know it is irrelavant.
I WAS able to select verify which it did and the operaton was successful.
I do underastand about finding the backup in My Comp, right clicking archives>validate.
All is easy when you either know how to do it or have done it.
Once again, thank you for your much appreciated help.