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    There has to be software for this...

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Crypto, Mar 19, 2007.

  1. Crypto

    Crypto Notebook Geek

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    Is there software or a method that allows you to return your PC back to a certain state?
    When I do a complete re-install of windows and get all my software up and running, I wish I could save this and return to it. I wouldn't mind re-installing any software that was installed later.
    I normally do a re-install like once a year to clean my drive of any crap, It sure would be nice to return to this state, instead of a complete re-installation.

    thanks
     
    Crypto, Mar 19, 2007
    #1
  2. hehe299792458

    hehe299792458 Notebook Deity

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    Try Norton Ghost or Acronis. Depending on your needs, you could also use Deepfreeze to eschew reformatting altogether
     
    hehe299792458, Mar 19, 2007
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  3. Crypto

    Crypto Notebook Geek

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    DeepFreeze would be the perfect solution if it had flexibility. But rebooting to save any changes is unacceptable.

    I thought Ghost was more of a back-up solution? Does Ghost and Acronis create another image on your local drive to simply restore or does it save your OS in a state that you simply return to?
    If it creates an image, do you replace the corrupt OS with the back-up image. Do you simply replace it?

    sorry, I would appreciate any information from someone that uses this.

    thanks
    T
     
    Crypto, Mar 19, 2007
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  4. acaurora

    acaurora Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Acronis True Image Home is what I use. Basically what I did is that once I got my new laptop, installed/removed all of what i wanted, and optimized it with settings and tweaks, I ran Acronis. It creates a full backup the first time you run it, then runs incrememntal "patches" afterwards to save on time. It copies EVERYTHING. It's fast, efficient, and I like it ;)
     
    acaurora, Mar 19, 2007
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  5. Arla

    Arla Notebook Deity

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    Ghost has a number of modes of operation,

    However what I use it for is create a "image" of my windows drive, and then if windows becomes corrupt or something bad happens I just plug in my external drive (where I have stored my image) and restore to that, and when I turn on after the restore my PC looks "exactly" like it did when I made the image (barring whatever I've done on my Data Drive, which I backup separately).
     
    Arla, Mar 19, 2007
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  6. jetstar

    jetstar Notebook Deity

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    I've used Norton Ghost, and I've been happy with it.
     
    jetstar, Mar 19, 2007
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  7. Crypto

    Crypto Notebook Geek

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    Thanks for all the information!! I'll look into these two products.

    Quick question. The windows system restore, If you create a system restore once you have the PC at a state you want to save, Can this be retored a year later? Does it restore registry settings too? This seems like it could do the very same thing?
     
    Crypto, Mar 19, 2007
    #7