Windows System Restore Question

[sysreset]

I find that Windows System Restore has gotten me out of many a jam, both in the XP and Vista environment. My understanding is that it basically resets the registry keys to values that existed at a predetermined time. I am not sure if it does other things as well as relating to permissions and networking, too.

It would be really nice, after a successful system restore, if the computer would tell me which registry keys changed during the restore. If it were only one or two keys, it would go a long way to pinpointing problems for prevention in the future. Or, a report about anything it reset that changed value.

Has anyone found a way to get this info after a restore?

 

[CRGreathouse]

The information isn't retained, so I don't think there's a way to answer it./ If you happened to back up the registry shortly beforehand, I think you'd find thousands or even tens of thousands of changes. It's hard to use a computer for an hour without making at least a dozen changes to the registry.

 

[quicknote]

I can understand the usefulness of Windows System Restore in resolving computer issues. It is a valuable tool for restoring a computer to a previous working state. However, as you mentioned, it would be beneficial to have more information about the changes made during a system restore.

Unfortunately, there is currently no built-in feature in Windows that provides a detailed report on the registry keys changed during a system restore. However, there are third-party tools available that can track and monitor registry changes, such as Regshot or RegScanner. These tools can be used before and after a system restore to compare the changes made to the registry, giving you a better understanding of the modifications made.

In addition to registry changes, Windows System Restore also affects files, user profiles, and system settings, so it may be challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of an issue after a system restore. It is always recommended to keep regular backups of your important files and to create system restore points before making any significant changes to your computer.

In conclusion, while Windows System Restore is a useful tool, it is important to have a backup plan and use additional tools to track and monitor changes made during a system restore to better understand and prevent future issues.